I got through all the side missions and I feel content with the amount of content. Would have a loved a more fleshed out story, but the added challenges from the Olimar missions were a welcome change to pace of the main story.

I'm starting to go through the side stories that were added and the design of these feels a lot more improved. The time limit adds some needed urgency, and having limited pikmin makes you act a lot more carefully when approaching areas. Bulborbs actually feel scary to take on when you only have 10 pikmin.

So that ending really came quickly. Was not expecting the credits to roll where it did, and I was hoping there was going to at least be one more world. Pikmin 2 really felt a lot more expansive with the caves.

I've been playing this for a bit a week, and I wish I didn't sit on this for so long. The improvements are exactly what I was hoping for in a Pikmin sequel. Lock in is a joy, and cycling pikmin types means I'm not throw the wrong pikmin. Except for when accidentally throwing all my fairy pikmin, and then cycling to the bomb pikmin next. Killing over 70 pikmin...

I've mustered up some courage to return to this.