This addictive game came out shortly after the GameCube's debut, and I was among the masses who saw it and contemplated its purpose. I didn't get a GameCube until very recently, however, and even more recently did I get Pikmin. The game's basic plot is that a Captain, named Olimar (Switch the name "Mario" around and add an "L") crash-lands on an alien planet after a comet damaged the ship. Olimar crashes down and 30 parts of his ship are flung across the planet's tricky terrain. Here's the catch, Olimar is in an environment much larger than himself and the atmosphere contains oxygen, an element deadly to Olimar's people, and his suit will only continue to filter out the Oxygen for another 30 days. 30 days, 30 parts? Not as easy as it may sound. First, there are the Pikmin.
The Pikmin are natives to this planet; plant-animal hybrids that Olimar finds in his search. First red Pikmin (immune to fire and are very strong attackers), then yellow Pikmin (large ears allow it to be thrown much further than others, and can wield bomb rocks which destroy barriers) and blue Pikmin (amphibious Pikmin). He's gonna need every single one of them, too.
Secondly, there are animals. Some would say monsters, but I believe that these creatures are merely trying to live out their lives as they would much like the relationship between an ant colony and spider webs. The creatures may be either a source of food, an annoyance, or a predator. Any one of which can easilly become prey to Pikmin swarms and stratigy!
The third factor here is Olimar, you, the player. Olimar's controls are basic, and easy to use. Olimar has a wife, a daughter and a son waiting for him back on his home planet, Hocotate, so it's up to you to get him back there. Olimar can control Pikmin's basic functions, use them for battle, and use them as transportation. For instance, Pikmin carry things back to their homes (called 'Onions') for food to produce more Pikmin (up to 100 can be on the field at any given time, no more) or carry the ship's (The Dolphin) parts back to it for repairs. Olimar may also lift Pikmin and hurl them onto cliffs to do things on their own, or can make them follow him like a loyal army.
GamePlay: This is where the game shines. If left undisturbed, both Pikmin and the creatures of the world will do many different things. Some creatures walk around and sniff at the ground, fly around aimlessly, and some sleep. Pikmin, if finding something of interest, will interact with their environment in an attempt to find food of the yellow nector stored in some grasses and some rocks. As interesting as this maybe, the days are short, ranging anywhere between 15-20 minutes, so you don't have too much time to research their behavior paterns. You have enough to worry about, predators, aggravators, stupid Pikmin, and narrow paths near water. You're in for a tough fight, but it seems addictive and fun every step of the way.
Music: Wow. Just wow. The music here is perfect and sets the scene just right. A tranquil, undisturbed sunrise, a common walk through the grass(not a hard thing to do when you stand as tall as a quarter on its side!) a tide-worn shore, or even a fierce battle of titans. However, you'll probably be carefully planning each move you make just right, so you probably won't be paying too much attention, but there are times when the day gets late and you just can't help but notice the serenity of a Pikmin-world sunset.
Sound FX: Every noise is perfect and syncronized. You yank a Pikmin from the ground and a 'stretch-pop' noise is followed as a Pikmin's cheerful voice fills the air with such quick words as "Hi!" "Whoo-hoo!" and occasionally "Whee!". Even when you're treading through the water, you'll hear even the tiniest Pikmin-splash from every step. If you carefully listen, you can hear Olimar's slightly heavier footsteps, or the much more scary heavy thud-thud of a fast-approaching hunter. The only sound glitch I noticed is when an army of Blue Pikmin all suddenly rush into the water, it may not splash but instead make a noise similar to scratching wood. But that's rare in itself.
Graphics: Amazing. Every detail, every shadow, every movement is without flaw. The water is crystal-clear and beautiful (even moreso than the water-based game Super Mario Sunshine) and the transition from sunrise, midday, and sunset are excellent and realistic. The monsters are easilly identified but their brilliant colors and unique movements. Olimar easilly stands out from any crowd of monsters or Pikmin because of a bright red light on the end of an unusual device on his head which he uses as a Pikmin whistle. I very rarely expierence any slow-down, if at all, which is amazing especially when water, monsters and 100 Pikmin are all there at once!
Overall: A masterpiece. The man who brought you Mario and Zelda has done it once again, a timeless, perfect game which has allready embedded itself as one of the greatest games of all time.
Explore a lush garden from an ant's perspective Watch as plant life and objects interact together in beautiful 3D graphics Experience the different pe...More at Amazon Marketplace
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