Pikmin 2

Pikmin 2
File:1094506946-00.jpg
North American boxart
Japanese name	ピクミン2
Console	Nintendo GameCube
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
Genre	Real-time strategy
Players	{{{players}}}
Release date
Japan	April 29, 2004
North America	August 30, 2004
Europe	October 8, 2004
Australia	November 4, 2004
South Korea	N/A

Pikmin 2 is the second game in the Pikmin series, being released in 2004 for the Nintendo GameCube. It takes place directly after the first game, in whose ending Captain Olimar successfully escapes the planet of the Pikmin. Unlike the first, this game includes a 2-player mode, and it features three new types of Pikmin.

Plot

Upon returning to Hocotate after his adventure on the planet of the Pikmin, Captain Olimar meets his employer and a newly hired, supposedly inexperienced employee named Louie. Olimar learns that Hocotate Freight is massively in debt due to the loss of a shipment of Golden Pikpik carrots, a situation brought about by Louie; Olimar's ship, the S.S. Dolphin, is consequently removed in order to repay some of the debt, at which Olimar drops a bottle cap in shock, brought back to Hocotate as a souvenir for his son. The Ship proceeds to absorb the bottle cap and values it at 100 Pokos, leading to the President then sending Olimar and Louie back to the Pikmin planet.

After the debt is fully paid, Olimar returns to Hocotate; on the way, however, he discovers that Louie is not with him. The President joins Olimar back on Hocotate, and the game progresses with the President replacing Louie as a playable character, the two captains endeavouring to completely clear the planet of treasure and to locate and rescue Louie. The player finally discovers Louie in the Dream Den, atop a Titan Dweevil.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Pikmin 2 is similar to the series' first game with a few changes. For example, the Y Button no longer opens up the map of the current area anymore; instead, it is accessed via the start button. The Y Button is now used to switch control between two currently available pilots, allowing the player to multi-task, introducing a strategic aspect. Unlike the first game, this one has an endless amount of days in which to complete all objectives.

At the end of a day, the nocturnal enemies of the planet awaken, posing an impossible threat, and any Pikmin left behind are killed. After the ship has risen into a low orbit, it is possible to view the treasures salvaged that day, the current Pikmin count, and an E-mail sent by various characters.

There are two new hazards introduced in Pikmin 2: electricity and poison. The majority of obstacles are present again, along with new obstacles, such as electric gates and paper bags. Red, Yellow and Blue Pikmin are stored in Onions, while purples and whites are stored in the ship's hull, due to their being produced through appropriate Candypop Buds, thus having no respective Onions.

There is a general consensus that the overall atmosphere of Pikmin 2 is different to that of the first game; the feelings of being rushed and isolation prevalent throughout in Pikmin have been lessened. In the first game, Captain Olimar was stranded, alone, on a foreign planet, with a limited number of days to survive. It can be concluded, then, that it is Pikmin 2's absence of a time limit, the addition of Louie as a companion and the daily E-mails that achieve this.

The Japanese version of Pikmin 2 featured e-Reader compatibility. Sets of Pikmin e-Reader cards were sold which unlocked new mini-games. This feature was not available in other regions, because the peripheral had been discontinued. The option on the menu of these versions was removed entirely. Also, when the e-cards were first announced for Pikmin 2, many people thought it was an announcement for a GBA version of Pikmin 2.

The Pikmin

The Pikmin from the first game haven't changed, except for the Yellow Pikmin, who are no longer able to handle bomb-rocks (which are all larger in this game), but are instead immune to the electrical hazards in the game. Mushroom Pikmin are not seen in Pikmin 2 and there are three new kinds of Pikmin that can be discovered in underground areas, which are:

Purple Pikmin

File:Normal purplepikmin1.jpg

Purple Pikmin are the first underground Pikmin and the second kind of Pikmin discovered, and are found by using the Violet Candypop Buds in the last sublevel of the Emergence Cave. They have a bulky appearance and have visible hairs on their head. They are needed to carry the Spherical Atlas in the cave because purples have 10 times the strength of an ordinary Pikmin and the treasure's weight is 101. Their great weight means that they shake the ground upon landing from a throw, which can temporarily stun nearby enemies of most species that are on the ground. Purples are also the strongest type of Pikmin, dealing the most damage in attacking enemies. They possess an advantage over other Pikmin when dealing with some bosses: for example, they can harm Giant Breadbugs and can make a Waterwraith vulnerable to attack by any Pikmin.

White Pikmin

File:Normal whitepikmin.jpg

White Pikmin are the second underground Pikmin and third type of Pikmin found in Pikmin 2. To find the game's first White Pikmin, the player must visit the White Flower Garden and progress to sublevel three, where the Ivory Candypop Buds are. They are smaller than other Pikmin and have red eyes. The poison clouds produced by poison pipes and Doodlebugs will cause Pikmin to choke, but White Pikmin are immune. These Pikmin can locate buried items on their own, making them essential for unearthing buried treasure. They are also the fastest of the Pikmin, both in carrying items and keeping up with the player. When eaten by an enemy, they poison the enemy and cause it to lose some health; smaller Bulborbs are killed instantly.

Bulbmin are the last type of Pikmin you may find. They are found in three caves: Submerged Castle, Frontier Cavern and Hole of Heroes. Bulbmin may look like Bulborbs but they can be used like, and act similarly to, any other Pikmin. To retrieve small Bulbmin, one must defeat the larger Bulbmin and then call the small ones with a captain's whistle. Bulbmin are immune to all the hazards on the planet except physical threats posed by enemies, but are slower and weaker and can't leave underground areas. They are a good choice to use in Candypop Buds, due to the fact that they don't return above ground with you.

Controls

• A button:
  • While commanding Pikmin: Pick a Pikmin up. When you release A, Olimar or Louie will throw the Pikmin.
  • When by a sprout: Pick the Pikmin sprout out of the ground.
  • Without any Pikmin: Punch. If you have the Rocket Fist, press it quickly three times to do a more powerful punch.
• B button: Whistle. Hold it down longer to increase the range. Any Pikmin caught in the whistle will come to your command. The Mega Tweeter increases the range of the whistle by 1.5 times. If you have the Pluckaphone, any sprouts will come out, too.
• Analog stick: Move in the direction you press the stick. If you hit a Pikmin while running, it will join you. You run as fast as a flower Red/Blue/Yellow Pikmin, and with the Rush Boots you run as fast as a flower White Pikmin.
• C-Stick: Move your Pikmin group. They will go to a task if they bump into an object and they will lose your control.
• Y button: Switch leaders. All the Pikmin under your control will go to the new leader.
• X buttons: Dismiss all of your Pikmin into groups of their type.
• D-Pad Up:
  • When not holding a Pikmin: Use an Ultra-bitter spray. This is obtained from 10 purple berries.
  • When holding a Pikmin: Swap your Pikmin for a leaf, bud, or flower Pikmin.
• D-Pad Down:
  • When not holding a Pikmin: Use an Ultra-spicy spray. This is obtained from 10 red berries.
  • When holding a Pikmin: Swap your Pikmin for a Leaf, Bud or Flower Pikmin.
• D-Pad Left/Right: (only when holding a Pikmin) Swap your Pikmin for one of a different type.
• L button:
  • Press: Center the camera behind Olimar/Louie.
  • Lightly tap and hold: Use the Analog Stick to rotate the camera.
• R button:
  • Press: Switch to a closer or farther away camera angle.
  • Press and Hold: Switches to a down-to-the-ground angle.
• Z button: Switch to a top view and then back to an angled view.
• Start: Pause and continue the game. The L and R buttons switch between menus.

New Play Control!

Main article: New Play Control! Pikmin 2.

Pikmin 2 has been re-released as part of the New Play Control! series of games for the Wii in Japan, Europe, Australia and North America. The game incorporates the Wii's controller's capabilities to allow aiming the cursor by pointing, as well as graphical enhancements and an updated save system.

Locations

The following are the above ground areas in which it is possible for the ship to land:

• Valley of Repose - A snowy valley in which Captain Olimar and Louie first land. They discover Red Pikmin and Purple Pikmin here.
• Awakening Wood - A small forest in which Grub-dogs live and where Olimar and Louie first discover White Pikmin and Blue Pikmin.
• Perplexing Pool - An aquatic area with many enemies native to water. The Captains find Yellow Pikmin here.
• Wistful Wild - An autumn forest native to many tough beasts. Here, Olimar and the President look for Louie.

WarioWare: Smooth Moves mini-game

In the Wii game WarioWare: Smooth Moves there is a mini-game based on and called "Pikmin 2". In it you control Empress Bulblax and must use the Wii-mote to roll her from side to side squishing Pikmin.

Box art

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  PAL box art

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  North American Player's Choice box art

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  Japanese box art

Commercials

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External links

• At Wikipedia
• Pikmin 2 game manual