Perplexing Pool

PP spiderwort.png

Artistic map of the Perplexing Pool.

Treasures 7
Caves 4
Pikmin available Yellow
Requirements Collect the Geographic Projection
Music {{{music}}}

The Perplexing Pool is the third area discovered in Pikmin 2, of the four in the game. It is the most aquatic area in Pikmin 2, with multiple lakes spread across its length and two of the caves being submerged, making Blue Pikmin a necessity. The level contains four caves, seven treasures, and a variety of beasts, many of them spending a lot of time in water. The Perplexing Pool is considered a representation of Summer. There are Poko × 560 worth of treasure in the US version and Poko × 450 in the European version.

The area is noted to bear a number of striking resemblances to The Distant Spring in the first game, for which reason it can be confidently considered to be the same area of the Pikmin planet. At one point, Olimar points out how much the area has changed since his last visit.

Additional enemies appear after day 30. These creatures are rather difficult to defeat, making it advisable for inexperienced players to complete the area before that day.

This is a sample of what is heard in the area in terms of music. The more powerful part of music is played when enemies are nearby.

General layout

The Perplexing Pool has a close resemblance to The Distant Spring of the first game, though it does have some changes. There is a big area where there were only small islands and water, there is no water in the middle of the area, the Shower Room is where the Massage Machine was in Pikmin, the Submerged Castle is where the Chronos Reactor was, most of the gates are gone, and there are 3 Burgeoning Spiderworts in the area – two in the middle of the area and one in the water. There are some Yellow Wollywogs and one Toady Bloyster in the water to the south of the landing site.

Yellow Pikmin

 
A view of where the Yellow Pikmin are located.

In Pikmin 2, Yellow Pikmin are discovered in this area. The player must navigate around the stumps and use the scales to get to higher elevation. Alternately, if they are skilled enough, they can throw their Pikmin onto the ledge near the bridge to the right of the large stumps, then carefully guide them to building the bridge. Any Pikmin that fall in the water can be easily whistled back. The Fiery Blowhog in the way can be bypassed. Then, the player must fight a Fiery Bulblax with Red Pikmin. After killing the Fiery Bulblax, White Pikmin must break down a bramble gate with poison pipes inside. The Yellow Pikmin are on the other side of this gate.

Treasures

Caves

Enemies

To do: Confirm the following:

  • How and when the Dwarf Bulbears appear.
  • Exactly on which day one of the Yellow Wollywog is replaced by Shearwigs.
  • How many Honeywisps there are.

Care to do so?

Gallery

Other images

Trivia

To do: Get the source for the Perplexing Spring statement.
Care to do so?

  • The Perplexing Pool was originally going to be called the Perplexing Spring.
  • While walking through the area, translucent cicada calls can be heard. In the evening, they are replaced with evening cicadas.

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
  French Source Troublante Disturbing Spring
  German Mythische Quelle


 

This article was a featured article from March 30th to April 18th, 2008.