Then they moved the game to Wii U and tacked on the gamepad support and you can tell. I find it distracting and it takes me out of the immersion of the game to have to put down one controller and switch to another just to hear someone talk or look at a map.
Edit - I just wanted to say that the levels go by quick enough as it is, so even though it only takes a few seconds to switch controllers and use your map, it's still taking off time - seconds you could save by just pressing a button to pause the game and go to the map. Also touching the spot on the screen you want to go could be done just as easily by pointing. I'm glad people are liking the game so much, but I just don't think gamepad usage in this game was properly implemented.
I think you're just doing it wrong. You don't ever have to put the Wiimote/NC out of your hands. You never have to pick up the GamePad. Put it in your lap or put it on a table next to you. When it says "look at the gamepad" after picking something new up or some cutscene happens, all you need to do is look at it. That is it. You don't even have to do that, actually. Just look at it on the TV if it really is bothering you that much.
Also, using the map requires but a single finger. You can keep the Wiimote in your hand, take your index finger, do your business on the screen and go right back to the game. The only time you need to put the Wiimote away is if you want to use the camera to take pictures, naturally.
Doesn't feel "tacked on" at all. It's essential to efficiently and successfully ordering your troops and groups around and is a fantastic addition to an already amazing series. Wouldn't want to play a Pikmin game without it.
(I saw you addressed some of the points already, still don't understand the complaint, though)
You people are going to make me buy this game, aren't you?
First Animal Cross, now this. Suddenly, on top of everything else, I'm spending money on Nintendo.
Resistance is futile.
I'm playing Pikmin 2 on Gamecube and there are moments where you have to swarm with c-stick to properly control the Pikmin a certain way. Like precision liking them up to not fall in the water as I cross a beam carefully. How do you do these obstacles on the Wii U with no swarming available?
Simple: it's not an issue.
Let me illustrate with an image:
As you can see, I'm walking with a full squad of 100 Pikmin and all three captains. The group huddles together tightly so that falling off is never an issue (unless you're maybe running off or splitting up the group in a precarious place). There's also an evade move (d-pad left/right). And a lock-on & charge move that sends all Pikmin in your group to the object/enemy you locked on to.
Mission Mode in Pikmin 3 seems to be just that... which is great, since the only replayability in Pikmin 1 and 2 was starting a brand new campaign.
Pikmin 1 and 2 also had challenge modes. P2's even had two-player missions as well (along with versus mode)
The majority of Nintendo games are like this. It's the main reason I get annoyed when people criticise their games for being too easy. [...] People who play them just to get from beginning to end, rather than mastering them, are severely missing out.
So so so so much this. This frustrates me especially with reviewers or press when they get around to talk about the current Nintendo game, whatever it may be. It gets evaluated mostly based on "so I ran through it and saw the credits..." which drives me insane!
I don't think it's even close to being his finest game. It's a charming little game, but it's piss easy and short. Some of the controls are actually gimped compared to the gamecube and wii versions too.
I think you should read the OP and/or some of the posts here. Both of those points get addressed and point out how you're wrong at least on the former.
Although i think the dialogue was some of nintendo's best by far, the lack of a variation in other basic enemies is what stops this from being one of his best.
And the fact that a lot of the smaller enemies just require you to aim well and land any color pikmin on top of them for a insta-kill is poor.
the game is already far too easy, i don't want to be able to kill anything with one hit, other than butterflies, just because i aimed correctly.
I swear the difficulty is lowered so much due to the number of people probably using the awful gamepad controls.
Where are all these enemies, if your going to remove so many of them then that's fine but you should design enough new ones to replace them....
why was there nothing playing tug of war with your pikmin for the pellets in this game?
If it had a slightly higher difficulty option and more enemies it would have been one of his best games.[pics of Pikmin2 enemies]
If they ever do make a Pikmin 4, then i think just like with the development of pikmin 2, they already have most of the ground work done for them with pikmin 3, and can concentrate on just packing the game full of content and options, but please not just caves!!
And they cant make the mistake of leaving out the piklopedia again..
please please let there be a pikmin 4, and not just dlc for 3....
The enemy variety in Pikmin 2 was a factor of it being a dungeon crawler at heart. This game is more about management. Combat isn't a focus here and thus there's less need for enemy variety and quantity.