In the first entry, you control Captain Olimar on an unknown planet which looks similar to Earth from a microscope perspective. There, he discovers the intriguing Pikmin creatures, and before anyone knows it, the two species work together in order for both to survive.
Olimar has to retrieve his broken rocket parts scattered around the areas, while the Pikmin not only want to be loyal towards him, they have a need for reproduction as well. They don't do this by sexual intercourse, but simply by picking up what seems to be hardened nectar kinds of numbered candies.
The Pikmin consist of three variants. Red ones are invulnerable to fire and deal the most damage, Yellow ones are invulnerable to electricity and can jump the highest and Water ones are invulnerable towards water.
The game plays as an unusual real time strategy, commands from Olimar include throwing the Pikmin, gathering the Pikmin and disbanding them. These are the 3 main commands you will be using against ferocious enemies such as the iconic Bulborbs.
The graphics are a stand out even today looking back at them on the GameCube. There is also a Time/Day system where you must be swift in your actions before night comes up, rendering you unable to progress and in worst case scenario, leaving any Pikmin behind will get them eaten up.
Pikmin is an interesting new IP which started in 2001, but like some others games around that time, the length was a bit too short, and worse, there is hardly any replay value after beating it.
Rating: 7.5
This is a much better expanded sequel and frankly it remains my favorite to this day. In Pikmin 2, not only does Captain Olimar get a new partner called Louie(nice pun names on Mario and Luigi by the way), there are also 2 new Pikmin variants introduced.
The Purple Pikmin are very strong and heavy, while the White Pikmin are very small, can dig and are invulnerable towards poison. Combined with the original three, these allow for new tactical strategies to envelop around the vibrant new colorful areas to be discovered.
The story this time focuses on Olimar's company being in a huge debt. He gets ordered by his boss to search for alien treasures on the same unknown planet from before, and he sends Louie along not only to partner up, but to learn from Olimar's discoveries as well.
A very cool new feature is called the Piklopedia, where you can read more details about pretty much any thing or object displayed in Pikmin 2, including the captains, the Pikmin, the enemy creatures, the treasures and miscellaneous stuff.
Multiplayer is also introduced for the first time, and honestly it plays great even on a split screen. Pikmin 2 is also at certain times very challenging with certain bosses. A good strategy I use is to explore the bosses's movements with just one Pikmin in order to see when and how I can attack it, before letting the rest of my Pikmin die in vain.
Rating: 8.2
The Pikmin finally return after 9 years, and this time, three new space suits from another planet will direct and control the creatures with effort and elegance. Pikmin 3 allows for 3 captains to strategize your Pikmin, allowing for resource, exploration and combat management to be more efficient. Two new sub species, the Winged and Rock Pikmin, create interesting new situations and tactics, but the absence of Purple and White Pikmin is sort of dissapointing.
Until I found out that those two are to be found in Mission Mode, which is the true challenge after beating Story Mode. Getting the Platinum Medals on those missions won't be easy at all. Next to that, there is also a Bingo Battle Mode for players to quickly acquire certain fruits or enemies in order to win.
The story is about the new captain's home planet lacking natural resources to harvest food, and so, a huge famine of scarcity is upon them. While they crash into a new unknown world, mysterious food indentified as fruit is discovered by them.
Once again will the Pikmin act as their loyal voluntary slave collectors in order to accomplish their objective. Along the way, familiar and new enemies alongside scattered data memo's will keep the adventure more involved.
It also features the return of the Piklopedia somewhat scattered into smaller segments, but I prefer the one from Pikmin 2. In fact, that sequel felt more like an expanded title when looking at the original, while this one feels like a reboot.
Regardless of a time/day system being absent in part 2, it still is the best of the trilogy so far. But Pikmin 3 has it's own strengths as well, such as introducing gorgeous HD graphics bringing the natural scenery even more to life here.
Rating: 8.0
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