Pikmin 3, on its own, is a fantastic game full of wonder and exploration. When compared to its predecessors however, it can feel slightly lacking.
Let’s start with the positives:
- Gameplay: Pikmin 3’s gameplay is the best in the series. So many quality of life improvements that make this series that much better: 3 captains, the ‘go here’ function, the map and tablet functions, and a nice balance between the Pikmin (that 2 did not have) make this the best feeling Pikmin game up to this point.
- Graphics: this game is absolutely gorgeous. The environments, the creatures, the bosses, the details… I could go on and on. One of the best looking games on the WiiU.
- Final Boss: the Plasma Wraith is such a fun and well designed final boss. Making you use every single Pikmin type not only to get through the maze to rescue Olimar, but also when fighting the boss. Easily my favorite finals boss in the series.
Now for the negatives:
- Difficulty: This game is very easy, especially when compared to the other two games. Now for seasoned Pikmin players this is obviously a downside, but it makes Pikmin 3 a very approachable starting point in the series for new players. For me personally, playing this right after 1 & 2, it did take from the game slightly. The difficulty is further curbed due to essentially a lack of a day limit. Pikmin 1, while short, succeeds with its time limit. It makes it challenging and highly replayable. Pikmin 2 may have no day limit, but is easily harder than the other 2 games combined. That, along with the caves, makes it work. Pikmin 3 has no sense of urgency, up until the final boss. It also, due to the lack of a day limit, felt shorter than Pikmin 1 (although it took me 2x as long to beat). I can’t really explain it, but it somehow felt a little underwhelming.
I still loved this game. It’s a fantastic game, but it just falls a little short of its predecessors for me.
Let’s start with the positives:
- Gameplay: Pikmin 3’s gameplay is the best in the series. So many quality of life improvements that make this series that much better: 3 captains, the ‘go here’ function, the map and tablet functions, and a nice balance between the Pikmin (that 2 did not have) make this the best feeling Pikmin game up to this point.
- Graphics: this game is absolutely gorgeous. The environments, the creatures, the bosses, the details… I could go on and on. One of the best looking games on the WiiU.
- Final Boss: the Plasma Wraith is such a fun and well designed final boss. Making you use every single Pikmin type not only to get through the maze to rescue Olimar, but also when fighting the boss. Easily my favorite finals boss in the series.
Now for the negatives:
- Difficulty: This game is very easy, especially when compared to the other two games. Now for seasoned Pikmin players this is obviously a downside, but it makes Pikmin 3 a very approachable starting point in the series for new players. For me personally, playing this right after 1 & 2, it did take from the game slightly. The difficulty is further curbed due to essentially a lack of a day limit. Pikmin 1, while short, succeeds with its time limit. It makes it challenging and highly replayable. Pikmin 2 may have no day limit, but is easily harder than the other 2 games combined. That, along with the caves, makes it work. Pikmin 3 has no sense of urgency, up until the final boss. It also, due to the lack of a day limit, felt shorter than Pikmin 1 (although it took me 2x as long to beat). I can’t really explain it, but it somehow felt a little underwhelming.
I still loved this game. It’s a fantastic game, but it just falls a little short of its predecessors for me.