Hey! Pikmin Reviews
"This is not rocket science."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Hey! Pikmin entices in the beginning, but the dull level design and easy puzzles made it boring. This sequel fails at carrying what made the other Pikmin games terrific.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Hey! Pikmin is stuck in a weird place that hinders its fun-factor. There’s no real challenge during the entire adventure, puzzles require no thought whatsoever, and levels seem to repeat the same ideas over and over again.
The 3ds version of Nintendos beloved Pikmin series is a bit of a disappointment. The level design feels lazy, the graphics is outdated and the mechanic overall isn't nearly as fun as the previous Pikmin games.
Review in Swedish | Read full review
Much like Chibi Robo! Zip Lash was a bit of a flop in converting a primarily 3D franchise into 2D, Hey! Pikmin makes errors of its own. While the antics of the Pikmin seen in the levels are adorable and the game is visually pleasing, I just couldn't get over the way the Pikmin behaved when I was playing. It's otherwise a rather bland and forgettable adventure that Pikmin fans can quite easily skip.
A 2D portable Pikmin was probably never a good idea, and this uninspiring effort does little to prove otherwise.
Hey! Pikmin misses out on being a great platformer with its disappointing touch screen controls, and its poor level design. But it may be a fun ride for die hard Pikmin fans.
For fans of the series Hey! Pikmin will undoubtedly be tempting, and it also serves as a cute and accommodating introduction to the franchise for 3DS owners. Despite its strong points, though, it has that feel of a 'second-tier' Nintendo release, not helped by the limitations that 2D play places on the core concept. It's solid but a tad uninspiring, fun but unsurprising, accessible but lacking in witty design. The best Nintendo games achieve the high points with no sacrifices, but it's here that Hey! Pikmin falls slightly short.Ultimately it's a decent game, and younger gamers in particular - or those that want a gentle introduction to Pikmin - will likely get the most pleasure and mileage out of it. For everyone else it's worth going in with sensible expectations.
Nintendo transforms its beloved 3D strategy game into a side-scroller in Hey! Pikmin for the 3DS, and while there is fun too be had, it's a little simple in its execution.
Hey! Pikmin is an interesting reinvention for the series, but it doesn't really go deep enough to be an interesting and rewarding puzzle platformer. It winds up being an adequately executed collect-a-thon—a time-waster that offers a new take on a familiar formula, but fails to take it in any bold new direction.
Olimar and his Pikmin are back for another charming adventure, but don't expect it to be as challenging as its console counterparts.
Olimar's latest adventure isn't difficult, but it feels tedious
Smaller levels that need to be played multiple times without the usual real-time strategy elements leaves this Pikmin game feeling out of place.
Hey! Pikmin is a fun game, but there's not much depth to get you wanting to play more.
Hey! Pikmin forces the series into something it's not, resulting in a barebones platformer with Pikmin on the cover.
Pikmin fans hoping for the next evolution in the franchise will have to wait for another attempt, as Hey! Pikmin is an enjoyable, but vastly simple experience that doesn't live up to its namesake.
Hey! Pikmin has its moments. The stages have some neat but simple puzzles, the visuals and music are solid, the inherent cute charm of Pikmin's weird alien worlds is on full display, and discovering treasures based on common household items – and seeing Olimar's confused interpretations of them – is always good for a smile. However, the lax difficulty, slow pace, and repetitive structure drag it down quite a bit. There's not a lot of meat to Hey! Pikmin, which is disappointing when compared to the required skill and replayability of the console Pikmin games. It's good for a playthrough, but this is a voyage I can't see myself taking again.
In the end though, Hey! Pikmin is a solid game and a decent first attempt at bridging out the franchise to multiple genres. The Pikmin seem to have a lot more personality in this game than previous entries and you get to see a more playful side to them. It isn’t the longest game out there but there are plenty of things to do that will elongate the experience such as beating each level without losing any Pikmin, as that grants you a gold trophy and of course you can challenge yourself to find every single piece of treasure in the game.
Overall, Hey! Pikmin is a good offering to the franchise considering its status as a spin-off. It may not play at all like the original Pikmin, but it's a close enough relative that taking the reins feels natural.
Regardless of its lax difficulty and lack of replay value, Hey! Pikmin has been utterly adorable and fun to play through. If you’re a fan of the franchise and don’t go in expecting it to be a mobile sequel, but rather a casual spinoff of the series, you’ll be pleased. Folks waiting on a new full-scale Pikmin will have to hope the Switch gets one in the coming year.