Editing Pikmin 2 prerelease information

{{game icons|p2=y}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Pikmin 2'' prerelease information}}
{{clean|Remove the opening paragraph's direction to the unused content article and instead, on this article, give brief mentions of the unused content that hints to cut enemies, areas, etc. (i.e. exclude obvious debugging content).}}

Some parts of ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' were only available '''before the final release''', and have been changed or removed for the final version. This information is known from different sources, like gameplay videos or screenshots of earlier versions of the game. Although the exact versions are not known, they are commonly called "beta", "alpha", or "pre-alpha" versions by fans, depending on how complete the game looks to be.

There is also some unused content inside the final copies of ''Pikmin 2'', and some of it helps understand what type of content was meant be available for the full game; for such a list, see the [[unused content]] page.

==''New Play Control! Pikmin 2'' official website==
Interestingly, the [http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/blZro2PAxbBGDe2S31MUAdP-xRWlH9j8 official website for ''New Play Control! Pikmin 2''] at nintendo.com has some images of the game, but none of them belong to the final release of {{npcp2}}. Instead, they show early versions of the [[GameCube]] version. From these images, several different features can be noticed, and it can be concluded that they were taken from two different development versions: one that uses graphics and ideas still from the [[Pikmin (game)|first ''Pikmin'' game]], and another that is close to the final version of ''Pikmin 2'', but with some differences. This list explains the main differences between the two versions mentioned and the final game:

* "First" version:
** The [[HUD]] has no icons for [[Louie]].
** [[Captain Olimar]]'s icon on the HUD is the same as the icon from ''Pikmin''.
** The [[spray]] counters show the existence of an unknown yellow spray.
** The [[day]] counter is taken from ''Pikmin'', since the "d" in "day" is still lowercase.
** The Pikmin counter has leading zeros, which, depending on the images, are see-through or fully opaque.
** The sublevel counter says "floor" instead of "SUBLEVEL".
** Areas are vastly simpler and less detailed, and have different layouts on certain parts, but most textures have a higher resolution.
** [[Purple Pikmin]] are still purple, but their main color is black, and because their HUD icons have not been made yet, the game uses a Yellow Pikmin's icon colored partially gray as a placeholder.
** A [[treasure]] resembling the [[Pink Menace]] can be seen, but it has a blue heart, a different shaped frame for the jewel, and is not found on the [[Valley of Repose]].
** The [[Rubber Ugly]]'s texture and model was different.
** An unknown treasure for a rusty can without a label exists, inside a cave.
** The [[carrying]] numbers use the same color scheme as in ''Pikmin''.
** [[#Early Bulborbs|Large yellow Bulborbs]] can be seen on some areas and caves.
* "Second" version:
** The [[leader]]s' icons are the same as in the final version, except the bottom of their images poke through the bubble they are in.
** The spray counter has a purple dot for the [[ultra-bitter spray]] without the spray having been collected. In the final game, the dot only appears if the spray was unlocked.
** It is possible to grow more than 20 [[Red Pikmin]] (at least 26) on day 1.

<gallery>
Early Burgeoning Spiderwort mold.jpg|Close-up of the [[Burgeoning Spiderwort mold]]. The HUD differences can be clearly seen here.
Early Empress Bulblax.jpg|Fighting an Empress Bulblax. Compared to the previous image, the leading zeros on the Pikmin count are transparent.
Early P2 berries.jpg|Carrying berries. This section of the [[Awakening Wood]] looks emptier and has simpler-looking floor tiles.
Early P2 Burgeoning Spiderworts 2.jpg|Other Burgeoning Spiderworts, on the area that contains the entrance to the [[Snagret Hole]].
Early P2 Burgeoning Spiderworts.jpg|The section containing the [[Snagret Hole]] of the Awakening Wood.
Early Perplexing Pool 2.jpg|A [[Spotty Bulbear]] in a large patch of water.
Early Perplexing Pool.jpg|The entrance to the [[Shower Room]]. A [[Male Sheargrub]] can be seen where there are none on the final game. The plastic pipe also faces another way.
Early Pink Menace.jpg|An early ring treasure, similar to the [[Pink Menace]]. Note the high quality wall texture behind the leaders.
Rubber Ugly E3 2003.png|The Rubber Ugly, with a different texture.
Pikmin 2 prototype can.jpg|An unknown rusty can treasure.
Pikmin 2 early 2.jpg|The [[Valley of Repose]]'s manhole, with a different look, and a [[cave]] entrance. There is also a crosswalk marking missing in the final game.
Pikmin 2 early HUD 2.jpg|At the Valley of Repose. The leaders' icons go past the bubbles they are in.
Pikmin 2 early HUD 3.jpg|Near the main lake of the area. The shore to the lake looks simpler than the final game.
Pikmin 2 early HUD 4.jpg|The first day. Note how the player has 26 Pikmin, whereas in the final game, they can only grow 20.
Pikmin 2 early HUD.jpg|Only the [[ultra-spicy spray]] is unlocked, but the [[ultra-bitter spray]]'s purple dot can still be seen.
</gallery>

==Early Bulborbs==
[[File:Early Rubber Ugly.jpg|thumb|350px|A large yellow Bulborb, on the top-left corner.]]

Two [[Grub-dog|Bulborb]] subspecies are known to have been cut from the final versions of ''Pikmin 2'', from analysis of gameplay videos and screenshots. These Bulborbs, along with the [[Red Bulborb]], would have given each basic Pikmin type a Bulborb of the same color, had they not been removed. Naming used in the game's data makes it clear that these enemies eventually became the [[Dwarf Orange Bulborb]]s, [[Orange Bulborb]]s, [[Snow Bulborb]]s and [[Hairy Bulborb]]s in the final game.

A blue "dwarf" Bulborb is clearly seen in a gameplay video.{{cite youtube|33bw8YRaatE|showing the blue dwarf Bulborb.}} It has white spots, and apparently acts like the [[Dwarf Red Bulborb]], with the same [[health]], attacks and weight. Its treasure value, however, appears to be {{pokos|5}}, whereas Dwarf Bulborbs are worth {{pokos|2}} in the game's released version. An adult version was never shown. These blue enemies became the Dwarf Orange Bulborb &ndash; whose internal name is <code>bluekochappy</code> &ndash; and the Orange Bulborb &ndash; with the internal name <code>bluechappy</code>.

Yellow Bulborbs appeared in the same video as the blue one, but in an above-ground area that bears a striking resemblance to [[The Forest of Hope]]. A dwarf version was also seen, which seems to walk slower than other Dwarf Bulborbs. In the final game, Snow Bulborbs are internally called <code>yellowkochappy</code> and Hairy Bulborbs are called <code>yellowchappy</code>.

<gallery>
Mature Yellow Bulborb.jpg|A large yellow Bulborb.
Early P2 berries.jpg|A sleeping large yellow Bulborb, on the top-left corner.
Dwarf Yellow Bulborb.jpg|A dwarf yellow Bulborb.
Blue Depict.png|A dwarf blue Bulborb.
</gallery>

{{clear}}

==Videos==
===E3 2003 gameplay===
There's an E3 2003 prototype gameplay video that shows yellow Bulborbs and different cave aspects. It also contains some debugging elements:

{{#ev:youtube|v=RM70BlaNal8|350}}
:''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM70BlaNal8 YouTube link]; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssxpb_84KA0 alternative footage]''

The noted differences from the final game are:
*[[Olimar]] appears to be in the [[Awakening Wood]]. A bridge can be seen leading up to the small cliff in the background, which happens to have [[Burgeoning Spiderwort mold]] on top of it.
*The [[Awakening Wood]]'s textures look a lot more dead, with less grass.
*A white gate is present where the second white gate would be located in [[The Forest of Hope]]. The placement of this gate is indicative of normal land instead of a water pit in the Awakening Wood.
*A debugging error handler is running, and in the footage, has captured a problem: <code>WARNING [system.cpp:593] DVD LOADING. MAIN THREAD!!</code>. This problem disappears once the player starts moving inside a cave.
*The player is seen moving near a mature [[#Early Bulborbs|Yellow Bulborb]] and some yellow dwarves.
*Two sprays exist, one red for {{button|gc|padu}}, likely the [[ultra-spicy spray]], and an unknown yellow one for {{button|gc|padd}}.
*The [[camera]] can zoom in much closer.
*Leading zeros appear on the [[HUD]]'s numbers, but are almost invisible.
*[[Louie]]'s icon and [[health]] indicator do not appear on the HUD.
*[[Olimar]]'s icon on the HUD is the same one as the icon in ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'', as opposed to a brand new one.
*The [[HUD#Standby Pikmin|standby Pikmin icon]] for the [[Yellow Pikmin]] is much paler than in the final game.
*While entering a [[cave]] in what is probably the [[Awakening Wood]], a large, solid red box appears in the background, with the text "956*90" appearing on its side. A large sleeping [[Red Bulborb]] can be seen behind it in the distance. This box appears to be a very early version of the [[paper bag]].
*The cave entrance cutscene starts to slow down with time, and eventually ends before all Pikmin enter. There is also no [[Saved game|saving]] afterwards.
*When landing in a sublevel, the text "floor 1" appears on-screen, in a much different fashion from the final game (which would show the cave's name in one line, and "Sublevel 1" in the next). This text stays on-screen even during gameplay. There is no HUD besides this text.
*The sublevel landing cutscene is a bit different, and only contains the part where the camera is already at ground-level. The squad starts a little into the cave, not under the [[Research Pod]].
*The landing spot below the Research Pod is a green circle, and the Research Pod itself is a very simple plain dark red. These could be lighting problems, however.
*Purple Pikmin stems glow green when idle.
*The cave presented in the video uses a soil theme, with black walls, but a cavern skybox, which looks very jarring.
*[[Boulder]]s fall without warning, and look unfinished, as they do not rotate as they hit the ground, and lack particle effects.
*Pikmin seem to be unable to [[Carrying|carry]], since some are thrown at an early [[Rubber Ugly]], but then do nothing.
*A [[Lapis Lazuli Candypop Bud]] instantly changes to a [[Golden Candypop Bud]] and back again. This is probably an early [[Queen Candypop Bud]].

{{clear}}

===E3 2003 Challenge Mode gameplay===
This video shows an early version of the [[Challenge Mode (Pikmin 2)|Challenge Mode]]. In this one, the mode develops in the [[Awakening Wood]] (called "Challenge Level" here), making it very like the [[Challenge Mode (Pikmin)|Challenge Mode from ''Pikmin'']], with the exception that the player is able to use [[spray]]s. This version of the game only has three menu options: "Main Game", "2-Player", and "Challenge".

{{#ev:youtube|v=OKHpZGoz8eE|350}}
:''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKHpZGoz8eE YouTube link]''

The following differences from the final game can be spotted:
*The jingle played by the [[ship's dialogs]] is more monotone and bland.
*The ship gives a plain overlook of the game's plot.
*The [[Awakening Wood]] is simply just known as "Challenge Level".
*The [[Awakening Wood]] is vastly different from the final game, likely made that way for demonstration purposes.
*Like in the previous video, the [[HUD]]'s numbers have leading zeros, although sharper, and Louie's icon and health are not visible.
*There is a section in the [[Music (Pikmin 2)#Awakening Wood|area's theme]] where the oboe's notes are quarter notes, whereas they are eighth-notes in the final game.
*[[Gate]]s have a [[HUD#Health wheel|health wheel]].
*When Pikmin attack something, the spark particles they create are larger and more opaque than in the final game.
The following differences between the Awakening Wood can be noted:
*A white gate is present where the first white gate was located in [[The Forest of Hope]].
*A [[Cloaking Burrow-nit]] can be seen behind the first white gate. A cave can also be seen.
*Three various 10 pellets are scattered throughout the level. One red 10 pellet is right behind the white gate, and the other two blue and yellow pellets are outside, to the left.
*An electric gate is found where the [[clog]] in a plate is located. The clog that would be by the electric gate is not present.
*A [[Seeding Dandelion]] is prominently displayed on the ledge near the plate. Another one can be seen behind the white gate.
*Three [[Burgeoning Spiderwort mold]]s can be seen in the plain near the start of "Challenge Level".
*As made evident through the locations of the plant pots and the lack of a dirt ramp near the pots, this map uses the [[Piklopedia]] version of the [[Awakening Wood]]. 
*A [[Rubber Ugly]] can be seen behind a [[Hermit Crawmad]] hole. Notably, the presenter seems to quickly reveal the objects with a audible "yay" by quickly pointing the camera at the objects and then looking away before the video cuts away.

Interestingly, the presenter erroneously calls Olimar "Omar" and believes Louie is his wife.

{{clear}}

===January 2004 Japanese Demo Disk===
This video was found on a demo disk released only in Japan and is dated January 2004.

{{#ev:youtube|v=QYR86VMF4w|350}}
:''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QYR86VMF4w YouTube link]''

The following differences from the final game can be spotted:
*All of the [[Piklopedia]] versions of the areas are seen used.
*Another early paper bag can be seen. This version of the paper bag appears to be a wide seesaw block.
*Red Pikmin are found in the real landing site of the [[Valley Of Repose]].
*A [[Withering Blowhog]] and a [[Ranging Bloyster]] can be seen in the Perplexing Pool.
*The landing site for this version of the [[Perplexing Pool]] is where the [[Yellow Pikmin]] are found in the final game. Notably, this appears to show trunk walls present in the Perplexing Pool's Yellow Pikmin landing site, but not in the [[Piklopedia]] version of the Perplexing Pool, indicating that the Perplexing Pool shown here may have some changes, even when compared to the in-game Piklopedia version.
*A cave is present on top of the manhole in the Valley of Repose (it is not visible, although its particle effects and sound effects can be seen and heard). This change is present in one of the {{npcp2}} [[#New Play Control! Pikmin 2 official website|official website screenshots]].
*A cave is found to the left of where the [[Submerged Castle]] would be located in the Perplexing Pool.
*Olimar and Louie are in the [[Awakening Wood]] on day 2, indicating that the Awakening Wood was to be unlocked after the first day of the Valley of Repose, or that the [[Emergence Cave]] was to be entered on day 1.
*A cave is located just to the left of the [[Geographic Projection]], behind an electric gate.
*Olimar and Louie seem to have just Yellow Pikmin and Red Pikmin on day 2. Given the location of an electric gate to the left of the Geographic Projection, along with the early landing site of the [[Perplexing Pool]], the Yellow Pikmin were probably meant to be found in the Awakening Wood.
*A [[Spotty Bulbear]] is seen on the Awakening Wood.
*[[Burgeoning Spiderwort]]s are present in the open plain in the Awakening Wood. These are the same ones visible in the E3 2003 Challenge Mode gameplay footage.

===Trailers===
A trailer showed at E3 2004 shows little noteworthy information, except for the fact that Blue Pikmin were able to enter the [[Lost Toy Box]].

:''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cteEOv7pmHI YouTube link] (the Pikmin appear 50 seconds into the video)''

The first Japanese trailer shows an [[Emperor Bulblax]] eating Pikmin with a swipe of its tongue. Only eight Pikmin get caught, even though the cap is nine Pikmin in the final game. It is not clear if the attack in the clip simply failed to gather the maximum number of Pikmin possible, or if the maximum used to be eight, but was changed to nine.

:''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRZeZA5Gtrg YouTube link] (the Emperor Bulblax appears 52 seconds into the video)''

== Piklopedia area paths ==
The [[Piklopedia#Areas|Piklopedia and Treasure Hoard versions of the areas]] have [[carrying]] paths used in the Pikopedia for path-following enemies like the [[Spotty Bulbear]] and the [[Waterwraith]]. On top of that however, they don't match up with the models, which hints to earlier layouts of the areas playable in the final game. These are probably the version shown on the [[#January 2004 Japanese Demo Disk|January 2004 Japanese Demo Disk]].

=== Awakening Wood ===
*Paths for bridges that would be placed similarly to the bridges leading up to the [[Sagittarius]] in [[The Forest of Hope]] are present. They are converging through the apparent bridge locations and towards the landing site.
*Paths converging at the location that is surrounded by cobblestone walls is present, presumably indicative of an early [[Onion]] location. There are three points leading downwards from the cobblestone walls towards the location.
*Where the [[Bulblax Kingdom]] would be located are points leading out to the east.
*The points that would allow the [[Air Brake]] in the final Awakening Wood to be carried down are not present.

=== Perplexing Pool ===
*The wall formed from three stump walls and grass to the west of where the [[Glutton's Kitchen]] would be located in the Perplexing Pool has a point leading down from it, indicating a early treasure location.
*There are points for a bridge going over a pit to the west of the real landing site and lead northwards. The two unconnected waypoints to the north of the [[Shower Room]] entrance are now connected and point south.
*The routing is apparently converging towards the center of the area, where the [[Yellow Pikmin]] landing site is located. As can be seen in the January 2004 demo disk, Onions were parked at this very spot, indicating that the landing site was apparently located in the center of the map.
*Routing that would lead treasure towards the final landing site is not present for the locations of the [[Impediment Scourge]], the [[Gherkin Gate]], and presumably the [[Onion Replica]]. Indeed, there is almost no routing at all at the section of the map with the Gherkin Gate, except for routing that leads out of the small pit leading into water. This may be indicative of an early treasure location.

==Other images==

<gallery>
Pikmin 2 Early Challenge Mode.jpeg|An earlier version of the [[Challenge Mode (Pikmin 2)|Challenge Mode]].
Early Two Player Mode Pikmin 2.jpg|An earlier version of a 2-player mode. Note that the rusty [[cave unit]]s shown here have much higher walls.
Early Empty Space Container Location Pikmin 2.jpg|An earlier location for the [[Empty space container]].
Leaders Cutting Off Bubbles Pikmin 2.jpeg|The leader icons cut off outside of the bubbles.
</gallery>

== Other content ==
[[File:Pikmin 2 Perplexing Pool Wire-frame.png|thumb|right|The wireframe texture used in-game.]]
In the background of the [[Piklopedia]] and [[Treasure Hoard]] menus, there is a wireframe texture that depicts the [[Perplexing Pool]] seen from above. This wireframe does not match the final Perplexing Pool, but is fairly close to the Piklopedia/Treasure Hoard version of the area. Notably, the landing site is a large circle instead of a box.

That said, there are still differences between the texture and the Perplexing Pool model used in the final game's Piklopedia. For one thing, the entire shower floor section where the [[Shower Room]] is is missing in the texture. The texture also shows an island to the southeast of the landing site where no such island exists, and has a big open space at the south; these are like remnants from [[The Distant Spring]]. The [[Yellow Pikmin]] site seems to have walls, but this is unclear. The out of bounds areas seem to be rather unfinished.

==See also==

*[[Region]]
*[[Unused content]]
*[[Promotional material]]
*[[Prerelease information]]

==References==
{{refs}}

{{prerelease}}
[[Category:Prerelease]]