Pikmin 3 Critic Reviews

Denser, deeper and more intricate than its predecessors, it’s a sequel that understands refinement isn’t simply a case of adding more, even if it’s arguably as generous and complete a package as we’ve seen from Nintendo in a while. Yes, it’s a game about multitasking, forward planning and time management, but it’s also a game where you command sentient carrots to headbutt a crawfish to death. Ah, the joy of simple pleasures.

An enthralling, at times near-classic adventure.

While Miyamoto and company certainly made us wait quite a bit, I think you’ll agree it was worth it for Pikmin 3. It’s easily one of the best titles on the Wii U, and something that every Nintendo fan should certainly plan to pick up.

Pikmin 3 might not be the game that gets people rushing to buy a Wii U, but it certainly should be.

The controls are caught in a weird, nebulous void between being optimized for the Wii and Wii U, but the expansive miniature landscapes, excellent pacing, and varied Pikmin powers combine to overcome any technical issues or limitations.

The Pikmin series does things that no other games do, and Pikmin 3 does those things better than ever before.

Who would have thought it has been nearly 10 years since the Last Pikmin game and Nintendo have a real winner on their hands with Pikmin 3 that has not only streamlined the gameplay but seriously improved it. Best of all, the games looks gorgeous in HD and Pikmin have never looked this great! Add in some great single player challenges, multiplayer fun and you’ll be playing this game for a long time.

The system seller Nintendo fans have been waiting for.

Pikmin 3 is the best Wii U game at the moment for its deep and accessible gameplay, its variety of situations and the brilliant visuals and sounds.

We miss some kind of multiplayer, co-op mode, but apart from that there are no big issues we can complain about. It keeps evolving, and it's as good, addictive and fun as we remember it.

What's most striking, though, is that Pikmin still feels like strategy seen with fresh eyes - strategy, perhaps, by designers who were unconcerned with labelling, and just let their ideas lead them where they wanted to go.

Pikmin 3 is a great refinement of the original formula and is still a joy to play. But after nine years we expected some more content, and the final stage is really disappointing.

Like dormant seeds, this is slow to germinate but, given time, it blossoms, an explosion of scintillating strategy and pheromone-laced fruitiness.

Perhaps only a tighter control scheme could improve Pikmin 3 (although you can switch to Wiimote for more precision) as the infrequent boss battles can prove trickier than they need to, especially when your army is under duress. Nevertheless, this is a sumptuous, intelligent, witty and oddly cruel piece of work from a company that has no equal.

Pikmin 3 is a game about nature, just as it always has been. But on Wii U it’s so believable it often feels like you’re sitting in a real garden, playing with ants and beetles in dappled sunlight. Despite the macabre undertones of the cruelty of nature, the game is charming, funny, and utterly captivating. It is without doubt yet another Miyamoto masterpiece, and one that the Wii U desperately needs.

Beautifully crafted and filled to the brim with exciting gameplay features, Pikmin 3 is a worthy new instalment in Nintendo's quirky strategy series. The core gameplay mechanics remain true to the GameCube originals, but are further enhanced by the unique features of the Wii U GamePad.

A brilliant game that retains the entertainment of the original Pikmin games but still feels as unique as ever. A Wii U must-play.

These additional modes are a lot of fun, providing as they do bite-size portions of Pikmin action that you can enjoy with a friend, and definitely give you a reason to keep coming back to the game. But honestly, the campaign has so many nooks and crannies to explore and hidden fruit and data files to find that once you’ve reached the end of the story you’ll want to jump back in straight away.

It’s amazing that Nintendo managed to trim a complicated mix of genres such as RTS, Puzzle, Action and Garden Simulation into a welcoming masterpiece – I guess they really must have green thumbs. If you own a Wii U there’s no excuse not to play Pikmin 3.

Nintendo shows the meaning of the so called "Nintendo Difference" in this colourful, lovely and charming experience. Pikmin 3 won't probably be enough to save Wii U, but it's surely a huge leap in the right direction.