| Pikmin 2 |
| Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of the Zelda series, thought up the idea for the first Pikmin. With such a video-gaming genius the game was a hit, becoming a quick Player's Choice on the GameCube. Though it was a bit lacking in some aspects it was still a fun play. Pikmin 2 picks up right where it's predecessor ended. Olimar had just escaped from the planet where he spent his disasterous vacation only to discover that his employer, Hocotate Freight, has gone bankrupt. Soon afterwards he realizes the planet he crashed on was littered with treasure that could be used to pay back the company's loan. Together with Louie, and of course the help of the Pikmin, he will overcome the obstacles of the strange planet and obtained as much treasure as possible. The storyline has improved, but still retains the simplicity that made the original title so fun. The graphics are still beautiful, especially for the GameCube. There are plenty of vibrant and colorful enviroments. The water effect in this game is top-notch, along with the details on the different object in the levels. Yet again the aspect the shines the most from this game, like the last one, is it's sound. The soundtrack is excellent and sets an explorative mood which is the idea behind the game (you being an explorer) and is just really good to listen to. The level soundtracks also fit very well with their areas. The sound developers also did a very good job with just sound effects. You can hear all 204 feet walking along a crushed paperbag, or in the snow, or just along a stone walkway. Inside caves there is an echo effect to add a more realistic feel. The sound in Pikmin is very solid, and some of the best I've heard. Many people who played the original complained about the thiry day time limit in the game. Pikmin 2 abolished the limit, allowing you plenty of time to produce pikmin, find treasure, and just explore the different levels and caves. You may need it too, since there are about 200 different treasures to discover and over 100 different enemies to fight for the right to claim them. Along with the regular story mode there is a challenge mode. In this mode you're given a certain number of pikmin and a time limit. You try to see how much treasure you can acquire before you're time runs out, along with the bonuses of having all your pikmin leave with you, being quick, etc. Ultimately Pikmin 2 was a very fun puzzle-type game. It has solid graphics and sound along with easy controls. Though it seems a bit simplistic it will surprise you how much you'll enjoy the simple pleasure of recovering treasure on a distant planet. |
| Overall Rating: 9 |