Famitsu's Pikmin 2 review

[A Black Falcon]

There is very little possible exploring to do in most of the 2D Mario games, and the ones where the timer is an actual threat (SMB1, DX) there is pretty much zero need for exploration. Now try putting a timer in Mario 64 and see what happens. Yes, there's a reason why it's not there, DJ.

Plus the timers are seperate for each level. That supports what I said -- timers that are just for a part are much, much more okay in my book than one for the whole game time. Big, big difference.

Yes idiot, MM without a time limit would be just like OoT or any other Zelda game. They designed the gameplay of MM around the whole time limit aspect, and if they took that out and designed the game without the time limit in mind, it would be just like every other fucking Zelda game Nintendo has ever made! THAT is my point, Einstein. Pikmin 1 was designed WITH a time limit in mind, while Pikmin 2 WAS NOT. So the gameplay will no longer revolve around a time limit, and will instead challenge you in different ways.[/QUOTE]

It'd be possible but it'd also be a very different Majora's Mask... how would you do it? I mean, characters appear and dissapear based on time. Have it cycle, them repeating the same things every three days? Have it be switches or something, where doing something will trigger someone appearing (that could get very annoying if not clear)? Have them just all be there all the time? That'd lower the challenge quite a lot (as opposed to no timelimit for exploring, which would make the game many times more fun)... As I've said before, my biggest problem with MM isn't the frusteration of the save system or even the 3 days, it's how that 3 days thing keeps you from actually having much fun as you play! I have to spend all my time focused on the task, not just wandering around enjoying myself like in any other Zelda game... for Zelda it just plain doesn't work as well.

As for Pikmin, as I said, they just need to increase the game complexity. Include timed challenges, but don't have an overall time limit. Oh, and being able to save in more than one slot would be VERY nice... and greatly appreciated. That's just about the only strategy game I've seen with just one save slot per game...

Just more proof that it isn't much of a strategy game. It's more action/puzzle really, and the puzzles are really simple -- get pikmin to move objects. Using their various abilities. Oh, sure, simplicity can be good... but darnit I love strategic depth!