Reviews// Pikmin 2

As a sequel, there have been plenty of additions to bolster the package. Most importantly, Pikmin 2 sees a second character join Captain Olimar in his planet-trekking exploits. Louie is the nephew of Hocotate Freight’s boss, and he’s been sent to lend a helping hand in the search for valuable artefacts (like tomatoes – known as ‘love nuggets’ and rubber duck heads – known as ‘Paradoxical enigmas’), which are sought in order to pay off a load of debts, and thusly buy back Captain Olimar’s space ship. Although having two main characters does inject something new into the standard single-player mission mode, the ushering in of a new two-player co-operative and competitive mode is arguably the best bit. The screen-splitting inherently lessens the visual impact, but it’s still solid entertainment.

This two-player mode is one of the most important changes for Pikmin 2; and one of the principal reasons why owners of the original should have a closer look. And unlike co-op modes in other games, this does actually require the two players to co-operate fully. Instead of just having two players trying to complete the same objectives, as you might see in a co-op FPS, the need to delegate tasks is far more explicit. But once you’ve got some efficient teamwork on the go, it really is very satisfying. Perhaps Olimar will go off scouting for treasure with a crack troop of pikmin warriors, whilst Louie takes the rank and file red pikmins off to harvest some flowers and things. Or perhaps something else.

Having two pikmin farmers at your disposal is also very useful in the single player game’s later levels. Although you do need to take direct control of them to get stuff done; meaning you can’t divide up and send a unit on an automated mission, it does help you keep organised. In the original Pikmin, it was easy to get a little flustered as you sent off separate groups on different errands; this time round it feels easier to keep on top of all that.