- Games
- Puzzle Games
- Pikmin
The second one lost him a little bit
Comments (0) ()When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Nintendo)
As a central figure in the creation of the PS4, PS5, and PlayStation Vita, and credited on numerous classic series, including Spyro and Crash Bandicoot, you’d expect Mark Cerny to have pretty discerning taste. This is exemplified by his experience with Pikmin, a game he reveals changed his life.
Cerny spoke about what those tiny multi-coloured aliens meant to him during an interview on My Perfect Console. "I thought it was such an emotionally involving story," he says. "Poor Captain Olimar, he crash lands and he's got 30 days to reassemble his ship or he'll run out of oxygen and die and he's sending letters home every day. And for me that was just transformative."
He encountered Pikmin at a time when he was playing "smaller, lighter games," generally, specifications Olimar and his lemming-like creatures excel at. But he’s quite specific in pointing out, it's the narrative of the first, where you're finding a way for the captain to get home, that drew him in. The sequel didn't resonate quite as much.
You may like-
Legendary former F-Zero and Star Fox dev says Nintendo focuses on small mechanical details that feel "good to play" because "it's all about that direct connection between you and the game"
-
Nintendo randomly reveals a big update for Pikmin 4, adding new difficulties and special Pikmin, but bizarrely no Switch 2 enhancements
-
Mysterious Nintendo teaser film has Pikmin fans like me who spent a decade waiting for the series' Switch comeback ready to lose it
Watch On
"I'm a sucker when it comes to story, right?” he explains. “But then for Pikmin 2, it's totally different. So they're on Earth, they're running around picking up trash on Earth. That's the storyline, if you recall. Literally, you're running around somebody's bathroom floor in Pikmin 2. And in one of those, you're running from debt collectors, if I have that right."
That's a slightly unflattering recollection of Pikmin 2, as the game does go back to the homeworld of those adorable little plant-like companions. But I get his point: the first is tight, with a narrative thrust that resonates more genuinely.
His comments come right as Olimar's friends have made a comeback. Pikmin 4 arrived in 2023, a decade after the third, introducing a whole other generation of wanna-be spacefarers to the joys of leading around anthropomorphic sprouts. Though hints otherwise haven't yielded a new entry yet, I'm always ready for more Pikmin, regardless of what planet it's set on.
A brutal Pikmin strategy allows you to beat the game with just three throws, but you'll have to commit some atrocities to do it
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ NewsletterContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. CATEGORIES Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 Platforms Nintendo
Anthony McGlynnSocial Links NavigationContributing WriterAnthony is an Irish entertainment and games journalist, now based in Glasgow. He previously served as Senior Anime Writer at Dexerto and News Editor at The Digital Fix, on top of providing work for Variety, IGN, Den of Geek, PC Gamer, and many more. Besides Studio Ghibli, horror movies, and The Muppets, he enjoys action-RPGs, heavy metal, and pro-wrestling. He interviewed Animal once, not that he won’t stop going on about it or anything.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
Legendary former F-Zero and Star Fox dev says Nintendo focuses on small mechanical details that feel "good to play" because "it's all about that direct connection between you and the game"
Nintendo randomly reveals a big update for Pikmin 4, adding new difficulties and special Pikmin, but bizarrely no Switch 2 enhancements
Mysterious Nintendo teaser film has Pikmin fans like me who spent a decade waiting for the series' Switch comeback ready to lose it
The "elegant design" of Super Mario Bros levels has inspired devs for over 40 years, but it was Super Mario 64's 3D leap that was a "watershed moment"
18 years after it initially released, I finally played Super Mario Galaxy for the first time on Switch 2, and I'm completely obsessed with one power up
After 23 years, I've officially beaten Super Mario Sunshine, and now I need a Switch 2 remaster to teach you youngins why the GameCube years really were a golden era for Nintendo
Latest in Puzzle Games
Nintendo sent a crack team of unimaginably talented developers including Shigeru Miyamoto to the Mario's Picross studio to "personally" teach the plumber's aura
After leaving Fire Emblem studio, Donkey Kong veteran and Mario's Picross creator couldn't hire his former co-workers or he'd face Nintendo's wrath: "It shows a lack of decency"
Lumines Arise review: "Just as effective as Tetris Effect, block matching to a beat becomes a transcendent experience"
Spooky Express is an adorable puzzle game that has me mapping out tracks in Trainsylvania to help undead passengers, and it's perfect for Halloween
I'm just as obsessed with Strange Antiquities as I was with Blue Prince, and it's easily one of the best detective puzzle games I've played this year
I dropped dogs onto other dogs to create even bigger dogs in Dogpile's hefty Steam Next Fest demo
Latest in News
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 star Josh Hutcherson fills in the blanks on what the new movie has in store for his character Mike: "He's not going to get a normal life... definitely not in the sequel"
Horror titans Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi are teaming up to turn spooky short film into a feature-length frightfest
PS5 architect Mark Cerny had a "transformative" experience playing Pikmin on the Nintendo GameCube: "I'm a sucker when it comes to story"
The Witcher 4 seems stronger than ever, as ex-Baldur's Gate 3 dev joins the team behind CD Projekt Red's new RPG: "Time to trade in my Baldur's Gate dice for some Polish steel"
Toby Fox teaches translators the meaning of "caked up" in Deltarune Chapter 5 tease as we eagerly await our big booty worm
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 director Emma Tammi says she did feel pressure going into the sequel after the first movie's success, but feels the team has made something "special" packed full of "surprises"
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Routine review: "This imperfect but wonderfully atmospheric moon-based horror leaves a strong impression"- 2Marvel Cosmic Invasion review: "Excellent '90s-tinged superhero brawling across a punchy campaign falls just short of arcade bliss"
- 3Escape from Tarkov review: "An extraction shooter that will make you truly miserable if you let it, but can offer dizzying highs you won't find elsewhere"
- 4Fans think this is the best strategy board game ever made, and I have to admit that they've got a point
- 5Constance review: "If Hollow Knight: Silksong seems too daunting, this wonderful paint powered adventure should do nicely"
1Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"- 2Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
- 3The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
- 4Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
- 5Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
1Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review: “Can the Duffer brothers stick the landing? It’s sure looking like they will”- 2Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
- 3The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
- 4IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
- 5Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
