Europe:
14 July 2002
United States:
3 December 2001
Canada:
3 December 2001
Australia:
28 June 2002
Japan:
26 October 2001

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Pikmin is the first game in the Pikmin series of video games, designed by Shigeru Miyamoto. The game itself is a real time strategy game, although it really isn't like your standard RTS game.

Upon first look at the game, you would suspect that it's a child's game as it looks a little on the cutesy side; however, it is far from a kids game. In fact, most children wouldn't even have the patience for the game as it's very, very, frustrating.

Pikmin is a 3D, top down game, in which the main character, Olimar, is an alien who has managed to crash his "ship", which later becomes known as the Dolphin, onto an odd planet, our own - Earth!

Upon landing on Earth, he finds himself surrounded by these odd creatures, called Pikmin, who all reside in a flying Onion which protects the Pikmin from being eaten during the night by the vicious creatures on Earth.

There are three main types of Pikmin that Olimar is able to control, Red Pikmin, Blue Pikmin and Yellow Pikmin. These Pikmin all have their own unique abilities, such as the Blue Pikmin being able to swim, the Red Pikmin can cope with hot places and the Yellow Pikmin are extra strong. These creatures all aid Olimar on his quest to retrieve the missing parts of his ship.

However, there is a slight snag, the Ship is damaged rather badly, and the poisonous substance called Oxygen is going to destroy the ship, and harm Olimar within 30 days, so there's a bit of a timelimit on the game.

The game is hard the first time around, and if you don't know where you're going, it's even worse. You've just got to take your time, as you can always start again.