Wii Warm Up: Pikmin schmikmin

by Candace Savino { Jul 19th 2008 at 10:30AM }

The most surprising Nintendo announcement during E3 was that the company is working on a Pikmin game (which we can only assume is for the Wii). What do you think about the Pikmin franchise? Is it "born for Wii?" Have you played any of the previous games for the GameCube, and if so, would you recommend them to others? Also, where would you rate the series in terms of other Nintendo IPs, like (for example) Mario or Zelda?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Lord Bowser @ Jul 19th 2008 10:59AM

No. I never owned the Gamecube, and during the first slow year of the Wii I never had a desire to play Pikmin. I don't get FTS games, which I believe Pikmin is.

Abscissa @ Jul 19th 2008 5:58PM

I'm not normally into RTS games either, but Pikmin (while still *technically* RTS) is very different. I absolutely love Pikmin, but the last time I had even the slightest interest in other RTSes was waaaay back with the original C&C and Warcraft 1- and even those I got tired of quickly.

lobotomies4free @ Jul 20th 2008 5:43AM

I agree it's a nice change. It's also a great way to remember one of my first and still great games: lemmings (don't like the newer ones)

CamranChaos @ Jul 19th 2008 11:01AM

One of the first things that popped into my mind when I first saw the Wii Remote was "Yeah, we need another Pikmin" because the controller is absolutely perfect for that type of game.

Pikmin was one of the first Gamecube games I bought and I loved it from the moment I ordered my first 10 red Pikmin to move a giant cardboard box. I've replayed the game at least 10 times. I got the 2nd one and beat it, but I didn't find it as attractive as the first.

I'm excited about a third installment, and I would recommend that everyone at least play the first one because it's such a great concept. It might not be your cup of tea compared to Nintendo's other franchises, but Pikmin gives Link a run for his money in my book.

ZombiePikmin @ Jul 19th 2008 11:04AM

Pikmin is an original series with unique gameplay, unique charecters, and a unique story. That is what i look for in a game.

The Third Dave @ Jul 19th 2008 11:08AM

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two Pikmin games and am stoked to hear that a third is on its way. It may not stand up to Zelda or Mario (and the nostalgia that those franchises carry for so many gamers), but I hope that Nintendo doesn't stop making Pikmin games.

jared @ Jul 19th 2008 11:15AM

i never played the first one, only the second and i never finished it but i had alot of fun playing it. I might buy one for the wii when it comes out. i think using the wiimote will be a nice way for controlling it as long as its not extremely sensitive with the movements.

manyquestions @ Jul 19th 2008 11:17AM

For some reason, I never got into Pikmin and Animal Crossing even though they;re supposed to be so great. I played them but didn't really have any particular interest in them an dI don't really know why. I'll probably rent the new ones and, if I like them, I'll go buy them, but I can't make any promises. But that could all change, it took me until the GameCube to start liking Metroid and Zelda, maybe all I need is a Wii installment to make me like Pikimin and Animal Crossing.

sugar ray leopold @ Jul 19th 2008 11:28AM

i'm there on day 1 for pikmin on the wii. i love watching them little buggers swarm a creature 10 times their size.

Sisyphus @ Jul 19th 2008 11:32AM

I've never heard of this game until people started hoping for one on the Wii. Much like Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon and Babiez.

Roto13 @ Jul 19th 2008 12:51PM

Nobody wanted Babiez for the Wii. :P

igorponweed @ Jul 19th 2008 11:36AM

Should be for DS.

J rod @ Jul 19th 2008 11:34AM

I never really got into it. I still have it but only played it once. I was thinking it over, and i'm starting to think the Wii Remote could make the series better. I will def. consider the Wii game.

sn1per @ Jul 19th 2008 11:37AM

I never had a GameCube, but I bought the first Pikmin used after seeing Olimar in Brawl. While the character and level design may seem geared toward a younger audience, the game most definitely isn't. It's actually fairly challenging, and extremely fun. I never played Pikmin 2, but I'd definitely buy Pikmin Wii.

Eccentric-Servbot @ Jul 19th 2008 12:02PM

I really enjoyed the first Pikmin, but I adored Pikmin 2 far more (the ellimination of the time limit was a big help - I didn't feel rushed like the first). It was unique, fun, and immersive; the Pikmin themselves were the cutest things ever, and reading the Pikepedia and Olimar's notes was facinating.

Pikmin 3 on the Wii would be an instant purchase from me!

Abscissa @ Jul 19th 2008 6:09PM

I never had a problem with the time limit in the first one. I've played through it about three or four times and every time I always ended up getting all of the ship pieces on day 25. You just have to try to pack as much as you can into each day, and I find that doing that is a major part of the strategy of the game and thus a big part of what makes it fun. Even in Pikmin 2, I tried to get as much done in a single day as I could, even though I didn't have to. If I hadn't, I don't think I would have found it nearly as much fun as I did.

Joey @ Jul 19th 2008 12:10PM

I thought the Pikmin series has done a great job in putting a RTS on a console. While the worlds we large, it still felt more managable than say, the Age of Empires series (which also kicks butt).

Dylan F @ Jul 19th 2008 12:25PM

Well I just put Pikman at the top of my Q on Gamefly, but it is deffiently not up to Zelda standards, because Zelda is the best. It's my favorite, and but nothing can beat Zelda.

And I think it's safe to assume it's going to be for Wii.

Hamster @ Jul 19th 2008 12:40PM

I adore Pikmin. Though unlike most people I prefer the first one over the second one. The first one was criticised for being too short, but I thought it was the perfect length. In order to add length to the second one they added all those underground dungeony bits, which I found got really boring and repetitive, not to mention dark and claustrophobic. I hope in Pikmin 3 there is more overworld activity and less underground dungeons.

BlackDogAssault @ Jul 19th 2008 12:42PM

A bit off topic, but, what surprises me more than Pikmin being announced is that there's no sign of the new IP Reggie promised...

Roto13 @ Jul 19th 2008 12:53PM

What promise?

Dylan @ Jul 19th 2008 1:34PM

I believe that was just a rumor.

http://nintendo.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/expect-a-new-game-with-new-characters-from-nintendo-at-e3/

Roto13 @ Jul 19th 2008 12:53PM

I can't stand to see Pikmin die so I couldn't bring myself to continue to play it after the realization that it would be incredibly difficult to make it all the way through the game without ever losing a single Pikmin.

KaptainK @ Jul 19th 2008 12:57PM

honestly i would rather play this game with 2 joysticks instead of a wii remote. Pikmin was designed to simplify rts so that it can be played with a joystick. Playing pikmin with the wiimote=carpal tunnel sydrome if you ask me. Really i think it's better suited for the ds or a dual analog setup......just my two cents.......

Sonic_13 @ Jul 19th 2008 12:57PM

I only played Pikmin 1 (sadly I never got Pikmin 2) but it was one of the most fun and most original games I have played. I would strongly recommend the Pikmin franchise to anyone and everyone.

The Pikmin franchise is perfectly suited to Wii with point and click control (it could also work well on the DS).

Luke @ Jul 19th 2008 2:36PM

I might even prefer Pikmin on the DS. Both platforms desperately need more RTS games, though. They're born for it. I'd much rather play an RTS on Wii or DS than on PC.

MCB2010 @ Jul 19th 2008 3:09PM

Pikmin was an extremely fun game. However, there is no way that it can be better than or even give a run for its money to Zelda and Mario. Zelda and Mario have been around since the start of Nintendo (Mario since Game & Watch, Zelda since NES). It's like trying to say that a high school drama club kid could out act Sean Connery or Julie Andrews.

Josh @ Jul 19th 2008 5:14PM

It's probably going to be ruined.

http://www.nintendoeverything.com/?p=2069

Abscissa @ Jul 19th 2008 5:58PM

Pikmin, strickly speaking, is an RTS, and as such a good pointing-based control scheme would be absolutely perfect. In fact, Pikmin was one of the first things that came to mind when I first heard about the Wiimote. So yea it's "born for Wii".

Compared to Mario and Zelda: Well, if you're talking the classic
Marios and Zeldas, I'd say Pikmin comes in a *very* close second to both. If you're talking the last couple of 3D Marios, and Twighlight Princess, as much as I liked those games, I'd actually rate Pikmin *higher*.

My only concerns with the new Pikmin:

1. They need to *vastly* expand the overworld exploration.

2. They need to include an option to turn off that blur filter that the Pikmin games always seem to use. It can make things really hard to see, makes me feel all squinty, and just hurts my eyes.

3. They need to get rid of the product placement they added in Pikmin 2.

4. This is the *only* Nintendo game that actually makes me want high-def, simply because it can be really hard to see those little critters unless you're zoomed so far in that you can't see your surroundings.

Abscissa @ Jul 19th 2008 6:12PM

I don't know how the hell I ended up misspelling "twilight".

TWOO DEE @ Jul 20th 2008 2:51PM

or 'strictly' :P

Steven Jones @ Jul 27th 2008 9:43AM

Pikmin (1 & 2) are two of our favorite games on the Gamecube. 'Our' being myself and my girlfriend (seems an odd term for a 34 year old couple, but that's English for you!) And the prospect of a Wii version, particuallary if they build more on the co-op play is an exciting one. I'm not sure I'd class it as an RTS or any other genre really.. it's a Minion-em-up I guess! A genre containing Pikmin, and Overlord pretty much.. maybe Darwinia?