PORTAL 2

With a main story about 8-9 hours long, Portal 2 is nearly thrice as long as its predecessor, but just like its predecessor, feels like the perfect length. Valve’s ingenious puzzler sequel throws in plenty of new mechanics and design ideas on top of the first game’s foundations, and over the course of its meticulously chiseled runtime, gets absolutely everything out of all of its best ideas.

The previously leaked Pikmin 3 Deluxe has been officially launched for the Nintendo Switch. The strategy title, which originally launched on the Wii U back in 2013, will be coming to the Switch in enhanced form later this year in October.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe will come with various additional features and new content. In addition to the base game and all the DLC that was released for it, the package will also include new difficulty options, and also allow players to play through the campaign in local co-op. Meanwhile, new side-story missions featuring Olimar and Louie have also been added in.

Other new features have been confirmed as well. Players can now make use of lock-on targeting, while the game now also has optional hints to allow for a more relaxed pace. Another new feature added in the deluxe release is the Piklopedia, which will contain information on creature you meet throughout the game, and also dole out badges for completing challenges.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe launches for the Switch on October 30. You can check out its announcement trailer below.

Pikmin has been in hibernation for a while, with 2013’s Wii U entry being the last time we saw a mainline release in the series, but it seems we might see another Pikmin release not long from now. GamesBeat reports that a Pikmin 3 port might be headed to the Switch in the near future.

In a new report talking about the recently announced Paper Mario: The Origami King – which was also previously leaked – GamesBeat mentioned at the end that there are various other unannounced games that will be releasing for the Switch soon (in line with Nintendo’s own recent statements). According to the report, this includes the previously leaked Super Mario remasters, as well as a Pikmin 3 Deluxe.

Given that it’s looking unlikely that there will be a new Nintendo Direct in the foreseeable future, it should be interesting to see how and when Nintendo choose to make this announcement. If this is accurate, that is. You never know with Nintendo, so take this with a grain of salt for now.

Pikmin 4 was also confirmed to be in development not long after Pikmin 3’s release, and was reportedly close to completion, before being put on the backburner back in 2016. If Pikmin 3 Deluxe turns out to be the real deal, here’s hoping the fourth game in the series also sees the light of day in the near future.

Club Nintendo revealed the top Nintendo games of the year as voted for by the fans, and the results were starkly surprising- where you would expect traditional Nintendo franchises like Mario or Zelda (or maybe Pokemon) to take the crown (especially after all three of them exhibited such strong showings with their latest entries), the winners were entirely unexpected.

The two best Nintendo games of the year, as voted by fans, were Pikmin 3, and The Wonderful 101, both on the Wii U. The other Wii U games that got votes in were The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Super Mario 3D World, Rayman Legends, Monster Hunter 3, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, Bit.Trip Presents Runner 2: Future of the Rhythm Alien, Lego City Undercover and DuckTales: Remastered. So basically every single Wii U game released this year.

The 3DS side was no less packed with titles- The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Fire Emblem Awakening, Pokemon X, Pokemon Y, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney — Dual Destinies, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, Rune Factory 4 and Mario and Luigi: Dream Team.

Nintendo may be having a rough time on the business side, but that list above shows us that on the games front, they;ve never been better.

Meanwhile, 3DS hardware sales are down 22 percent in this quarter, with 2.49 million units sold though software sales rose by 40 percent for 16.37 million units sold in this time. Remember that this doesn’t even account for Pokemon X & Y, which released in October and sold 4 million units worldwide in just two days.

The Wii U saw a greater increase in sales – namely, a 400 percent increase which saw 5.27 million units sold worldwide. Pikmin 3 and Wind Waker HD are apparently the top two highest selling titles. Will Nintendo be able to meet its lofty forecasts? Time will tell.

Pikmin is one such franchise that maintains a cult following from its two Gamecube instalments in 2001 and 2004. After a hiatus, Pikmin returns as the first Wii U exclusive aimed at the hardcore gamer. More of the same makes Pikmin 3 a returning delight for fans, but this lack of innovation is a tiring trend that is creeping into too many of Nintendo’s first party titles as of late.

You control three explorers from the planet Koppai. A domestic food shortage forces them to explore a nearby planet for sustainable food, but they get separated from their ship and each other on the way there. What follows is a quest for survival, oversized fruit and the drive module required to leave the planet safely. The eponymous Pikmin return as you explore, marking the game with the usual mixture of puzzles and exploration that define the series.

It’s in the basic mechanics that Pikmin 3 makes its only definable change to the series. You only control your team of explorers, but you can give the Pikmin basic orders by throwing them at objects and enemies. With different coloured Pikmin offering unique abilities, the majority of puzzles revolve around sorting and managing your Pikmin with maximum efficiency.

"Pikmin 3's other attempts to improve on the series are similar; successful, yet ultimately flat. You now control three human characters, swapping between them for more advanced Pikmin management and puzzle solving, but it hardly redefines the formula."

Red, Yellow and Blue Pikmin return from the previous games, joined by two new variants. Rock Pikmin can smash through tough barriers and glass, but only deal real damage when initially thrown. Pink winged Pikmin are arguably more interesting, being capable of fighting and moving objects in mid-air. They certainly mix things up but, with only two new Pikmin types, Pikmin 3 doesn’t exactly re-invent the wheel with its core mechanics.

Pikmin 3’s other attempts to improve on the series are similar; successful, yet ultimately flat. You now control three human characters, swapping between them for more advanced Pikmin management and puzzle solving, but it hardly redefines the formula. Likewise, levels are bigger, better and more complex than ever before, but they look and feel almost identical to previous maps in the series.

The same small scales, the same forests and the same enemy types await you in the grand, but repetitive return of Miyamoto’s pseudo-gardening sim. Pikmin 3 gets away with a lot due to the series’ charm and solid gameplay design, but this third instalment is starting to draw out and protract the formula in ways that it struggles to justify.

Part of the problem is the hopes pegged on Pikmin 3. It might be considered unfair to judge a game on the hype drummed up around it, but the fact remains that Pikmin 3 fails to really utilize the Wii U hardware. I had hoped for some light touch screen Pikmin control and, whilst the Gamepad screen does display a map with tactical information, it doesn’t offer the tactile control that could have transformed the series’ gameplay.

"It certainly looks great in motion, but I was expecting a slightly higher visual fidelity from Pikmin 3. The sound makes up for this though, offering a pleasing deluge of sci-fi timbres alongside the cartoon sound effects Nintendo are always so inventive with."

Controls are generally disappointing, with the Gamepad and Pro Controller setups feeling like you’re moving a cursor more than a character. Wii remote controls serve better in this regard, but this prevents you from having any control of the camera. It’s a bit harsh to criticise a game on what it lacks rather than what it has, but this does feel like a missed opportunity.

Pikmin 3 also falls foul of another consistent Wii U criticism: Its graphics are a mixed bag. The visual design has the usual appeal you would expect from a Nintendo game, but character models and textures look a little grainy as you get up close.

It certainly looks great in motion, but I was expecting a slightly higher visual fidelity from Pikmin 3. The sound makes up for this though, offering a pleasing deluge of sci-fi timbres alongside the cartoon sound effects Nintendo are always so inventive with. It doesn’t look bad, by any means, but there was definitely room for smoother visuals.

I’ve focused on the negatives so far, but there is a lot of good in Pikmin 3. The incredible sense of exploration prevails from the previous games, with the well balanced maps and puzzles providing a terrain that is rife with discovery. The day structure is still in place, with your explorers needing to get off the planet’s surface at night fall to avoid the native predators.

"The main story is a bit on the short side. It's certainly a case of quality over quantity, but a few extra hours on the campaign would have made a big difference to Pikmin 3's value for money. "

It keeps you on your toes, as any Pikmin unaccounted for perish in the nocturnal melee. I have my problems with the structure as, with the days being so short, it often kills any sense of continued exploration. It certainly reigns as an engaging mechanic, but don’t expect Pikmin 3 to be a particularly flowing example of exploration and puzzle solving.

The main story is a bit on the short side. It’s certainly a case of quality over quantity, but a few extra hours on the campaign would have made a big difference to Pikmin 3’s value for money. The game is bolstered by a variety of missions you can tackle solo or in co-op and, whilst they are fun, they aren’t quite as intricate as you might be hoping. Still, the inclusion of the versus Bingo Battle mode is surprisingly engaging, playing to the strengths of the series effectively. Both players get a bingo card with various enemies and fruits printed on it.

The player to find and move all the fruit and enemies on their card back to base wins. It’s a very Pikmin multiplayer mode and, though the lack of online play is lamentable, it’s a fun addition to the main story. It doesn’t entirely solve the lifespan problem, but Bingo Battle is a confident step in the right direction.

Pikmin 3 is a good game, regardless of how you look at it, but Nintendo need to be doing better. For the father of Mario and Zelda himself, it isn’t enough for his game to be merely good. The third Pikmin is more of the same and, whilst this is a delight, Nintendo’s conservative design choices prevent it from becoming the system seller the Wii U deserves.

This game was reviewed on the Nintendo Wii U.

Pikmin 3 is one of the best games on the Wii U and there are a few unlockables and secrets in the game. For this purpose we have compiled a mega guide which will show you how it should be done.

Pikmin 3 Secret Memo Locations:

There are 10 hidden Secret Memos in every level of Pikmin 3. This includes the following levels:

• Garden of Hope
• Distant Tundra
• Tropical Wilds
• Twilight River
• Formidable Oak

Check out the video below to find out where they are located.

Pikmin 3 Glitches:

Pikmin 3 glitch: Early Shaggy Long Legs at Distant Tundra with unlimited in-game clock:

This glitch allows unlimited in-game clock which will help you defeat Shaggy Long Legs. Let us take a look at this glitch in the video below:

To get to the other side of the indestructible wall:

You will need 3 captains and Winged Pikmin to go Out of Bounds. This will allow  players to discover the missing objects.

Pikmin 3: ALL Secret Memo Rewards:

Below you will find all the secret Memo rewards in Pikmin 3. There are a total of six reawards.

Pikmin 3 Endings: Good, Bad And Best

There are three endings in Pikmin 3: Good, Bad and Best. Check them out below.

Best Ending:

Bad Ending:

Good Ending:

All Endings explained:

Pikmin 3 Boss Fights:

There are six boss fights in Pikmin 3. For tips to beat them, watch the video below:

Note: This guide will updated once we have more information about the game. You can also check out the complete video walk-through of Pikmin 3 over here.

Game Overview:

In Pikmin 3 players will come across the story of 3 space explorers – Alph, Brittany and Charlie. In the game they will who crash on an alien planet and must collect fruit in order to survive.

The game is published and developed by Nintendo and Nintendo EAD Group No. 4, Monolith Soft respectively.

The game is available for the Nintendo Wii U.

Check out the video walk-through of Pikmin 3 below and let us know if you have any questions in the comments section below.

For video game guides, tips and wikis, check out our gaming portal here.

Nintendo has announced a list of the games Gamescom attendees will be able to sample at the upcoming expo, which takes place in Cologne from August 21st-25th. A whole host of Wii U and 3DS titles will be available to demo, the most exciting of which being Europe’s first ever playable glimpse at the much anticipated Pokemon X and Y in a short playable demo.

The fully announced list comes out to:

Wii U:

– Pikmin 3, which has already been released in Europe as of July 26th, will be =available on the floor for the Wii U to show off all of its brand new interactive features.

– The Wonderful 101, in which players control up to 100 heroes at a time in order to defend the earth from an invading alien scourge. The Wonderful 101 launches on August 23rd.

– The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, the beloved Gamecube title, has been remastered, revamped, and repackaged for the Wii U, incorporating some of the systems unique interactive features and overall touching up the game’s look for HD.

– Sonic Lost World will be available for fans of the classic franchise. Sonic returns to team up with former nemesis Dr. Eggman to battle the Deadly Six, showcasing a host of new abilities and fun environments.

– Wii party U, the Wii U’s family oriented board game station will be playable, and features board games, mini games, table top games, etc.

– Donkey Country: Tropical Freeze, the much anticipated new Donkey Kong side scroller, which features Donkey, Diddy, and Dixie Kong jumping and rolling their way over and through new enemies and environments

– Super Mario 3D World, which is the first multiplayer 3D Mario game for the Wii u will be playable, and will feature some never before seen abilities from the Mario cast.

– Wii Karaoke U will be available to all Gamescom attendees. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is really up to you.

– And Finally, Mario Kart 8, set for a Spring 2014 release will be avaiable to demo in full HD.

3DS:

– Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, which launches November 8th, will be available for a demo. This final game in the Professor Layton prequel trilogy takes place one year after the events of Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask.

– The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a new entry in the Zelda series, set in the same world as the SNES classis, A Link to the Past. The game will expand upon the original top down 2D perspective, incorporating many of the unique graphic elements that the 3DS has to offer.

However, while The Last of Us managed to get back to the second position, Nintendo’s Pikmin 3 collapsed miserably to 15th place within a week. Considering the title’s drop in Japan as well, this certainly isn’t the best sign of things to come. Regardless, Nintendo is still seeing a measure of success with Animal Crossing: New Leaf on the 3DS at third place. After being at fifth place last week, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros. fell to 11th place this week.

FIFA 13 somehow managed to inch its way back up to fourth place, with the godawful Smurfs 2 game at fifth place. The usual suspects make up the remainder of the top 10, which includes Far Cry 3, LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, Call of Duty Black Ops 2, Tomb Raider and Assassin’s Creed III.