The Pikmin franchise has been around for a couple of years but is still considered as one of Nintendo’s newer franchises. This makes sense since the franchise never reached the same level of fans as let’s say Super Mario games but that doesn’t mean we should forget about those small Pikmin. Pikmin always stood for quality and with this new Hey! Pikmin game releasing together with the New Nintendo 2DS XL, it might as well be the perfect launch game to push this new handheld into the hands of a lot of new gamers.
New approach, still familiar
Hey! Pikmin is a unique game in the franchise since it steps away from the 3D open world exploration. No longer are you collecting your Pikmin in an open environment, Hey! Pikmin plays like a 2D side-scroller with Pikmin influences. This change in setting reminded me of the portable Chibi-Robo game that also released on the Nintendo 3DS systems. It seems like Nintendo likes to experiment in the handheld department and that’s nothing we should be worried about. Hey! Pikmin isn’t a traditional Pikmin game but it did keep its key features.
If you never played Pikmin before, let me first explain the key elements, also found in this game. A Pikmin game starts with Captain Olimar (the hero) crash landing on a planet. Only with the help of the little Pikmin, he can collect enough fuel (Sparklium) to get back home. This is how you start your adventure in Hey! Pikmin as well. Once you’ve seen the gorgeous 3D scene, Olimar is ready to discover the environment. In normal Pikmin game, he would travel in an open 3D environment but in this portable game, the path is already set for him. This means you’ll lose some of the exploration but the way you use Pikmin remained the same. By whistling, you can command your Pikmin to join you so you can throw them at objects they should collect or at enemies they should defeat. Consider the Pikmin as your own personal army and helpers.
Different Pikmin for different tasks
In the first world, you’ll meet the first Pikmin, being the popular Red one. Red Pikmin are considered as the main kind in the game and are strong enough to walk around in the fire. The first one you’ll meet will help you to gather rare objects like wedding rings and a lot more. Every level holds three rare items you’ll need to collect with the help of the Pikmin. These objects are objects from the real world but since Olimar is an alien, he names them rather funny. Collecting these objects is necessary to score a lot of Sparklium at once but they are not needed to advance to the next level. Consider these objects as the extra challenge, forcing you to find every little secret in the level. Thanks to this, Nintendo made sure the exploration element of the franchise didn’t get lost. It’s a different way to explore but you’ll still be looking for everything a level has to offer, which is great. Without the help of the Pikmin, you won’t be able to advance, however.
Every Pikmin is good at a certain task. The Red one are the most common ones but the fun doesn’t end there. You’ll also meet the Yellow Pikmin, who are lighter so you can throw them higher and they can even serve as a conduit for electricity. The Blue ones are able to explore underwater levels while the flying Pink ones can be used to reach higher ground although they are rather vulnerable to attacks. Looking for a crystal-breaking tank? The Rock Pikmin got you covered, a bit slower but extremely powerful. If you’ve played the main games, these types will definitely ring a bell. They are used the same way in this spin-off and are used to generate some interesting environmental puzzles.
A lot of variation
The thing I like most about the Hey! Pikmin game, is the variation it has to offer. At one side it’s this crazy exploration game where you have to use the Pikmin to your advantage in order to reach new grounds. At the other side, it’s a strategic combat game where you’ll have to use the different types of Pikmin to your advantage to bring down the enemies. This is especially the case while you’re fighting the giant boss fights. That’s right, this game features boss battles and those are extremely fun to play. The game uses both screens to combine one big world where the bosses are so big they don’t fit on one screen. It really puts things into perspective and makes you feel small, which you actually are. The developers used the two screens to create a more massive world. It has been a while since we saw someone using the dual screens in such a good way.
That being said, the game also offers a lot of side-missions and extra levels you can unlock by scanning the Olimar or new Pikmin amiibo. As if all of this wasn’t already enough, there’s also a mini-game included called the Pikmin Park. In the Pikmin Park, you’re able to give tasks to the Pikmin that you rescued in the regular levels. The Park is divided into serval smaller areas where you can send over some Pikmin to. The color of the Pikmin is also important since the Red ones are able to investigate things that are on fire while the Yellow ones can investigate electricity. It’s a fun mini-game where you’ll be able to collect extra fuel for your spaceship or even discover new objects. It’s also the place where you can upgrade your amiibo for it to have more effect in the game itself. It’s great to have this kind of micro-management game included next to the main story.
Strong presentation
Ending this review without mentioning the great visuals would be a shame. Hey! Pikmin is one of the better looking Nintendo 3DS games on the market. I’ve played it on the New Nintendo 2DS XL and everything about it looks so good. The way the environment is created with the amount of details in the background is simply amazing. Hey! Pikmin is a very colorful and bright game that will truly come to live in the palm of your hands. As said before, both screens are used to create a giant world while you control Olimar and his Pikmin on your touchscreen. It’s really great to see the love for the franchise being translated onto a less powerful system in this way. You’ll feel like you’re playing a major Pikmin game in the franchise and that’s perhaps the biggest complement we could ever give it.
Conclusion:
Hey! Pikmin isn’t just a spin-off game it’s worthy to carry the Pikmin franchise on the handheld systems. No longer will you explore an open 3D world since your path is set for you, but that’s nothing to worry about. The game still holds the spirit of the true Pikmin games and combines a lot of the elements into something new. There’s a lot of variation and a lot of secrets to discover in the gorgeous levels. If you’re looking for a new game to play, this one can be added to your list for sure.
