Gather your army and storm the garden; Pikmin 3 is here.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/35070/pikmin-3-review
The Pikmin series sits in an odd place in the Nintendouniverse. The series, regarded by many as the last substantial IP created byNintendo, is dearly beloved by some, disliked by a few, and ignored by most.The series hasn’t seen a sequel since 2004’s Pikmin 2, despite multiplerereleases for Wii with arguably better controls. In 2013, we finally have thelong-awaited third installment, Pikmin 3. The game seems to be the perfectopportunity to show off what Nintendo can do in HD, and while it may not be thegame to spur sluggish Wii U sales, it is absolutely what Pikmin fans have been craving for almost a decade.
The feeling of attachment you get to the Pikmin is remarkable. Youare everything to the Pikmin; their protector, and also, their executioner.It’s up to you which Pikmin live and which Pikmin don’t, and sometimes it canbe overwhelming to have to choose. The series has always had a penchant for creating a powerful sense of responsibility, and Pikmin 3 is noexception.
In most ways, Pikmin 3 is actually not much of a deviationfrom the path already established by Pikmin 1 and Pikmin 2. The narrative ofthe game feels more like a reboot of Pikmin 1 than a sequel to Pikmin 2, asit’s clear that some time has passed in the world of Pikmin. The story ofPikmin 3 is stronger than either of itspredecessors, and at certain points, the plot will dictate how you approachyour day-to-day strategy.
This is mostly done by collecting fruit to survive. Unlikethe original Pikmin, there is no real hard limit on the number of days you canplay (technically there is, but it’s a massive amount). Pikmin 2 gave you no direction and let youplay a day for just a few seconds to grab one item from a stage and thenadvance to sunset. While that’s still anoption, it carries consequences in terms of food rations. The need to collectfruit is a neat trick that gives you a sense of focus when advancing throughthe campaign.
In terms of gameplay, Pikmin 3 feels like an evolution ofwhat has come before. White and purple Pikmin have been replaced by two newtypes which are quite useful: pink flying Pikmin and gray rock Pikmin. Thesenew types of Pikmin are there to help you with new types of obstacles,naturally. The flying Pikmin can travel with your captains through water byflying above, which helps when dealing with heavily-aquatic areas. The rock Pikmin help out during battle, liketheir absent purple brethren, but also allow you to break through glass wallsand cages, which usually house useful items. The cracking of the glass as itcomes shattering down is quite satisfying, much like most of the environmentaltouches in Pikmin 3.
The campaign, which lasts a little over 10 hours the firsttime through, spans five different areas. All of the areas are fairly complex and will require thorough investigationto completely clear, especially considering that it’s not until late in thegame that you are granted access to all five types of Pikmin. The slowunlocking of different types of Pikmin gives you reason to go back and explore previouslyinaccessible areas of the map. As per usual in the Pikmin series, explorationis the name of the game, and it’s never been better than in Pikmin 3.
Graphically, Pikmin 3 impressed me on almost every level,with lifelike foliage and terrain. The fruit you collect is incrediblyrealistic looking, as well. Lush greenery and autumn leaves beneath a gentlerainfall add a definitive sense of place and weight to your exploration. Someof the special effects and character models might be a bit too beholden to the designof the GameCube original, but I think it actually adds a bit of charm to theworld.
Pikmin 3 also offers several local multiplayer modes. Thelack of online play (outside of leaderboards) is unfortunate but not terriblysurprising given Nintendo’s history with that sort of thing. The modes that arethere, however, are a blast. The mission mode features timed stages thatrequire you to collect fruit or defeat as many monsters and bosses as possible,either by yourself or with a partner. Working together with a friend to plan astrategy on how to most efficiently conquer a map is very rewarding, and theonline leaderboards give you something to strive for.
Bingo Mode, which more closely resembles the multiplayermode from Pikmin 2, is the other multiplayer offering. This mode pits twoplayers against each other trying to collect specific fruit and monsters fromthe map to fill out a bingo card. There are quite a few options forhandicapping one player or the other, not the least of which is that the playerusing the GamePad will have a map, which is a huge advantage. This mode offersa great hectic multiplayer experience, particularly for competitive Pikmin players.
Pikmin 3 also feaures plenty of customization. There arethree control schemes available to you: Wii Remote and Nunchuk, GamePad, andWii U Pro Controller. Off-TV play is supported on the GamePad and, amazinglyenough, you can even use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk control scheme whileplaying Off-TV. It seems like it might be clumsy, but if you can get theGamePad on a table in front of you at the right height, it works well. It’s alittle difficult to see everything on the smaller screen, but it’s impressivethat Nintendo included such an off-the-wall option.
In theory, the Wii Remote and Nunchuk control scheme worksthe best, but there are drawbacks. Having to place the GamePad on a table infront of you to use the map is less than convenient, and losing direct controlof the camera can frustrate as well. The GamePad control scheme gives you thatcamera control and better access to the map, but aiming using the analog stickis far less precise than the Wii Remote Pointer. I found myself switching back and forthduring gameplay, usually settling on the GamePad simply because I didn’t wantto find an extra surface near me to place it on for use of the map.
There’s a lot to love about Pikmin 3. This is a Nintendomasterpiece, and easily one of the best games on the Wii U. The lack of a hardlimit on the number of days you can play coupled with the requirement to stayfocused on the task at hand eliminates the problems created by the time limitin the original. It’s a thoughtful solution for a game that screams charm andelegance. Pikmin 3 is a must-play for Wii U owners, and the first true reasonto pick one up if you haven't already.
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