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(More customer reviews)Pikmin 2 is the sequel to the mildly popular Pikmin. While Pikmin's core gameplay was really solid, I didn't find there to be much of a compelling reason to collect the various items, and finish the game. Moreover, the time limit meant that once my 30 days ran out, I did not feel like going back and playing through the game again just to try and beat it. That said, Pikmin 2 has none of these flaws, it is a true AAA title, and a game that any gamer should own.
The Pikmin
The key difference in the Gameplay this time around is the inclusion of two all new Pikmin. While the red, blue, and yellow Pikmin are featured again in this game, the stars of the show are really the all new purple and white Pikmin. Each of your Pikmin has a different elemental attribute (save the purple ones, they rock without it): red is fire, blue is water, yellow is electricity, and white is poison. Each of these Pikmin is immune to their respective element whereas others are weak against it. This opens up many new possibilities for puzzle solving, as you often find a wall that is imbued with a certain element, and you don't have the color required to break it down. Beyond that each has their own "special ability": red is stronger in battle, blue can walk through water, yellow can reach high places, and white poison enemies after being eaten as well as having the ability to detect hidden treasure. While these various abilities are all quite useful in solving different puzzles and opening up new areas, the star of the show is really the purple Pikmin. These guys are huge. Each one counts for ten Pikmin when carrying items, and can easily handle any monster in battle. If you throw a purple Pikmin directly on top of a small enemy it will kill it instantly. These guys are your new heavy offensive units.
The twist to this situation is that you cannot spawn white and purple Pikmin in the same way you create the rest of them. You can only create these new colors of Pikmin by throwing differently colored Pikmin into purple or white flowers thus transforming them. Each flower can only transform five Pikmin before it withers up. This means that preservation of these units is much more important, as you cannot merely go around and find flowers and gather more of your helpful purples and whites. You are always limited in the number that you have, and much constantly be on the lookout, lest you lose your precious purple guys. Of course, making matters even more difficult is the fact that these transformation flowers can only be found in another new addition to the game, the caves.
Caves
The caves are another delightful new addition to the Pikmin series. Caves are multi-tiered levels in which you must delve deeper and deeper finding items and fighting off enemies in order to reach the bottom. The great thing about the caves is that the time meter stops while you are in one, so you can really take your time without having to worry about getting your Pikmin back to the ship before nightfall. Also, you can save between each level in a cave making it easier to retry your mistakes if you happen to lose 20 Pikmin because you just weren't watching your back. Caves are the only places where you can change your Pikmin into white and purple, so every time you find one is like a godsend. However, you must be careful not to bring too few of the other colors with you, lest you reach a point where you have no yellows left, and you can't get past the electric traps blocking your way (or some such similar situation).
Of course the best part of the caves is the new addition of the bosses. These are huge unique enemies that can single handedly rip through your Pikmin armies if you aren't careful. Strategy is really required in dealing with these guys, as I have found myself losing 50+ Pikmin in boss battles. The coolest thing about the bosses though, is that once you beat them you will get upgrades. These upgrades take the form of such things as an item detector and a fireproof suit. All in all, the caves are a welcome addition to the game. They help to liven things up a bit, and break you out of the routine of searching the overworld for various items.
Enemies
The enemy variety in this game is truly impressive. There are so many new enemies, and each of one them is exquisitely modeled. Some of these enemies will tower as high as more than a hundred Pikmin, and are extremely threatening. Some can be easily killed by 1 or 2 Pikmin, whereas others will take all of your might to defeat, making there a broad range of wild creatures which you encounter. Enemies include such terrifying things as monsters that burrow under the ground with only their eyes (which happen to look like flowers) peering out, and which will pop up and loom over your Pikmin eating countless numbers if you are caught off guard.
The aforementioned bosses are truly a sight to behold. From a giant worm which kills your Pikmin by rolling over them, to a huge mechanical spider which stomps your troops to death, there is a lot to be afraid of. These bosses are capable of taking out up to twenty Pikmin in one blow, so you must constantly be watching out.
In addition to this, is the pleasant inclusion of a sort of terrarium in between levels in which you can examine any of the various enemies which you have already vanquished. You can view them in their natural habitat and throw PikuPiku carrots at them to see their attack patterns. This a nice little inclusion, and the lens blurring while using the terrarium helps it really feel like you are hiding in the bushes watching these enemies.
Items
The items in this game are really far cooler than the ship parts in the previous one. Each item is superbly modeled and looks surprisingly similar to its real world counterpart. I hope Nintendo was getting money from advertisers for this game, as there is an intense amount of product placement present. Items are so varied, that it is always neat to see what you will dig up next. Oftentimes they are as mundane as a bottle cap (7-up and Dr. Pepper caps are both included), but sometimes they are as cool as a gorilla skull or a jar of Kiwi shoe polish!
Of course, much like the enemies, in between levels, you can view the items you have collected which really allows to see just how well modeled they are. The lighting in this item viewer is really nice, and adds a softness to the picture, making it feel more realistic.
Co-op Mode
Co-op mode is a welcome addition to the game. It adds a whole lot of replay value, and really helps to make the game even more fun than it would be otherwise. Co-op mode consists of a bunch of challenge levels which can be played with one or two players (although I fail to see why you would ever do these one player). These challenges are constructed much like the caves in single player mode. Each challenge consists of multiple levels where you try and collect as many items as you can, and you must find a key to get to the next level of the challenge. There is a time limit however, so get used to failing on some of the harder levels.
This mode is a whole lot of fun, and, seeing as there are 30 levels, lasts for at least 8 hours, possibly more if you are going to try to go for perfects on every level. I for one am glad Nintendo decided to fill this game with as many options as they could. It really shows that they put time into this game.
Gameplay
Ok, this is where the game really shines. Much of the core gameplay remains constant from the first iteration in the series. However, there are so many new additions to the formula that it really does feel like a whole new game. This game is much more relaxed than the first one because of the abandonment of the 30 day time limit. It is really easier to let yourself go and just get immersed in the game and the challenges you face. New powers like the red and purple juices allow you to boost your Pikmin's speed and attack and also petrify enemies for short periods of time. This adds another element of strategy, as you must identify the key situation in which to use your difficultly won juices for their optimal effect.
The varying attributes of the Pikmin are a great change from the first game. Much more planning is needed in figuring out how to access different areas and collect various items. Beyond that the purple and white Pikmin are just really cool. They look awesome, and are remarkably useful in many different situations. This doesn't mean that you neglect your other Pikmin, they are necessary for accomplishing your goals. But perhaps you might love the purple and white ones just a little more.
The new boss battles are really fun; and it is great to get rewarded for defeating them by not just getting money, but actually upgrading your character in some way.
Graphics
Graphically this game looks great. There is just so much going on at once, with each Pikmin appearing to act independently of his companions. Sure there are some muddy textures here and there, but the items are superbly modeled, and the creatures so well animated, that this is something that is easy to overlook.
The coolest part of this game graphically is just watching your hordes of Pikmin move around from various angles. They just look so cool when walking around; it is something that can only be adequately described by playing the game. Each Pikmin seems to have a mind of his own. Some appear to be stupider than others and will constantly fall behind and wander off on their own, causing you to curse them (and sometimes feed them to a wandering creature). It is touches like this though, that add character to the game, and make you love your Pikmin army even more.
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Pikmin 2Product Description: In Pikmin 2 you'll enjoy the same fun platforming gameplay as Pikmin, but with an all-new adventure!
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