Pikmin 3
Where Pikmin 2 may not have quite succeeded, Pikmin 3 certainly did. That is to say that Pikmin 3, as far as I'm concerned maintained everything that was great about the first game and then went ahead to surpass and become the best installation in the series so far.
Pikmin 3 almost entirely sold me on the Wii-U console by itself. It is a real showcase for the system's power, which is long overdue for Nintendo, having never released an HD capable console up until this point. And while the Wii still produced some incredible graphics at it's SD resolution (see the original Pikmin) the Wii-U's output is like night and day.
Pikmin 3's updated engine produces soft shadows and ultra-realistic lighting making the tiny-garden microcosm really come to life. The fruit looks delicious, the water refreshing and the fire looks hot and burny. All the creatures really look part of their environment and the environment itself feels as turgid and tangible as your own backyard. The gameplay is solid and takes full advantage of the Wii-U gamepad. In fact, this game really was made for a dual-screen console. I'm very surprised there has never been an adaptation made for the Nintendo DS handheld. Your map is important and in this case, you are able to command your three different protagonists independently via the touch screen.
Pikmin 3 adds a new story to the mix as well. Instead of controlling Olimar this time around, you control a new three-person crew of similarly designed characters from a new planet. This planet has used up all it's food and is in a mad search for more. Alph, Brittany and Charlie (Yes they FINALLY added a girl character.) are part of a search team that has discovered delicious fruit on a new planet. You control the lot of them (who in turn control hoards of Pikmin) to gather as much fruit as you can in order to return to your home planet, bearing fruit. Of course, you run into various obstacles along the way, including the three of you becoming separated from the very beginning. And the story ties nicely into the first two games, but since this is so new, I'm going to keep this spoiler free.
Pikmin 3 is not only the best of the series, it's a must-have game for anyone who loves games. It's gorgeous, unique, well refined in both gameplay and controls. Features a cute little story with all kinds of fantastic elements contained within the world. It makes extremely good use of the Wii-U console and really sets itself apart from any other game you've ever played. Pikmin 1 and 2 withstanding. I've played this daily with Leia for months since I picked it up back in November and she still asks me daily to play this for her.
Pikmin 3 almost entirely sold me on the Wii-U console by itself. It is a real showcase for the system's power, which is long overdue for Nintendo, having never released an HD capable console up until this point. And while the Wii still produced some incredible graphics at it's SD resolution (see the original Pikmin) the Wii-U's output is like night and day.
Pikmin 3 adds a new story to the mix as well. Instead of controlling Olimar this time around, you control a new three-person crew of similarly designed characters from a new planet. This planet has used up all it's food and is in a mad search for more. Alph, Brittany and Charlie (Yes they FINALLY added a girl character.) are part of a search team that has discovered delicious fruit on a new planet. You control the lot of them (who in turn control hoards of Pikmin) to gather as much fruit as you can in order to return to your home planet, bearing fruit. Of course, you run into various obstacles along the way, including the three of you becoming separated from the very beginning. And the story ties nicely into the first two games, but since this is so new, I'm going to keep this spoiler free.
Pikmin 3 is not only the best of the series, it's a must-have game for anyone who loves games. It's gorgeous, unique, well refined in both gameplay and controls. Features a cute little story with all kinds of fantastic elements contained within the world. It makes extremely good use of the Wii-U console and really sets itself apart from any other game you've ever played. Pikmin 1 and 2 withstanding. I've played this daily with Leia for months since I picked it up back in November and she still asks me daily to play this for her.
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