Pikmin 2 prerelease information

Some aspects of Pikmin 2 were only available in before the final release, and have been changed or removed for the final release. This information is known from different sources, such as gameplay videos of earlier versions of the game. There is some unused content inside the final copies of Pikmin 2, and some of it helps understand what type of content was meant be available for the full game; for such a list, see the unused content page.

Early Bulborbs

A large Yellow Bulborb.

This article is a stub. You can help Pikipedia by expanding it. Suggestions: Get the video with the blue Bulborbs.

Two Bulborb subspecies are known to have been cut from the final versions of Pikmin 2, from analysis of gameplay videos and screenshots. These Bulborbs, along with the Red Bulborb, would have given each basic Pikmin type a Bulborb of the same color, had they not been removed. Naming used in the game's data makes it clear that these enemies eventually became the Dwarf Orange Bulborbs, Orange Bulborbs, Snow Bulborbs and Hairy Bulborbs in the final game.

A blue "dwarf" Bulborb is clearly seen in a gameplay video. It has white spots, and apparently acts like the Dwarf Red Bulborb, with the same health, attacks and weight. Its treasure value, however, appears to be  × 5, whereas Dwarf Bulborbs are worth  × 2 in the game's released version. An adult version was never shown. These blue enemies became the Dwarf Orange Bulborb – whose internal name is bluekochappy – and the Orange Bulborb – with the internal name bluechappy.

Yellow Bulborbs appeared in the same video as the blue one, but in an above-ground area that bears a striking resemblance to The Forest of Hope. A dwarf version was also seen, which seems to walk slower than other Dwarf Bulborbs. In the final game, Snow Bulborbs are internally called yellowkochappy and Hairy Bulborbs are called yellowchappy.

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  A dwarf yellow Bulborb.

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  A dwarf blue Bulborb.

Videos

E3 2003 gameplay

There's an E3 2003 prototype gameplay video that shows yellow Bulborbs and slightly different cave entrance cutscene. It also contains several debugging elements:

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YouTube link

The noted differences from the final game are:

• A debugging error handler is running, and in the footage, has captured a problem: WARNING [system.cpp:593] DVD LOADING. MAIN THREAD!!
• The player is seen moving near a mature Yellow Bulborb and some yellow dwarves.
• Two sprays exist, one red for Padup, likely the ultra-spicy spray, and an unknown yellow one for Paddown.
• The camera can zoom in much closer.
• Leading zeros appear on the HUD's numbers, but are almost invisible.
• Louie's icon and health indicator do not appear on the HUD.
• Olimar's icon on the HUD is the same one as the icon in Pikmin, as opposed to a brand new one.
• The standby Pikmin icon for the Yellow Pikmin is much paler than in the final game.
• While entering a cave in an unknown area, a large, solid red box appears in the background, with the text "956*90" appearing on its side.

E3 2003 Challenge Mode gameplay

This video shows an early version of the Challenge Mode. In this one, the mode develops in the Awakening Wood (called "Challenge Level" here), making it very like the Challenge Mode from Pikmin, with the exception that the player is able to use sprays. This version of the game only has three menu options: "Main Game", "2-Player", and "Challenge".

{{#ev:youtube|v=OKHpZGoz8eE|350}}

YouTube link

The following differences from the final game can be spotted:

• The jingle played by the ship's dialogs is more monotone and bland.
• The ship gives a plain overlook of the game's plot.
• The Awakening Wood is vastly different from the final game, likely made that way for demonstration purposes.
• Like in the previous video, the HUD's numbers have leading zeros, although sharper, and Louie's icon and health are not visible.
• There is a section in the area's theme where the oboe's notes are quarter notes, whereas they are eighth-notes in the final game.
• Gates have a health wheel.
• When Pikmin attack something, the spark particles they create are larger and more opaque than in the final game.

Interestingly, the presenter erroneously calls Olimar "Omar" and believes Louie is his wife.

Trailers

A trailer showed at E3 2004 shows little noteworthy information, except for the fact that Blue Pikmin were able to enter the Lost Toy Box.

YouTube link (the Pikmin appear 50 seconds into the video)

The first Japanese trailer shows an Emperor Bulblax eating Pikmin with a swipe of its tongue. Only eight Pikmin get caught, even though the cap is nine Pikmin in the final game. It is not clear if the attack in the clip simply failed to gather the maximum number of Pikmin possible, or if the maximum used to be eight, but was changed to nine.

YouTube link (the Emperor Bulblax appears 52 seconds into the video)

See also

• Region
• Unused content
• Promotional material
• Prerelease information