For full context, I began playing this series with 3 and then 4. I tend to prefer playing series in release-order so I have better context for their release, but I was still able to enjoy my time with Pikmin 1.
At first, I wasn't a big fan of the aiming and movement being married but, eventually I came around to it. This is in-large part thanks to the Line-Up Trumpet/C-Stick guiding. I enjoyed most sections in this game throughout its incredibly short playtime. The different Pikmin felt like they had their uses, even Yellow in my opinion.
The only negatives I have are that the game doesn't make a good first or last impression with its bosses, leading and ending with its less engaging ones. The Burrowing Snagret boss fight is really unfun and a splash-of-water-to-the-face to get used to how the game works. Plus, while the final area is a really fun puzzle using all three types of Pikmin, the Emperor Bulblax feels like a very flaccid end to the game.
Other than that, my biggest positive towards this game (as I find I've been saying often with early-GameCube releases in these reviews, now that I think about it) is how this era of Nintendo mastered that "slightly creepy, wondrous, yet still cartoony and charming" atmosphere. A recent developer interview showed much of their inspiration coming from off-kilter foreign cartoons like those of Tim Burton's and playing this game with that knowledge was very fun. I felt the influence seeping out of every part of this game and it was easily my favorite trait of Pikmin 1
At first, I wasn't a big fan of the aiming and movement being married but, eventually I came around to it. This is in-large part thanks to the Line-Up Trumpet/C-Stick guiding. I enjoyed most sections in this game throughout its incredibly short playtime. The different Pikmin felt like they had their uses, even Yellow in my opinion.
The only negatives I have are that the game doesn't make a good first or last impression with its bosses, leading and ending with its less engaging ones. The Burrowing Snagret boss fight is really unfun and a splash-of-water-to-the-face to get used to how the game works. Plus, while the final area is a really fun puzzle using all three types of Pikmin, the Emperor Bulblax feels like a very flaccid end to the game.
Other than that, my biggest positive towards this game (as I find I've been saying often with early-GameCube releases in these reviews, now that I think about it) is how this era of Nintendo mastered that "slightly creepy, wondrous, yet still cartoony and charming" atmosphere. A recent developer interview showed much of their inspiration coming from off-kilter foreign cartoons like those of Tim Burton's and playing this game with that knowledge was very fun. I felt the influence seeping out of every part of this game and it was easily my favorite trait of Pikmin 1