Pikmin 2 [GC]

Pikmin was exactly the kind of game most Nintendo fans wanted when they bought their GameCube. Simple in design, fun in execution, and bright in just about every respect, it was brimming with unique style and gameplay. We haven't seen anything quite as creative since, but at least now we have a sequel. The basics of the game haven't changed, but Pikmin 2 does just about everything right.

In the first Pikmin, a merchant rocket pilot named Olimar crashed his rocket ship onto a planet inhabited by cutesy little plant-critters he called Pikmin. Players raised and commanded platoons of them to search the planet for parts to Olimar's rocket ship. Eventually Olimar returned home.

The planet was large and full of interesting places to explore, but with only a limited number of days to find all the parts, there wasn't much time for aimless wandering! In the sequel, Olimar has returned home only to find his employer in massive debt. To pay off that debt he must head back to the planet he just escaped in search of rare (and valuable) artifacts.

A few things have changed since the last outing. Olimar now has a numbskull assistant named Louie, who the player can take control of at any time to command groups of Pikmin. This means you can guide Olimar to one place with a group of Pikmin for completion of one task, then switch to Louie and move him to another part of the map to do something else. Early in the game, this split is just a distraction, but as time goes on, you'll learn to rely on operating the two individually to get through certain areas.

New species have been added, including purple sumo-like Pikmin that are as strong as 10 normal ones, and white Pikmin that are immune to poison. You'll face new challenges and critters that will require the skills of each new type, as well as the originals.

Players explore a number of dungeons in addition to the traditional color-filled aboveground areas. Each outdoor area you explore will have underground sections, and through the course of the game, you'll spend about as much time dungeon-crawling as roaming around outdoors.

Unfortunately, the dungeons are often dull and simplistic, while the outdoor areas are very well designed and fun to explore. But dungeons do pose more of a challenge, as you cannot grow additional Pikmin underground. Players must be cautious lest they get to the bottom and run out!

While the game is very challenging, playing Pikmin 2 is never a frustrating or stressful experience. Save points are frequent, and while the bosses are interesting to combat, most are easily conquered. A gamer in a hurry could probably get through it in less than eight hours, but without a time limit, you're free to explore all the levels in depth.

If you eventually grow bored with the single-player mode, there are two ways to play with a friend. The first is "battle," where two players face off on a small map in a quest to collect the most marbles the fastest. You can use your Pikmin to grab the neutral marbles, go after your opponent's marble at their base, or just attack your opponent's Pikmin.

The other mode, challenge, can be played alone, but is much more fun when you and a second player work as a team. Here, you both command a single group of Pikmin to uncover hidden treasure and work your way through a series of areas before time runs out. Both multiplayer modes are great fun, and add a lot to the game. Our only peeve is the campaign mode cannot be completed cooperatively with a friend, even though the new Louie character was added.

With simple, yet bright and beautiful graphics, enveloping sound effects, a suite of new areas to explore, and the same addicting gameplay as its predecessor, Pikmin 2 is brilliant. It's not a radical departure from the first game, but it's excellent in its own right, and a must-buy for arcade/strategy fans.