In Pikmin, players control Captain Olimar, marooned pilot of the starship Dolphin. Olimar has 30 days to collect 30 ship parts spread out over five different areas of the planet. A daunting task for a lone man, but Olimar quickly discovers he is able to grow an army of little assistants know as "Pikmin." Pikmin are fiercely loyal plant-creatures that seem positively delighted to carry out the every whim and command of their leader.

Pikmin come in three types, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The standard red Pikmin are the workhorses of the bunch, as they are the best fighters and are flame-resistant. Yellow Pikmin are able to wield tiny bombs, great for blowing apart obstacles, and can be thrown the farthest. Blue Pikmin are the only troopers able to survive underwater. Overcoming puzzles and obstructions to retrieve ship parts often means selecting the right Pikmin for the job.

Nintendo has populated the lush garden planet with a variety of detailed and realistic predators, each possessing distinct behaviors, most of which involve snacking upon your Pikmin armies. Progress not only means avoiding tricky obstacles, but dealing with hungry creatures around every corner. Tragically Pikmin aren't built to last, and the casualty rates in some of the battles can be staggering.

What they lack in strength they more than make up for in sheer numbers, however, and overwhelming the enemy with wave after wave of fearless Pikmin is often the best way to ensure victory. Commanding a legion of 100 Pikmin is a wholly satisfying experience. Growing reinforcements is rarely an issue, though it can be a time drain, which is an important facet of the game.

Thirty days can quickly slip by when each day lasts about 20 minutes. While the time limit gives the game a sense of urgency, it's also frustrating. Precious little time can be devoted toward leisurely exploration, or carefully determining the best way to solve a puzzle. Stealing a moment to appreciate the near photo-realistic graphics and fantastic environments can cost players the game. Get hung up on a puzzle for too long and you might as well throw in the towel and start back at day one.

The Pikmin soundtrack is a mixed bag, occasionally bubbling over with cutesy tunes that don't blend well with the urgency of the mission. The Pikmin themselves draw from an impressive collection of tiny sounds. They are able to verbally express everything from joy and happiness to anger and fear, making them that much more endearing.

Pikmin offers yet another unique experience from designer Shigeru Miyamoto (the genius behind Mario and other Nintendo titles). It blends puzzle, platform, strategy, and resource management into one memorable game. Older players who can look beyond the cutesy nature of the Pikmin will find a short diversion that is easy to learn and a joy to play. The short length is the only serious flaw in an otherwise original and gratifying gaming experience. ~ Chris Holoka, All Game Guide

Graphics are detailed and smooth, with realistic interactive garden environments you'll never want to leave. Tall plants that gently sway and part as you trundle through them, beautiful water effects, and fluid character animations all seamlessly create the amazing visuals. ~ Chris Holoka, All Game Guide

An average soundtrack that thankfully remains fairly muted into the background. In-game sounds are clear, realistic, and go a long way toward making the Pikmin themselves come alive. ~ Chris Holoka, All Game Guide

The puzzle-like gameplay coupled with gorgeous visuals make Pikmin an enjoyable experience while it lasts. ~ Chris Holoka, All Game Guide

Players will certainly want to run through the short adventure several times, as many puzzles can be solved in a variety of ways. The gorgeous visuals are also simply too much to properly absorb on a single pass. A lack of multiplayer modes or mini-games, however, hurt the long-term replay value. ~ Chris Holoka, All Game Guide