Pikmin 2

Pikmin 2 expands on the gameplay introduced in its predecessor, Pikmin. The player controls both Captain Olimar and Louie from a third-person microscopic perspective to retrieve treasures (which consist of human waste such as scrap metal and broken toys) from the surface of an unknown planet (called the "distant planet"). The gameplay focuses on leading and directing a horde of plant-like creatures called Pikmin to accomplish this mission. The Pikmin follow behind Olimar and/or Louie as they move around the field. The player can quickly throw individual Pikmin at enemies and obstacles, where they automatically engage in combat, destroying obstacles, or building bridges. The player can also direct the entire mob (or a subdivision) to swarm and attack enemies en masse. Because the player controls two leaders simultaneously, they can have the leaders separate with their own Pikmin hordes to complete multiple tasks at once. While the player can amass a limitless number of Pikmin, only up to 100 Pikmin are allowed on the field at any time.

The player can only explore during the daylight and begins each day at sunrise, and must finish all tasks and collect all stray Pikmin before sunset. Pikmin that are left behind at sunset are lost to ferocious nocturnal predators, a mechanic that was also in Pikmin. Unlike Pikmin, the game lacks a time limit and gives the player an unlimited number of days.

The Pikmin themselves come in five distinct colors, which indicates their strength or immunity to hazards. Red, Blue, and Yellow Pikmin, which originally appeared in Pikmin, are resilient to fire, drowning, and electric hazards, respectively. Two new colors, Purple and White, are unique to Pikmin 2. White Pikmin are swifter than the other types, can resist poisonous gases and poison enemies if devoured, and can locate hidden treasures buried in the soil. Purple Pikmin, while not immune to any hazards, are slower but far stronger than the others and can lift as much as 10 ordinary Pikmin. They are also heavy, and can stun enemies when thrown at them. Because of these characteristics, the player must choose the Pikmin that are best-suited to the task at hand.^[4] The stalk on a Pikmin's head, topped with either a leaf, bud, or flower, indicates their swiftness and strength, growing upon consumption of nectar harvested from various sources. More Pikmin can be born by bringing pellets or enemy carcasses to the "Onion" motherships, where they can be safely stored and extracted. Purple and White Pikmin do not have their own Onions and are stored inside the Hocotate Ship, and are created by throwing existing Pikmin into rare flowers called Candypop Buds. The game also introduces a sixth Pikmin type, Bulbmin, which are resistant to all hazards but are only temporarily usable. Lastly, it introduces sprays that can be collected by harvesting certain plants. The purple spray can be sprayed on enemies, and causes them to temporarily be encased in stone, making them vulnerable to attacks. The red spray gives Pikmin a temporary boost to their speed and attack strength.

The player is able to explore four distinct locales on the distant planet, which vary in theme, enemies, and treasures found. The player is also accompanied by the Hocotate Ship's artificial intelligence, which gives them hints and input. When a treasure is found, the Pikmin carry it back to the Hocotate Ship, where it will be placed into the ship's cargo hold and its worth calculated. In addition to exploring the surface of each locale, there are caves scattered throughout the landscape, which the player, the Pikmin horde, and the ship's AI can enter. Caves contain multiple treasures and enemies spread across multiple sub-levels. Some enemies, such as the Waterwraith, are found only within caves.^{[citation needed]} While inside a cave, time does not pass on the surface due to a time warp caused by a strong geomagnetic field, allowing the player to explore for an indefinite period of time before sunset.^[5] However, the Pikmin Onions do not follow the player, meaning that they must bring enough Pikmin beforehand to use within the cave. Caves are also home to larger, stronger enemies that serve as the game's bosses, which upon defeat award treasures that bestow new abilities to the player characters. Cave layouts are randomly generated, but certain floors are not, generally boss floors. Caves are also the only place to find the "Violet" or "Ivory" "Candypop Buds" that make Purple or White Pikmin. The player completes the game after collecting all 201 treasures.

After the events of Pikmin, Captain Olimar returns to his home planet Hocotate. He learns from his employer (a space transport company) that his co-worker, Louie, lost a shipment of luxury carrots to a "space rabbit". The company is forced to take out a large loan to cover the loss, and immediately sells Olimar's ship. When Olimar drops a bottle cap he brought home as a souvenir, an intelligent company ship appraises it as considerably valuable. The company president orders Olimar and Louie to take this ship to the planet where the treasure was found, and collect more of it to save the company.

Olimar and Louie crash land and are separated, but are reunited with the support of the local pikmin. While collecting valuables, they encounter white and purple varieties of pikmin, which Olimar had not encountered before. Louie's crew notes indicate that he is only interested in cooking and eating the alien flora and fauna.

After finding enough treasure to cover the company debt, Olimar takes off for Hocotate, only to realize that Louie was somehow left behind. Olimar and the president decide to return to rescue Louie and collect more treasure to strengthen the company's finances. They eventually encounter him in a deep cave, atop a giant, weaponized spider-like creature called the Titan Dweevil. The various types of pikmin are needed to disarm and defeat it. Louie is recovered and the crew departs the planet, leaving the pikmin behind.

In a special epilogue, it is revealed that the missing shipment of luxury carrots was eaten by Louie, who falsified his report to the president to avoid trouble. A ship's log implies that he may have been controlling the Titan Dweevil.

Producers Shigeru Miyamoto (left, pictured in 2015) and Takashi Tezuka (right, pictured in 2024).

In December 2002 a year following the release of Pikmin, game designer Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed a sequel to be in development.^[6] Development took about two and a half years; the original plan was to release it in Autumn 2003, but the team chose to delay it by six months to make further changes and revisions.^[7] Pikmin 2 was directed both by Shigefumi Hino, who focused on the graphics design, and Masamichi Abe, who focused on the game design. Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka served as producers. Hajime Wakai composed the game soundtrack, while Kazumi Totaka served as the sound director; "Totaka's Song" is hidden twice in the game as an Easter egg.^[8] The 30-day time limit imposed in the original Pikmin was removed in order to allow players to explore the game world at a leisurely pace, which in turn increased the overall length of the game. Cooperative two-player gameplay within the main single player game was experimented, but it was found that it imposed limits on the overall game design. Multiplayer was thus relegated to a separate game mode.^[5] Pikmin 2 was first released in Japan on April 29, 2004, and then in North America, Europe, and Australasia later in the year. Nintendo e-Reader cards compatible with Pikmin 2 were released only in Japan, which contained additional minigames. Many of the treasures feature product placement for real-life brands such as Duracell.^[9] These were replaced with fictional brands in the Nintendo Switch remaster.^[10]