[THE NO LIFE KING]

Never played Pikmin before, didn't even know 2 was that expensive on the Gamecube. You got my attention OP.

[Somnid]

Playing them back to back makes me notice all these differences I never had. Pikmin throw faster in 2, enemies like Bulborbs and Wollywogs seem to have less HP and Pikmin don't seem to latch onto the Snagret's neck. Also the boss theme is awesome.

[Zebra]

I picked up the game today, after having missed the chance to play it on the Gamecube.

I'm 30% through the debt, and it's great so far.

[jgkspsx]

Piked it up today.

[Scoops]

That TRU 2 for $30 is really tempting. Do the Nintendo Select titles have reversible box cover art or do I have to deal with that hideous red border in exchange for a cheaper game?

Anyone know if the 2 for $30 works in-store?

[The Lamp]

Pikmin 2 is THAT expensive on GameCube?

Suddenly I feel like a badass for owning it in almost brand new condition ^_^

I should whip it out and play it for the spirit of its rerelease.

[Socreges]

Does anyone else task the Pikmin to harvest enemies despite them being worth so little? Sometimes I do it just because I feel like I deserve to see them trucked away.

Just reached the boss that poops out baby enemies that chomp/devour much more quickly. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Loving it so far. 90% of the debt gone and I've barely scratched the third area. Hopefully there's a fourth and it's unique. It's a bit disappointing that two of the three areas I've seen so far are just rearranged from the first game.

[SirPenguin]

Though it may have also been for budget reasons, areas borrowing from Pikmin 1 is on purpose; they're the same areas, only time has passed

[Socreges]

Budget and time were the reasons, I'm sure. It works fine, mind you, since they mix it up quite a bit, but I was expecting entirely new environments. Here's hoping the fourth area is altogether new. If it's a mixed up Forest Navel, though, I wouldn't mind it so much. Definitely my favourite location from the first Pikmin.

[FyreWulff]

Man, nobody has this game. Wal Mart didn't even have a spot for it.

[G0523]

Went to GameStop again to see if they had it. They didn't...the cashier even said they don't have it in transit. I just said Fuck It and went to Best Buy. They only had two copies and I had to wait in line for only 20 minutes because of Best Buy dumbfuckery!

Worth it. :D

[jgkspsx]

I got Pikmin 2 GC in great shape for less than $20 right before the Wii came out. It skyrocketed in price shortly thereafter, yet I've never played more than a few pikmin-days. Definitely need to fix that.

EDIT: BTW, if you're wondering, they didn't do reversible cover. They did for other NPC games. This is just a quick and dirty release.

[KevinCow]

This game gets so stressful as you get further into it. I completed 50% of my debt on the first day, but now I can only do like one dungeon per sitting. I've barely even touched the third area, only visited to get the yellow Pikmin, and I haven't even unlocked the fourth area yet.

[mariosbrother]

Anyone know if the 2 for $30 works in-store?

I do. It does. Picked up Pikmin 2 and Epic Mickey this way.

[Misguided]

I completed 50% of my debt on the first day

I hope you mean first actual day. I was thinking you meant Pikmin days!

Anyway, game is just as great as it was 8 years ago.

[Socreges]

So what's the gold standard for getting 100% of debt? I've got 96% after 14 days, which I know is pretty good for my first run. Any different endings for completing it within a certain timeframe?

[Edit] 8 days for 100% items, seems like. Insane.

[SirPenguin]

One huge flaw so far: 'Change Zoom' is bound to both the right and left on the D Pad. Because "order" is mapped to the down, it's INCREDIBLY easy to accidentally hit right or left while moving your pikmin around, causing some extreme disorientation.

In fact I don't think I've been able to do it once without accidentally zooming

Tried with 2 Wiimotes to the same effect. It sucks because you WILL lose pikmin while you try to get your bearings. Worse still, it's not like right zooms in and left zooms out...both are set to "cycle" between levels 1 2 and 3, making it all the more confusing to get back to normal.

I hate to type that many words about something as silly as this, but I just lost a bunch pikmin because it zoomed in at the worst moment and I couldn't even see the enemy :(

[vid]

Is it wrong that I would happily pay $40 to get the game without the terrible 'Nintendo Selects' cover?

[IceDoesntHelp]

Is it wrong that I would happily pay $40 to get the game without the terrible 'Nintendo Selects' cover?

I'm pretty sure it has a reversible cover...

[Rookje]

Just bought it. LOVED Pikmin 1, but never got the time to play Pikmin 2 and eagerly await Pikmin 3 (played it at E3).

[Tathanen]

One huge flaw so far: 'Change Zoom' is bound to both the right and left on the D Pad. Because "order" is mapped to the down, it's INCREDIBLY easy to accidentally hit right or left while moving your pikmin around, causing some extreme disorientation. In fact I don't think I've been able to do it once without accidentally zooming Tried with 2 Wiimotes to the same effect. It sucks because you WILL lose pikmin while you try to get your bearings. Worse still, it's not like right zooms in and left zooms out...both are set to "cycle" between levels 1 2 and 3, making it all the more confusing to get back to normal. I hate to type that many words about something as silly as this, but I just lost a bunch pikmin because it zoomed in at the worst moment and I couldn't even see the enemy :(

Naw you're right. I mentioned this in my thing about Pikmin 2's controls vs Pikmin 3's controls (PLUG PLUG PLUG). I've been finishing up the PAL version I got forever ago, and it happens all the time. Try to move guys around, camera zooms in and out wildly. I think it's because they don't map the camera zooms exclusively to hard left and right, they're also mapped to diagonal-down left and right. So if you tilt your thumb even a tiny bit while hitting down, the zoom triggers. And since you're only barely hitting it, you hit it on and off rapidly, and it's like ZYAYAYAYAYYAAAAAAA

[SirPenguin]

Yeah, it's an absolute mess. I usually play on the most zoomed out level during fights, which makes this even more infuriating as hitting it once accidentally sets it to the most zoomed in.

[Socreges]

Just want to chime in and say that I haven't had that problem once. No problem moving them around without hitting left or right.

What I find unintuitive is trying to press up to change the camera angle (ie, make it higher) while I've already got a pikmin ready to throw. It's very awkward since I actually need to bring my left hand in to do it.

[Edit] also Sumbmerged Castle is awesome. Loving the music.

[KevinCow]

Yeah, I've accidentally messed with the zoom a few times while swarming my Pikmin around.

Another annoying thing, though this is really my fault more than the game's, is that I've accidentally used the purple spray a few times while trying to press 1 to pause.

[Emitan]

Not Yet Shipped

[Khold]

Not Yet Shipped [IMG]http://i.minus.com/iYX84D2lxZU7P.gif[IMG]

What is wrong with Orayn

[Emitan]

What is wrong with Orayn

he has to pee

[KevinCow]

I have 11111 pokos.

I feel like I should never get any more treasure.

[Mistle]

I haven't had any problems with the controls, infact they've been awesome for me.

Just got up to the 4th area, 100% debt payed off... Still lots of game left though it seems! It's been great, if a bit short.

[KevinCow]

I haven't had any problems with the controls, infact they've been awesome for me. Just got up to the 4th area, 100% debt payed off... Still lots of game left though it seems! It's been great, if a bit short.

I thought it felt a bit short, but then it said my debt completion time was 12:41. I was pretty surprised at that. It didn't feel like over 12 hours.

[backlot]

I haven't really had problems with the D-Pad controls. Maybe it's happened once or twice but nothing like what some people here are describing.

[Mistle]

I thought it felt a bit short, but then it said my debt completion time was 12:41. I was pretty surprised at that. It didn't feel like over 12 hours.

Yeah, my play time is a lot higher than I ever would have guessed also, but I think I might have left the Wii on a few times. If not, then the game is deceptively lengthy.

[vanty]

Don't you end up spending a lot more time just collecting all the treasure than simply paying the debt? You hit easily 10,000 within the first third of the game or something, then it later gets pretty damn hard in some of the caverns. One of the many improvements from Pikmin 1 which had no post-game at all.

[Socreges]

It's definitely longer than the first. The underground areas make a big difference and are probably why it feels like a shorter game. Since the game days stop, it serves as an illusion somewhat.

[mrklaw]

how do you clear it so quickly? I spend an entire day just popping back looking for one item, or stocking up my pikmin.

Two annoyances I have - one NPC related, one general

NPC - I find throwing pikmin less accurate with the new pointer. Eg getting them onto a snagret's head, or into a flower, as I'm never quite sure where that circle is pointing. On the gamecube its a fixed distance so you can extend your aim fully and you learn how far away that is, which makes it simpler for me.

general - I don't like how the bridges retract after a couple of days. sometimes it takes a while to trek around to open a shortcut and then you lose the benefit of it pretty quickly. Seems counter intuitive.

[Alcibiades]

I'd be all over this if they included an option to play with the GCN controller. I wish Nintendo had brought out direct ports of GCN-era titles with GCN controls (and optional Wii controls). It is kind of ridiculous how first party XBox games can be bought new for $10 or $20 online, but GCN games will set you back $50-$100 dollars.

Thankfully I own most major games from the GCN era, but I can't recommend games to friends that skipped on GCN but got a Wii. That plus having a Wii collection of GCN games would be too sweet. I have that Wii-themed Japanese white GCN controller that they never properly released in the US.

Another thing that bothers me is that they failed to provide GCN controllers except the $30-$40 imported white ones. I have a friend who loves Xbox 360 and PC games (Soul Calibur, Call of Duty, etc...) and wants a Wii and 4 GCN controllers for just one game, Smash Bros. Brawl. Just a few weeks ago he was willing to trade me a bunch of Magic the Gathering Cards and give me a 20% discount on their value to do this type of trade. Even though I don't play videogames much more and haven't touched my Wii in a while, I just couldn't do it because I value being able to go back to those games too much.

The fact that Gamestop and Best Buy sell knock-off GCN controllers shows that demand is there, not to mention ridiculous prices on Ebay.

The GCN era and Nintendo games of the time deserved a better tribute than forced Wii controls on NPC titles, setting aside the fact that the whole push was pretty abysmal in the first place.

How about instead of "New Play Control" they had done a "Nintendo Classic Series" pushing games that people had missed out on before for $20. Sort of a hard copy take on the XBox downloadable stuff on 360. Wind Waker, Eternal Darkness, F-Zero GX, and such would have made an awesome budget lineup and great birthday gifts. I'd say the same for Pikmin and Pikmin 2 except that after quitting Twilight Princess three dungeons in due to issues with the motion controls I could never endorse forcing Wiimote controls on GCN titles.

[KevinCow]

NPC - I find throwing pikmin less accurate with the new pointer. Eg getting them onto a snagret's head, or into a flower, as I'm never quite sure where that circle is pointing. On the gamecube its a fixed distance so you can extend your aim fully and you learn how far away that is, which makes it simpler for me.

The pointer aiming takes some getting used to. Keep in mind that it always aims at the ground. If there's something flying above you and you try pointing at it, you're not actually going to throw your Pikmin towards it, you're probably going to throw them in the wrong direction.

So if you want to hit something above you, keep in mind the arc that your Pikmin follow and try to aim based on that.

For example, you're fighting this Snagret:



You're standing on the purple dot. Don't aim for the red dot, because you'll just throw your Pikmin towards the rock wall in the background, in entirely the wrong direction. Instead, aim for the blue dot.

general - I don't like how the bridges retract after a couple of days. sometimes it takes a while to trek around to open a shortcut and then you lose the benefit of it pretty quickly. Seems counter intuitive.

Yeah, this annoys me too. Making a little bit of progress at a time, building bridges and destroying walls so that levels are quicker and easier to traverse is part of the fun. I hate when they take away some of that progress just because. Same thing with the berry plants that get covered up in webs after a while, and particularly difficult enemies that respawn.

I'd be all over this if they included an option to play with the GCN controller. ... I'd say the same for Pikmin and Pikmin 2 except that after quitting Twilight Princess three dungeons in due to issues with the motion controls I could never endorse forcing Wiimote controls on GCN titles.

But the pointer controls in Pikmin work wonderfully. They're not forced at all. At least give them a shot before knocking them.

[Freezie KO]

This thread is making me want to replay both Pikmin games. I almost feel envious of those getting to experience these gems for the first time.

[jgkspsx]

I'm pretty sure it has a reversible cover...

Mine sure doesn't. If I got a misprint let me know.

[mrklaw]

Didn't GC pikmin have a visible arc when aiming? Having that would have helped estimate things

[KevinCow]

Didn't GC pikmin have a visible arc when aiming? Having that would have helped estimate things

I don't think so. Pikmin 3 does, though. It looks like they've made some nice refinements to the pointer aiming.

[Scofield94941]

got it yesterday from Bestbuy.com. So happy as I sold pikmin 2 for gamecube to help buy a vita. The universe works out...atleast i hope

[Socreges]

how do you clear it so quickly? I spend an entire day just popping back looking for one item, or stocking up my pikmin.

There's probably better general strategy out there, but I think it's good to keep these few things in mind. Take out enemies quickly (ideally, with purples) as you're going around the environment for the first time and take note of which type of pikmin you need where. Meanwhile you should be taking carcasses and such back to the onions. Then with the environment safe (sometimes it's not totally safe but you don't need to worry about certain enemies reaching your pikmin) you can divide up Olimar/Louie and get different pikmin working on different tasks (or just a lot of pikmin working on one task very very quickly - whichever makes more sense). If you plan it well, you can have total access over the entire area after one day and can then, for example, do three caves in a single day.

I played the first Pikmin just several months ago, so I feel like that trained my brain to see opportunities and strategies more quickly than I would have otherwise.

I hope everyone knows that throwing a pikmin onto the top of an enemy kills it much faster, and using purple pikmin can also stun them.

[Amir0x]

Ah, this thread made me pull out my Pikmin 2 and load up a game. Such an amazing game still. Gonna see if I can get my fiancee to play it, it's still the only GCN game I pull out for my sister and mom to play with me when they visit. They love it so much.

[mariosbrother]

One huge flaw so far: 'Change Zoom' is bound to both the right and left on the D Pad. Because "order" is mapped to the down, it's INCREDIBLY easy to accidentally hit right or left while moving your pikmin around, causing some extreme disorientation. In fact I don't think I've been able to do it once without accidentally zooming Tried with 2 Wiimotes to the same effect. It sucks because you WILL lose pikmin while you try to get your bearings. Worse still, it's not like right zooms in and left zooms out...both are set to "cycle" between levels 1 2 and 3, making it all the more confusing to get back to normal. I hate to type that many words about something as silly as this, but I just lost a bunch pikmin because it zoomed in at the worst moment and I couldn't even see the enemy :(

Were the wiimotes that you tried both the motion plus variant? I find that the d pad on the motion plus controller is much more susceptible to accidental toggling of adjacent directions. It's especially frustrating for games like BIT.TRIP Core that require precision input, so I use the non-motion plus for these. I contacted Nintendo regarding it, but they didn't have much to say.

[Socreges]

Trying to get blue pikmin to swarm and quickly destroy the electric current things before they get fried is far too random. Sometimes they all 'connect' and it goes down quickly. Other times they mysteriously don't and 40 die...

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Not Yet Shipped

I thought you were buying it at a store?

[KevinCow]

Trying to get blue pikmin to swarm and quickly destroy the electric current things before they get fried is far too random. Sometimes they all 'connect' and it goes down quickly. Other times they mysteriously don't and 40 die...

Where is this? I'm pretty sure every part with electric things can be taken down by yellows.

[mrklaw]

Trying to get blue pikmin to swarm and quickly destroy the electric current things before they get fried is far too random. Sometimes they all 'connect' and it goes down quickly. Other times they mysteriously don't and 40 die...

Use yellows. If you're running low and are desperate, get in there and punch it yourself :)

[Socreges]

If you guys don't know what I'm talking about, you may not have gotten far enough yet.

Submerged Castle:

You can only enter with blues. No yellows available. I ended up just throwing bulbmin instead of swarming blues. Fewer casualties somehow.