bit-tech Shopping: Nintendo Pikmin 2 (GC)

• Puzzle
• Strategy

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: Improved control. Better graphics.

Weaknesses: Game play feels repetitive sometimes.

Summary: Pikmin 2 has improved over the first game. The control over the little Pikmins seems to feel much smoother. The AI feels slightly smarter than before as well. Both the character detail and background graphics looks better. The game play itself sometimes feels repetitive, but the game still does provide some replay value. To get through the game, all it takes is getting to know the characteristics of what each kind of Pikmin have and the levels should just zip through.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: Expands on the original game in many ways, a great sequel

Weaknesses: N/A

Summary: Pikmin was one of the few great new IP's that Nintendo came up with during the Gamecube's lifespan. Pikmin 2 takes the gameplay of the first, adds a bunch of features, and gets rid of the one annoying one (the 30 day time limit of the first game). As in the original, you are tasked with finding various items in a hostile landscape by directing up to 100 little Pikmin. There are several different varieties and they each have different powers. Some can withstand heat or water, some are stronger than others, etc. To obtain items you will need to get past obstacles and have enough Pikmin to lift the items and carry them back to your ship. In addition to removing the 30 (in-game) day limit, the new game adds a challenge mode and some multiplayer (split screen) options. The charm and addictive gameplay of the original is intact though, making this a must-have title for any Gamecube or Wii owner.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 5 Days

Strengths: Improves on its predecessor in almost every aspect.

Weaknesses: Doesn't offer much in the way of new things, co-op is restricted to cave levels.

Summary: Pikmin 2 is a quirky game with challenging puzzles, a remarkable assortment of different creatures, and, of course, gobs of heaping fun. Your character controls the many varieties of Pikmin, each of which have unique abilities; purple Pikmin have the strength of 1,000 men (not literally - more like 10) and can stun enemies; white Pikmin are immune to poison and can unearth buried treasures; red Pikmin are immune to fire and will make you feel less guilty about getting them eaten by predators since they're the most common; the list goes on. The game can get quite repetitive, though, and I also would've liked to see a true two-player cooperative mode, as the one here limits you to only the cave levels, which are limited in scope and forces you to fight dozens of monsters instead of exploring the world. Still, if you liked the first game, this one offers more of the same, and you'd be hard-pressed to find many better exclusives for Gamecube.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Year

Strengths: Exceptional new gameplay, fun and frantic

Weaknesses:

Summary: Pikmin 2 improves upon a great start to a new franchise in Pikmin. Gone is the time limit, making the experience less intense, but providing more time to explore and enjoy the world of Pikmin. Highly recommend for fans of most Nintendo franchises for its fun factor and family-friendly nature.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Vast improvement on the already great Pikmin!

Weaknesses:

Summary: This is truly a triple A title! The first game was so original, and some may view this as more of the same, but it improves hugely on what was an already great game!First off, Pikmin 2 is, as it's predecessor, essentially a strategy/puzzle type game. Your character goes to the Pikmin planet in search of treasures to help get his employer out of debt! You amass a collection of Pikmin to do your bidding in your venture for etreasure!With different types of game modes, a mass of items to collect, new types of Pikmin to help you in your journey, new areas to explore, etc etc etc, Pikmin 2 is an excellent pick, and a must buy for Nintendo fans, or those who (like I am) are fans are incredibly crazy, quirky gams!