Pikmin 1

Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.

Pikmin 1 remains a delightful puzzle adventure that sees Nintendo at its most charming and inventive. Yes, this Switch port is a little bit underwhelming, with just a higher resolution and some new controls to get excited about, but with a core game this good, it's still an experience that comes highly recommended. Over two decades on from its original release, Pikmin's unique brand of magic remains undiminished.

Pikmin 1+2 is a great opportunity to delve into the franchise' origins, especially if you have already played Pikmin 3 or Pikmin 4, also available on Switch. GameCube classics are still fun, but this re-releases are just basic HD ports.

The original Pikmin shows beyond any doubt that it's a timeless classic and one that can be easily enjoyed both by long-time fans and new players alike. The experience is pretty much intact and remains perfectly faithful to the original, in a now complete effort that sees all the main games of the Pikmin series available on the Nintendo Switch.

Pikmin 1+2 is a brilliant package for people who have been missing the games since the GameCube/Wii or gamers curious about why Pikmin is so beloved. If you are coming in from Pikmin 3 or the recently released Pikmin 4 then these titles will feel painfully barebones. If you can look beyond the age or perhaps play in order of release you’ll see that just like the Pikmin, humble beginnings spout into beautiful flowers.

"Great GameCube classics with minimal upgrades."

Pikmin 1 + 2 could be a good opportunity for Nintendo Switch players who want to experience original games, but it is a scarce game in terms of adding new things. Pricing is a bit inconvenient for replaying games with only high resolution graphics.

How these two games had gracefully aged, it is another proof of Nintendo's genius touch. Simple gameplay from the first game remains charming, it is essential series gameplay, while the second part brings nice enhancements to the formula. Finally you can have full Pikmin Saga on Switch!

If anyone comes into these remasters expecting Metroid Prime or Skyward Sword levels of work, be prepared to be disappointed because these releases are more akin to the Super Mario Sunshine reissue included with Super Mario 3D All-Stars. I see the primary audience from Nintendo’s point of view being those who have never played Pikmin who are interested in Pikmin 4, however not having all the options from Pikmin 3 Deluxe (also on Switch) limits the enjoyment for those introduced to the series from that release as the other main Pikmin games were released on systems that don’t have official support anymore and a very small percentage of people actually had a Wii U. Also, the fact that buying the two games separately is $10 more than buying both together is just an odd business strategy. Overall, I would say these games are worth playing, but are unfortunately not definitive versions that wholly replace previous releases or bring changes that future releases would make to the previous titles.

Pikmin 1+2 is close to being the definitive way to experience these games before playing the second and third sequels. The low-effort porting of these games is a letdown, but the core games are wonderful and are faithfully converted to run on a reliable and widely available console.