If one were to summarise Pikmin 2 in just six words, they might be: “adorable and a lot of fun.” If one were to try give a more complex explanation as to what Pikmin 2 is — they would be hard-pressed to do so — because Pikmin 2 is one of several games that have appeared of late that do not fit into any one category of gaming — a “genre bender”, if you will. The game is part action, strategy, adventure and breeding simulation, yet rather than feeling like a parfait of ideas all mixed into one, the entire experience feels completely unique.
The game takes off where the original Pikmin left off. Captain Olimar, the inch-long alien from the planet Hocotate, has successfully repaired his ship and returns to his homeworld. Upon arriving, he finds that Hocotate Freight (the company he works for) has incurred a massive amount of debt and will have to declare bankruptcy unless Olimar and his new but dubious partner Louie return back to the planet of the Pikmin to find treasures and repay the company president’s debt of 10100 pokos.
When they land on the planet again, the pikmin instantly recognise Olimar from his last mission and are eager to help him right away. Pikmin, in case you didn’t know, are adorable, ~inch-long creatures that are part animal and flower. They come in five different varieties: red, blue, yellow, purple, and white. Each colour has its own unique talents. Red Pikmin have the second-highest attack strength, good speed, and are resistant to fire. Blue pikmin are the only type that can swim. Yellow pikmin are immune to electricity and can jump very high. Purple pikmin have the weight and strength of 10 red pikmin, but are slow. White Pikmin are poison-resistant, can poison enemies foolish enough to digest them and detect hidden treasures with their red eyes.
As Captain Olimar, it is your duty to utilise these pikmins' unique talents to surpass obstacles and obtain as much treasure (e.g., bottle caps, Duracell batteries) as possible in order to pay off the president’s debt. For example, if you see a valuable “giant” glove that is worth 200 pokos, but is surrounded by flame-throwers, order your red pikmin to easily pass the flames and collect it. If you need to reach an inaccessible area surrounded by water, then wait until you find the blue pikmin and return to the area with them. Despite their small size, the pikmins’ strength comes in their numbers. With high enough numbers they can lift or destroy anything, no matter how huge. Suppose Olimar, Louie and co. find a “giant” (keep in mind the citizens of Hocotate are only about an inch long) battery—but it takes 100 red pikmin to carry it. You can have up to a maximum of 100 pikmin with you at one time, so you can either choose to have all your pikmin lift it and carry it to the space-ship for appraisal, or order 10 purple pikmin to do the same job. This is the main goal of Pikmin 2, but it is not at all boring and actually quite enjoyable for a number of reasons.
For starters, unlike the first Pikmin, there is no time-limit to complete the game, which is a welcome addition. More importantly, there is no need to spend all your time collecting treasure. You can fight beasts, create potions to enhance your Pikmins’ speed and strength, breed an unlimited number of pikmin, spelunk in caves, and even read Olimar’s journal on the various flora and fauna he has discovered. In essence you can do whatever you want throughout the game days, taking as much time as you need. This is also a great “pick up and play”-type game. Unlike certain other games that can have addicting qualities, such as RPGs, which compel you to continue playing for hours before you finally decide to quit (if you’re lucky enough to find a save-point!), Pikmin 2 lets you take things “one day at a time.” A typical game-day lasts about 30 minutes real-time—and you can always save at the end of each day. In addition, you’re always bound to be able to do something productive with your time during the game-days. If you weren’t able to find treasure, chances are it was because you spent time making potions from berries, or breeding as many pikmin as possible, or removing impeding obstacles. Thus, you can pop in the game and play it for about a half an hour, save at the end of the game-day, and be pleased at your accomplishments before turning the game off and waiting until tomorrow to play it again, if you so desire.
One thing that works especially well in this game is the ability to multitask with your subordinate, Louie. As mentioned before, each day is only about 30 minutes, so to make the most of one it is sometimes better to do two tasks at once. For example, you can delegate Louie the task of ordering the white pikmin to break down a poisonous barrier so that the other pikmin can safely cross it. In the meantime, you can have Olimar order his red and purple pikmin to return berries to the mothership to create potions while waiting for the white pikmin to finish their job.
The game-controls also allow players to change the colour-type of pikmin they are dealing with on the fly and give them orders with ease. Once you realise the distinction between picking up and throwing pikmin at their targets with the A button as opposed to giving them orders with the c-stick, you’re all set.
The graphics of Pikmin 2 are excellent. Famed video-game creator Shigeru Miyamoto stated that it was his own garden that inspired him to create Pikmin, and it shows. The colours have delicate, soft, and natural hues, but you also have the rare yet appropriate option to make the graphics look sharper and less soft if you prefer. The cute, fun-filled music fits the theme as well, and the noises the pikmin make (apparently when conversing with each other) are just plain adorable-sounding.
This in turn leads to one of the few gripes some players may have with the game—you have to gather all your loose pikmin before nightfall, or else nocturnal predators will eat them, and you can hear their mildly disturbing cries of pain. Fighting a particularly large and difficult beast can also result in a mass extermination of pikmin. At the end of each day, there is even a death chart which indicates the total number of pikmin you have lost so far. Don’t laugh, but the pikmin are so adorable and eager to please that it’s just a little bit sad to see some of them perish.
Another gripe is with the camera-angle scheme—it’s awkward and takes some getting used to. You have to constantly readjust the camera angles to ensure that your pikmin aren’t getting into trouble by say, foolishly rushing a monster that they can’t handle at the time. In actuality, this sounds like a greater chore than it really is, but it might put off some players.
All things considered, however, most players will hopefully find Pikmin 2 to be a very beautifully coloured, unique, pleasurable game to play that doesn’t require a massive time-investment to enjoy. Utilising each of the five pikmin-type talents is fun; the pikmin are easy to command and control, and the multi-tasking with Louie adds a lot of depth. Back-tracking is never a chore because going to both new and old locales is entertaining when you’ve found new pikmin that can do new things, such as going back to a water area once you’ve acquired the blue pikmin. Overall, Pikmin 2 is simply a well-crafted masterpiece that is definitely worth a buyer’s consideration.
