I've been enamored by Pikmin 3 since its release, so I have no idea why it took me 10 years to play its predecessors, but I'm glad I did! Although lacking the improved controls seen in the sequels, this game still holds up well and is a delight to play. The lack of ways to precisely handle Pikmin may be a bit frustrating, but the issue is remedied by the fact that the game is simple enough to never necessitate that degree of command. For example, not being able to choose which Pikmin to throw is circumvented by simply having one type of Pikmin at a time, and the game never punishes you for that, as the stages are small enough to constantly be able to go back to base and switch Pikmin multiple times within a single day.

This is, no doubt, one of Gamecube's finest titles and is one that I will surely revisit constantly.

This game has some of the best pixel art I've seen; The backgrounds are full of details and colors, and the characters are remarkably expressive.

The story, however, wasn't up to par with the game's presentation. Notably, it felt like the story was at odds with the gameplay style, as it was being told using long segments of lore dump that halted the gameplay's pace.

This game boasts solid smooth controls, making for fun, fast-paced movement and combat. Boss battles, and combat in general, were undoubtedly the highlights of the experience.

Lastly, the game had absolutely no reason whatsoever to be a Metroidvania. The interconnected map does not add anything to the experience and the ability progression-a defining feature of the genre- is underdeveloped, as you barely acquire any useful or significant ability beyond one or two. I would go one step further and say that the game would be significantly improved if it were a linear, straightforward run'n'gun (or even a 2D platformer, but the platforming didn't stand out that much so it's better to focus squarely on its strong suits).

All in all, it's a good experience with few good, some bad, and a ton of wasted potential.