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How Metascores Are Calculated
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 GAMES: 
Captain Olimar has returned to the planet where the Pikmin live, and he's all business this time! The company he works for is going bankrupt, so to save it, Olimar must salvage the treasure buried all over the planet. His company's debt is a whopping 10,000 pokos -- luckily, Olimar brought an assistant, so if the two of them can delegate their work well, they should be able to erase that debt in no time! Of course, they'll need the help of the Pikmin to do that--these two can't do anything by themselves. Alternate controlling the main characters--Olimar and his assistant--as you command your Pikmin to defeat enemies, propagate more Pikmin, collect precious doodads, and solve puzzles. With no time limit, new colors of Pikmin, and two-player cooperative play, Pikmin 2 improves on the original in every way. [Nintendo]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 100
Sydney Morning Herald
Captain Olimar is now joined by larrikin Louie - a clever addition that allows efficient multi-tasking, more complex puzzles and absorbing two-player action.
 100
Stuff
Flat-out weird does not begin to describe this highly addictive title. You become so attached to your herds that it kind of hurts when you lose a Pikmin or two to drowning or carnivorous giant beetles. It's like losing a child. A fat, little purple child with a flower budding out of his forehead.
100
GamePro
While Pikmin 2 may be more of a hybrid remake/expansion pack than a sequel, it's still funny, fun, brilliant, and more daringly weird than what comes out of 95 percent of most major game studios. It's two of a kind. [Oct 2004, p.76]
98
Nintendo Power
Brilliant and genius are words that are often casually tossed around, but they apply perfectly to Pikmin 2. [Oct 2004, p.122]
95
VGPub
On top of the game’s extended length, Pimin 2 also includes much more content than the original.
95
eToychest
A work of wonder and magic that reinforces the idea that innovation and originality are both still alive and well in the world of video games.
95
GameBiz
Without a doubt, Pikmin 2 is one of the best games available on the GameCube.
94
Gamezilla!
The game blends the best aspects of puzzle games with a twist of action and adventure, leaving gamers with a constant desire to play and control.
94
GameZone
Real-time strategic puzzling at its finest. Pikmin 2 builds on the original in ways you'd never expect.
93
IGN
Retains the same fundamental play mechanics and mission rules that made the first a hit, but also one that improves upon just about every aspect of the original formula.
93
Kombo
A must own, as it’s one of the very best games this year on any system.
93
TotalGames.net
It's brilliant. Better than the first game, in fact. It's got everything you could ask for. More Pikmin, bigger play areas, dungeons to explore, multiplayer modes... but crucially, it doesn't feel bloated. [JPN Import]
92
GameCube Europe
Nintendo have taken the strategy genre into a whole new direction, and the result is an absolutely stunning experience that will make you sad to see it end.
92
GameSpot
If you're a fan of the original game, picking Pikmin 2 up should be a no-brainer. If you haven't tried the series yet, Pikmin 2 is a fantastic place to start.
92
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
Devastatingly deep, each level a Russian doll of gameplay, the layers of which are gradually revealed as you obtain different types of Pikmin. [GamesMaster]
91
Play Magazine
There's something about the relative simplicity of the first one that mighit appeal to me more, but I certainly like everthing they've added here in this great sequel. [Oct 2004, p.70]
91
Jolt Online Gaming UK
Pikmin 2 excels in every respect.
91
Worth Playing
A wholly enjoyable follow-up to the original and manages to keep things fun for a long, long time with its lengthier single-player adventure, host of streamlined gameplay additions, and extensive multi-player modes.
91
Gaming Age
One of those rare games where the entire package comes together so well that it creates such a fun and memorable experience that you never want the game to end.
90
PALGN
Polished, addictive, imaginative, and fun.
90
Cheat Code Central
Nintendo has really stepped up to the plate on this one and hit a homerun. If you like the original Pikmin, you'll pee in your pants with delight when you play Pikmin 2.
90
GameSpy
With the trophy-style attributes, some great little secrets to unlock, and the highly amusing two-player stuff, it's pretty hard not to fall in love with those cute little Pikmin.
90
My Gamer
The only problem here is that we have no full-blown two-player co-op. Other than that, this game is packed to the gills and well worth your time.
90
EuroGamer
It is, as we tried to tell the blonde at the bar, universally appealing - because it's easy on the eye, taxes the brain just enough, and keeps you entertained no matter who you are. Blooming brilliant.
90
Weekly Famitsu
9 / 9 / 9 / 9 - 36 platinum [Vol 803; 7 May 2004]
90
AceGamez
The gameplay is more hectic yet still very strategic, you're no longer limited to only 30 days to complete the journey, the graphics are incredibly good and a beauty to look at, the controls are excellent and very simple (excluding the clunky camera controls) and now we have two incredibly fun multiplayer modes.
90
Nintendojo
By eliminating the time limit, adding more and larger areas, and littering the world with nearly 5 times the original’s hidden treasure, Nintendo was able to not only lengthen the main scenario’s play time (now roughly 20 hours), but also make the player feel more comfortable with exploring the Pikmin universe without the time limit constantly looming over their heads.
90
DarkStation
For all of the fans of the original Pikmin, or any strategy enthusiast, you need to go our and buy this game right away.
90
Thunderbolt
With tons of new levels, characters, and treasures, this game will have you coming back for more, even after you’ve paid off that debt. They’ve taken everything that we’ve held dear about the original, and expanded it throughout, making a more complete game and creating something that is a pleasure to play.
90
Total Video Games
Pikmin 2 not only improves upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, but wraps strategy, action and puzzle elements into one highly addictive and enjoyable experience that it seems only Nintendo are capable of.
90
GameCritics
Even though it's most definitely a must-buy masterpiece, in my hard-headed opinion Pikmin 2 is still a tad bit shy of toppling the classic original. [JPN Import]
90
GamerFeed
One of the best GCN titles released to date.
90
1UP
As a sequel, Pikmin 2 is very nearly perfect; it refines the shortcomings of the first game while adding a ton of new elements, yet feels both balanced and polished. The attention to detail is phenomenal.
90
The New York Times
A sequel to one of the most original and well-designed games of all time, Pikmin 2 adheres to the ''if it's not broken, don't fix it'' philosophy, repeating the same formula with some minor tweaks and the addition of way too much product placement.
90
WHAM! Gaming
Utilising each of the five pikmin-type talents is fun; the pikmin are easy to command and control, and the multi-tasking with Louie adds a lot of depth.
90
Armchair Empire
A game that gets everything right; the puzzles are just hard enough to be a challenge without being too frustrating, the presentation pleasing and the control spot-on.
90
NintendoWorldReport
The game is simply a delight to play and look at, and even listen to, as Pikmin sing marching songs and squeal in agony while being eaten by monsters.
90
Yahoo! Games
With simple, yet bright and beautiful graphics, enveloping sound effects, a suite of new areas to explore, and the same addicting gameplay as its predecessor, Pikmin 2 is brilliant.
89
netjak
A solid little title, despite annoyances like imperfect control and an inadequate save system.
88
Game Over Online
For the typical gamer looking for something a little more unique, or for the novice gamer (maybe a girlfriend?) looking for something a little less blood-and-guts, Pikmin 2 just might be the way to go.
88
Game Informer
The concept may be just as extraordinary as its predecessor's, but with a hefty dosage of multiplayer and a quest that isn't as nerve-racking, Pikmin 2 is deserving of mainstream recognition and is easily the most noteworthy and praiseworthy GameCube product this summer. [Aug 2004, p.101]
88
Electronic Gaming Monthly
I felt liberated by the lack of a time limit in the sequel's new cave system, and you WILL get addicted to collecting every beautifully rendered junk trinket in the game. [Oct 2004, p.112]
88
Inside Gamer Online
If you can get by all the yelling by your pikmin and the constant self-calling of Olimar and Louie, you shouldn’t encounter any problem with the sound.
85
XGP Gaming
This just goes to show you what the GameCube is really capable of achieving.
85
Just RPG
Take the excellent formula to the original Pikmin and combine it with new Pikmin colors, a new character and a versus mode and you've obviously got a great game. Still, I found the sublevels and the limitations on being able to collect the white and purple Pikmin pretty tedious.
84
Siliconera
Better than the original in many ways and the original was already a great game.
83
Nintendophiles
The only aspect of this game that can be considered negative is the repetition - once all five pikmin types are unlocked there is very little in the way of variation - but the game is easily enough fun to obscure this fact.
83
Game Revolution
Though it lacks much of the original's novelty value, Pikmin 2 is a solid sequel.
80
G4 TV
We love all the changes to the gameplay in Pikmin 2. It's deeper, less frustrating, and ultimately, more fun. We dig the cave-like dungeons that require intense strategy and we're ecstatic over the new Pikmin types. It's a solid, charming game from beginning to end.
80
GMR Magazine
Character upgrades, including a useless superpunch for Olimar and Louie, highlight Pikmin 2's greatest flaw: it relies too heavily on the collection of stuff. [Oct 2004, p.104]
80
Edge Magazine
At a time when Nintendo's status as a creative powerhouse is slipping, Pikmin 2 demonstrates that there's still no company that can touch it when it works its alchemy of rigorous play mechanics, artistic excellence, irrepressibly communicative characters and all-round appeal. [July 2004, p.102]
80
3DAvenue
Pikmin 2 will probably join a growing cast of quirky Gamecube titles, thinking specifically of fare like Donkey Konga, Luigi's Mansion and Super Monkey Ball, that have their ardent fans but don't quite do enough to appeal to the broad mainstream.
80
games(TM)
There’s not much more you could ask from a sequel. Almost everything that you might have thought the first game was lacking has been provided. Our one minor complaint we have is that it’s maybe not as much of a challenge as the first game was and it’s not going to take long to see everything the game has to offer. [Nov 2004, p.114]
70
NTSC-uk
A great exploration-based real time strategy and puzzle game, but a fractured one.
Maddy S. gave it a10: Darren T. gave it a10: Shane S. gave it a5: Tony G. gave it a10: Sam K. gave it a10: Pete P. gave it a9: Nathan gave it a10: |
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