Pikmin 2 is a wholehearted step above its predecessor. Pikmin 2 introduces new pikmin, new enemies, and a brand new gameplay loop, all of which work super well.
A testament to Pikmin 2's design is the two reused overworld maps. In topography, they are the same as Pikmin 1. However, their more busy design lends itself beautifully, replacing simple affairs under a time limit with very involved areas geared towards exploring at a slower rate.
However, while I see the vision, and respect it fully, this game is easily the most stressful I have ever played. Pikmin 2 introduces dungeons, multi-floor affairs where you go down each floor, collecting treasures, and defeating a boss at the end. These are the only places you can get the new Purple and White Pikmin (a decision that grew on me given how powerful they are), and Pikmin accrual in general is VERY limited. If Pikmin die, which is bound to happen, you have to deal with it.
I am not going to mince words, Pikmin 2's dungeons killed my enjoyment for Pikmin 2. I liked the original game's (and the overworld of 2 to an extent) gameplay loop of managing time and resources to get the most done by the end of the day. Overworld Pikmin tests your time management in a very clever and well executed way. Dungeon Pikmin throws this out the window. I can deal with how brutal the dungeons are. They are patently a great test of skill for the player when it comes to dealing with enemies while trying to take minimal to no casualties. In one dungeon, I had too many blue pikmin die, meaning I had one too few blue pikmin to move this treasure in the water, so I had to redo the dungeon and play smarter to make sure I got it.
What made me loathe dungeons was how long they are. Dungeons in this game are absolute slogs with no time limit. Some dungeons took half an hour, while most took a good hour of neurotically maneuvering Pikmin to neutralize threats safely and get every treasure, for if you miss a treasure, that's another run through the whole dungeon. The amount of time these dungeons commanded ran counter to what I believe made Pikmin 1 great in the first place, and all that time spent in dungeons wore down at my patience and made me despise them.
I got about halfway through the game, and knowing I had some evil dungeons ahead of me had me very worried. For the sake of not driving myself crazy, I had to put this game down. I commend it for what it is, I really do, and I see the hype. However the tedium of the dungeons stressed me out to the point where the game was feeling less like a fun experience that I wanted to engage with, and more like a stressful chore.
A testament to Pikmin 2's design is the two reused overworld maps. In topography, they are the same as Pikmin 1. However, their more busy design lends itself beautifully, replacing simple affairs under a time limit with very involved areas geared towards exploring at a slower rate.
However, while I see the vision, and respect it fully, this game is easily the most stressful I have ever played. Pikmin 2 introduces dungeons, multi-floor affairs where you go down each floor, collecting treasures, and defeating a boss at the end. These are the only places you can get the new Purple and White Pikmin (a decision that grew on me given how powerful they are), and Pikmin accrual in general is VERY limited. If Pikmin die, which is bound to happen, you have to deal with it.
I am not going to mince words, Pikmin 2's dungeons killed my enjoyment for Pikmin 2. I liked the original game's (and the overworld of 2 to an extent) gameplay loop of managing time and resources to get the most done by the end of the day. Overworld Pikmin tests your time management in a very clever and well executed way. Dungeon Pikmin throws this out the window. I can deal with how brutal the dungeons are. They are patently a great test of skill for the player when it comes to dealing with enemies while trying to take minimal to no casualties. In one dungeon, I had too many blue pikmin die, meaning I had one too few blue pikmin to move this treasure in the water, so I had to redo the dungeon and play smarter to make sure I got it.
What made me loathe dungeons was how long they are. Dungeons in this game are absolute slogs with no time limit. Some dungeons took half an hour, while most took a good hour of neurotically maneuvering Pikmin to neutralize threats safely and get every treasure, for if you miss a treasure, that's another run through the whole dungeon. The amount of time these dungeons commanded ran counter to what I believe made Pikmin 1 great in the first place, and all that time spent in dungeons wore down at my patience and made me despise them.
I got about halfway through the game, and knowing I had some evil dungeons ahead of me had me very worried. For the sake of not driving myself crazy, I had to put this game down. I commend it for what it is, I really do, and I see the hype. However the tedium of the dungeons stressed me out to the point where the game was feeling less like a fun experience that I wanted to engage with, and more like a stressful chore.