I long for a hideaway where I could retreat and disappear from existence. In 2004, the Gamecube began losing its momentum. Nintendo entered the gaming market with a new console, but it failed to make a significant impact. Despite the release of beloved classics such as Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Pikmin 2, and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, the console continued to lag behind its competitors. Out of these games, there is only one that truly captivated me, and unfortunately, it is not the one we are discussing. In anticipation of Pikmin 4, Nintendo surprised us by dropping HD versions of Pikmin 1 and 2. I have already covered the shiny new port of the first game, and now it is time to delve into Pikmin 2. Let’s dive deep, deep into its labyrinthine depths that never seem to end and drive me to the brink of madness.
Pikmin 2 (Switch)
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: June 21, 2023
MSRP: $29.99
Okay, let’s take a deep breath. Pikmin 2 starts off on a strong note. Olimar finally manages to return to his home planet of Hokotate after being stranded on a godforsaken planet for what seemed like an eternity. However, instead of seizing the opportunity to spend time with his family, his boss immediately sends him back. It turns out that the company Olimar works for is in deep debt due to mismanagement. Olimar’s task is to collect enough treasure from his former prison to save the company from bankruptcy. It’s frustrating how those in charge never take responsibility for their mistakes. Now, while Pikmin was focused on retrieving the parts of Olimar’s ship, Pikmin 2 revolves around collecting as much treasure as possible. But by treasure, I mean garbage. In Hokotate, all our trash is surprisingly valuable, so these little spacemen are here to help us pick it up. Quite convenient, isn’t it? So, your goal is to find discarded items like bottle caps and Famicom Disk System games. This new aspect of Pikmin 2 is my personal favorite.
However, the Switch port of Pikmin 2 has done something sacrilegious – it has removed the game’s product placement.
When it comes to the port of Pikmin 2, it is largely unchanged from the original, except for the improved resolution. The gameplay remains mostly the same, with the addition of motion controls for those who are interested. It is a solid port, even though it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Although I am not a fan of advertising, I always appreciated the fact that the garbage in the game featured real-world brands. It wasn’t just about collecting bottle caps; they came from drinks like A&W Root Beer, and plastic lids would bear the logo of a recognizable yogurt brand. It never felt like Pikmin 2 was trying to sell you anything; it was simply an extra detail that reinforced the notion that the alien planet you were exploring was actually Earth. Removing the product placement didn’t devastate me as I thought it would, but it does diminish the excitement of discovering treasures. If you never played the original version, you won’t even notice the change. However, for me, it feels like a part of the game’s identity has been stripped away.
Unfortunately, this is not Pikmin 2’s most significant issue. Its real problem lies in its shift towards a more combat-oriented focus, which some may appreciate, but others (like myself) will abhor. This shift is most evident with the introduction of underground dungeons. While exploring various areas, you will stumble upon holes in the ground that lead to complex mazes buried beneath the surface. In these dungeons, you must navigate through multiple floors to collect treasures. The floors are randomly generated, and instead of solving puzzles to reach inaccessible items, your main objective becomes defeating enemies while minimizing casualties. The most infuriating part is the aggressive onslaught against your Pikmin. Bombs come out of nowhere, enemies appear in precarious positions, and some bosses make it seem inevitable that you will lose Pikmin, regardless of your mistakes or judgment. In the depths of these dungeons, you no longer have the luxury of caring for your little helpers; they are nothing more than a number, a health bar ticking away slowly. If you treated the first Pikmin as a survival experience where empathy towards your units was paramount, Pikmin 2 will disappoint you. It is more of a game than an immersive experience, a series of challenges rather than a captivating journey.
As a result, the game’s length is significantly extended. Pikmin 2 encourages you to collect all the treasures, which can easily take 20 hours or longer. However, the majority of this playtime is spent in the dungeons, with only a fraction occurring above ground. Therefore, if you don’t enjoy the underground portion of the game, there is little hope for you. On the bright side, Pikmin 2 introduces white and purple Pikmin. The white ones are immune to poison and are, in turn, poisonous to any creature that consumes them. On the other hand, the purple Pikmin are incredibly powerful and can easily defeat enemies. Throughout the series, the purple Pikmin have remained my favorite. So, Pikmin 2 at least has that going for it.
The thing about Pikmin 2 is that some players will appreciate or even love the changes it brings. However, in my opinion, the overreliance on procedural dungeons makes the experience feel misguided and unnecessarily stretched out. Others may see these dungeons as a way to make the game bigger and better than its predecessor. I can understand that perspective, but for me, Pikmin 2 feels like a misstep in the series. Pikmin 3 delighted me enough to eagerly anticipate the release of Pikmin 4 ever since Shigeru Miyamoto hinted at it in 2015. It is currently the game I am most excited about this year. However, the inclusion of dungeons gives me some cause for concern. The demo at least suggests that the dungeons will be short obstacles rather than tedious tasks to check off a list. Unfortunately, the beginning hours of Pikmin 2 also gave a similar false impression. So, I will have to wait and see.
The new port of Pikmin 2 offers a satisfactory way to experience this game. However, whether you consider it trash or treasure will ultimately depend on your personal preferences. At least it’s reasonably priced, so you won’t regret giving it a try. The first few hours, when the game is at its best, are worth it. Just keep in mind that as you progress, it will throw you into a metaphorical hole.
[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]
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Basant Kasayap is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood to regional cinema, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
