Heavy Lifting

Lore & Background

In Pikmin 2, the player controls Captain Olimar and Louie to retrieve treasures from the surface of an unknown planet, which consist of human waste such as scrap metal and broken toys. The Pikmin follow behind the leaders and can be thrown at enemies and obstacles. The player can also direct the entire mob to swarm and attack en masse. Because the player controls two leaders simultaneously, they can separate with their own Pikmin hordes to complete multiple tasks at once. Pikmin come in five distinct colors: Red, Blue, and Yellow are resilient to fire, drowning, and electric hazards respectively; White Pikmin are swifter, resist poison, and can locate hidden treasures; Purple Pikmin are slower but far stronger, lifting as much as ten ordinary Pikmin and stunning enemies when thrown. The stalk on a Pikmin's head—leaf, bud, or flower—indicates swiftness and strength, growing upon consumption of nectar. More Pikmin are born by bringing pellets or enemy carcasses to the Onion motherships. Purple and White Pikmin are stored in the Hocotate Ship and created by throwing existing Pikmin into Candypop Buds. Bulbmin are resistant to all hazards but only temporarily usable. Sprays can be collected: purple spray encases enemies in stone, red spray boosts Pikmin speed and attack strength.

In Their Own Story

After the events of Pikmin, Captain Olimar returns to Hocotate and learns his company is bankrupt because Louie lost a shipment of luxury carrots to a 'space rabbit.' When Olimar drops a bottle cap he brought home as a souvenir, the intelligent company ship appraises it as valuable. The president orders Olimar and Louie to take this ship to the planet where the treasure was found and collect more to save the company. They crash land and are reunited with the help of local Pikmin. While collecting valuables, they encounter white and purple Pikmin. After finding enough treasure to cover the debt, Olimar takes off but realizes Louie was left behind. They return to rescue him and eventually find him atop a giant, weaponized spider-like creature called the Titan Dweevil. The various Pikmin types are needed to disarm and defeat it. Louie is recovered and the crew departs. In a special epilogue, it is revealed that Louie ate the missing carrots and falsified his report.

Reader's Guide

To perform heavy lifting in Pikmin 2, the player must throw Pikmin at objects such as treasures, pellets, or enemy carcasses. The Pikmin automatically grasp the item and march it back to the Hocotate Ship or the Onion. The player can control two leaders simultaneously, allowing them to separate with their own Pikmin hordes to complete multiple tasks at once. Only up to 100 Pikmin are allowed on the field at any time. Different Pikmin types have strengths: Purple Pikmin are slower but far stronger, lifting as much as ten ordinary Pikmin, and can stun enemies when thrown. White Pikmin are swifter and can locate hidden treasures. The player must choose the best-suited Pikmin for each task. Pikmin can be created by bringing pellets or enemy carcasses to the Onion motherships. Purple and White Pikmin are created by throwing existing Pikmin into Candypop Buds found in caves. Caves allow indefinite exploration because time does not pass inside due to a strong geomagnetic field. The player completes the game after collecting all 201 treasures.

Did You Know?

• Purple Pikmin can lift as much as ten ordinary Pikmin, making them the strongest type in Pikmin 2.
• White Pikmin are swifter than other types and can locate hidden treasures buried in the soil.
• The 30-day time limit from the original Pikmin was removed in Pikmin 2 to allow players to explore at a leisurely pace.
• Purple and White Pikmin do not have their own Onions; they are stored inside the Hocotate Ship and created by throwing Pikmin into Candypop Buds.
• Inside caves, time does not pass on the surface due to a time warp caused by a strong geomagnetic field.