Caves in Pikmin 2 are made out of randomly placed units. There are units that represent dead ends, corridors, crossings, and rooms. Every cave's sublevel has a list of units that can be used by the game to create it; the latter is then responsible to randomly align the units in order to create a level with no unconnected exits.
There are three types of units, as defined by the "room type" property, declared in the sublevel unit definition text files:
- Dead ends/alcoves: These close off pathways and exits of rooms. Internally, these are called "caps", and their "room type" is 0.
- Corridors: pathways and corridors that normally don't have any special features; their walls decide the path or paths the player can take. Their "room type" is 2.
- Rooms: decorated and often large rooms, featuring walls and objects organized in a certain fashion. Their "room type" is 1.
In 2-Player Battle, for all caves excluding the Dim Labyrinth, there is a static list of units to use, as well as their position and rotation. Instead of the game generating a cave using the available units, it only has to pick one of the available static layouts. These static layouts can be found in /user/Abe/vs
.
Regular units
The following is a list of all existing units in Pikmin 2, used and unused, and sorted by theme. The themes are named based on the common word in the units' names.
Concrete
Units in the concrete theme have their names end with "conc", which is likely short for コンクリート? (lit.: "concrete"); this word comes from the concrete walls that these units have.
room_16x17r_conc: Large unit with a circular room, a roughly plus-shaped room and a corridor with a stream of water, connected by pipes. It only appears on the Hidden Garden and sublevel 4 of the Shower Room, being the only unit in both.
room_4x4g_water_4_conc: 4x4 room with 2 extra walls, one in the middle, and water. Only used on sublevel 1 of the Submerged Castle.
room_dan4x4h_2_conc: 4x4 room with the southwestern portion rising up. "dan" means 段? (lit.: "step").
room_dan4x4i_3_conc: 4x4 room with some rising portions, a stony floor, and a sub-room at the north. "dan" means 段? (lit.: "step").
room_DKumo16x10t_conc: Circular room, two roughly square rooms and a smaller circular room, connected by brief corridors. This is where the Beady Long Legs is first fought. "DKumo" refers to the boss, ダマグモ? (lit.: "Orb Spider").
room_hitode3x3m_5_conc: 3x3 room with a wall partially separating the north and south, and a partial and thick central wall on the south. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_manh7x7p_9_conc: 7x7 circular room in the center, with 8 openings (and 9 exits) scattered around. It's the main room in the Dweevil Nest. "manh" could refer to "manhole".
room_manh7x7q_8_conc: 7x7 room similar to the previous one, but the center of the room has a sandpit. Snagrets are commonly fought here. "manh" could refer to "manhole".
room_north4x4k_1_bomb_conc: 4x4 room with a rusty open pipe and a crevice. "bomb" refers to the fact that this sublevel was used in a unused sublevel as part of a puzzle involving bomb rocks. Unused.
room_north4x4k_1_conc: The same as the previous room, except portion of the tube is underground. Sublevel 2 of the Submerged Castle always ends with this.
room_Oashi8x9_conc: Large circular room with a partially stoned floor, and light shining from above. It's only used on sublevel 15 of the Hole of Heroes, where the Raging Long Legs is fought. "Oashi" refers to the boss's big feet.
room_pype10x18s_conc: 10x18 room with a central room, connected to a small circular room by a small tube, and a huge tube with flowing water spanning all-throughout. It's the main part of sublevel 2 of the Submerged Castle. "pype" means "pipe".
room_spiral_1_conc: A small maze of concrete walls on sand, with the center spiraling. Only used on sublevel 8 of the Dream Den.
Garden
Units in the garden theme have have their names end with "kusachi" (草地?, lit.: "meadow").
room_big2_kusachi: Like the bucket room, except without the bucket, shovel, or sand. Used only on sublevel 1 of the Breeding Ground and sublevel 1 of the Hole of Heroes.
room_ike_kusachi: Like the large three-way crossing room, but with a pond in the middle; it can be crossed with some small wooden boards placed on top. "ike" means 池? (lit.: "pond").
room_torigoya_kusachi: Small circular rooms with roots, connected by a crossing corridor, and a pathway to a birdhouse with light shining through the window. Exclusive to sublevel 1 of the Snagret Hole. "torigoya" means 鳥小屋? (lit.: "aviary").
Metal
Units in the metal theme have their names end with "metal".
room_hitode2x2_4_metal: Room with a very rusted metal board, with two tubes sticking up. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode2x3_5_metal: Large four-way crossing, in an X shape. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode3x3_5_metal: Room with a raised platform in the corner, with a blue metal circle, sometimes housing an Armored Cannon Beetle Larva. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode3x4_4_metal: Room with 4 exits. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode4x4_3_metal: Circular room with a raised platform in the corner, with dark and blue metal, commonly housing an Armored Cannon Beetle Larva. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode4x4_6_metal: Room with a permanently-closed small rusty hatch. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode4x4_7_metal: Room with a large blue metal circle near the center, as well as a smaller one on a raised platform. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode4x4_tower_3_metal: Like the circular room with a raised platform that normally houses Armored Cannon Beetle Larvae, but with a tower in the center instead. Used only on sublevel 7 of Subterranean Complex and sublevel 1 of the Rusty Gulch. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_houdai2_1_metal: Room with several walls, and a pond with a white circle in the center. This is one of the Man-at-Legs's arenas. "houdai" is the boss' internal name.
room_houdai_1_metal: Circular room with a spiderweb-like formation on the ground. This is one of the Man-at-Legs's arenas. "houdai" is the boss' internal name.
room_nobo2_4_metal: Huge room mostly comprised of corridors, zigzagging and spiraling up and down. "nobo" means 上る? (lit.: "ascend").
room_white14x12_metal: Soil room with shine lighting through the ceiling, connected to a metal room and a small circular room by corridors. It is exclusive to sublevel 3 of the White Flower Garden, where White Pikmin are discovered.
Snow
Units in the snow theme have their names end with "snow" or "renga" (レンガ?, lit.: "brick"), due to the brick walls they have.
room_dan4x4h_2_renga: 4x4 room with the southwestern portion rising up. "dan" means 段? (lit.: "step").
room_hitode2_5_snow: Room with 5 exits. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode3x3m_5_renga: 3x3 room with a brick wall partially separating the north and south, and a partial and thick central brick wall on the south. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode3_4_snow: Room with 4 exits. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_ike3_2_snow: Room with a ramp leading to the top of a wall that's in the center. "ike" means 池? (lit.: "pond").
room_purple14x14_snow: A snowy room and a large circular room, with light shining in, connected by a corridor. This is where Purple Pikmin are first discovered. It's the only unit with a bit of the ceiling modeled.
room_saka1_1_snow: Circular room with a lightly rising curved edge and a tree trunk in the center. "saka" means 坂? (lit.: "slope").
room_saka2_2_snow: Room with a C-shaped raised chunk of wood. "saka" means 坂? (lit.: "slope").
room_uzu1_1_snow: Circular room with a spiral going upwards, with parts of it not covered by snow. "uzu" means 渦? (lit.: "whirlpool").
Soil
Units in the soil theme have their names end with "tsuchi" (土?, lit.: "soil").
room_boss_1_tsuchi: Room with 2 subrooms, one with white splatters, the other with a discarded Empress Bulblax skin. It's used on sublevel 5 of the Hole of Beasts.
room_hebi12x12_1_tsuchi: Circular room with a spiral design on the floor, and some corridors attached. Used in sublevel 5 of the White Flower Garden. "hebi" is part of the Burrowing Snagret's name, ヘビガラス? (lit.: "Snake Crow")).
room_hitode1_5_tsuchi: Room with 5 exits and two stalagmites. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode2_5_tsuchi: Room with 5 exits. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode3_4_tsuchi: Room with 4 exits. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode4_4_tsuchi: Partially rounded room with 4 exits. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_ike1_2_tsuchi: Room with water and a ramp leading to the top of a wall that's in the center. "ike" means 池? (lit.: "pond").
room_ike2_4_tsuchi: Room with a small island in a pool of water. "ike" means 池? (lit.: "pond").
room_ike3_2_tsuchi: Like the room before the previous one, except with no water on the base of the ramp. "ike" means 池? (lit.: "pond").
room_ike4_5_tsuchi: Large room with a lot of water and several tree trunks above water. It's the main room in sublevel 6 of the Hole of Heroes. "ike" means 池? (lit.: "pond").
room_kingchap_a_tsuchi: Two spherical rooms connected by a crossing corridor. Only used on sublevel 7 of the Bulblax Kingdom and sublevel 2 of the Emperor's Realm. "kingchap" is short for "kingchappy", the Emperor Bulblax's internal name.
room_kingchap_b_tsuchi: Room with a ledge that can be reached by throwing Pikmin through one side or from a path through the pond. This is where the Gyroid Bust is found. "kingchap" is short for "kingchappy", the Emperor Bulblax's internal name.
room_kingchp_tsuchi: Room with a tree's roots, and several ponds. Emperor Bulblaxes can be found here. "kingchap" is short for "kingchappy", the Emperor Bulblax's internal name.
room_queen_b_tsuchi: From the starting point, there's a double-S-shaped corridor. After this is the main room, squareish in shape. Finally, there's a room connected with a corridor afterwards. The Empress Bulblax on the Frontier Cavern is fought here. "queen" is the boss' internal name.
room_queen_c_tsuchi: Like the first Empress Bulblax room, but without the small alcoves and without the discarded skin. The creature is fought here on sublevel 11 of the Hole of Heroes and sublevel 4 of the Emperor's Realm. "queen" is the boss' internal name.
room_saka1_1_tsuchi: Circular room with a lightly rising curved edge and a tree trunk in the center. "saka" means 坂? (lit.: "slope").
room_saka2_2_tsuchi: Room with a C-shaped raised chunk of wood. "saka" means 坂? (lit.: "slope").
room_uzu1_1_tsuchi: Circular room with a spiral going upwards. "uzu" means 渦? (lit.: "whirlpool").
Toybox
Units in the toybox theme have their names end with "toy".
room_hitode4x7_3_toy: Large three-way crossing with building blocks making up some walls. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode6x6_3_toy: Room with some walls and a box with some unsharpened pencils and building blocks. This version is only used on sublevel 1 of the Lost Toy Box. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_hitode6x7_4_toy: Large four-way crossing. "hitode" means 人出? (lit.: "turnout").
room_mid_sara2_8_toy: Room with three colored half-discs, leading to sand pits. "sara" means 皿? (lit.: "plate").
room_mid_sara_8_toy: Room with a baby plate in the center. "sara" means 皿? (lit.: "plate").
room_mid_tower2_8_toy: Room with a tower in the middle, and some walls scattered around to provide protection from the Gatling Groinks commonly found atop the tower. Used only on sublevel 1 of Three Color Training.
room_opan_toy: Huge room enclosed by walls, with building block scattered about and 3 large plates on top of a picnic cloth. This is where the Giant Breadbug is fought. "opan" is part of the boss' name, オオパンモドキ? (lit.: "Giant Bread Beetle").
way4_toy: Four-way crossing. Features four poles connected by an X-shaped wire. Rare, but can be seen on sublevel 3 of the Glutton's Kitchen. It is also in the cave unit list files for Carpet Plain, but can only be seen if the "random forcer" is used in New Play Control! Pikmin 2.
Tiles
Units in the tiles theme have their names end with "tile". The tile theme does not actually have corridors attached to it; instead, there is a different "pipe" theme that is used exclusively for the tile theme's corridors.
room_bunki7x7_8_tile: A large 7x7 room. It's the main room of the Subterranean Lair and sublevel 7 of the Hole of Heroes. "bunki" means 分岐? (lit.: "forking").
room_dangomushi_tile: One large square room connected to two smaller subrooms. This is where the Segmented Crawbster is fought. "dangomushi" is the boss' internal name.
room_oootakara_tile: Large square sink, with no drain, and scattered pieces of tiles around. Home of the Titan Dweevil. "oootakara" is the boss' internal name on some files.
room_tako2x2_8_tile: Room with 4 exits. "tako" means 凧? (lit.: "kite").
Others
Pathways with items
The following units are copies of the regular pathway units, but presumed to have items (normally eggs) in them, judging by the names. All of these are unused.
Near duplicates
These units are near duplicates of existing units, differing only on certain internal files. These duplicates could exist for a variety of reasons, but most of the time, it's to change the general layout of an existing unit, for the purposes of the cave or the objects within.
room_5x5a_2_tekiF_kusachi: Near duplicate of room_5x5a_2_kusachi (garden two way split, 2 exits), differing only on layout.txt. Used only on the Sniper Room. "tekiF" refers to the "f" version of an enemy; in this case, the stationary Armored Cannon Beetle Larva.
room_big_tekiF_kusachi: Near duplicate of room_big_kusachi (garden room with an upside-down bucket), differing only on grid.bin and layout.txt. Used only on the Sniper Room. "tekiF" refers to the "f" version of an enemy; in this case, the stationary Gatling Groink.
room_block1_3_hiba_tsuchi: Near duplicate of room_block1_3_tsuchi (soil room with a wall with a rectangular hole), differing only on layout.txt. Used only on sublevel 3 of the Hole of Beasts and sublevel 1 of the Emperor's Realm. "hiba" is the internal name for the fire geysers.
room_cent2_4_metal: Near duplicate of room_cent_4_metal (large metal four-way crossing with purple center), differing only on layout.txt. Used only on sublevel 1 of the White Flower Garden and sublevel 12 of the Hole of Heroes.
room_hitode4x4_tekiF_3_metal: Near duplicate of room_hitode4x4_3_metal (metal room with raised platform with Armored Cannon Beetle Larvae), differing only on layout.txt. Used only on sublevel 3 of the Subterranean Complex and sublevel 1 of the Brawny Abyss. "tekiF" refers to the "f" version of an enemy; in this case, the stationary Armored Cannon Beetle Larva.
room_hitode6x6_yakushima_3_toy: Near duplicate of room_hitode6x6_3_toy (toybox room with a box containing crayons and building blocks), differing only on layout.txt. Used only on sublevel 1 of the Glutton's Kitchen.
room_manh7x7p_boss_conc: Near duplicate of room_manh7x7p_9_conc (large circular room with 8 exits), differing only on layout.txt. Used only on the Angle Maze (Raging Long Legs) and sublevel 7 of the Snagret Hole.
room_manh_boss_conc: Near duplicate of room_manh_2_conc (large circular concrete room with a partial stone floor), differing only on layout.txt and route.txt. Used only on sublevel 5 of the Submerged Castle.
room_north2x2_1_tekiF_tile: Near duplicate of room_north2x2_1_tile (square tile room with one exit), differing only on layout.txt. Used only on sublevel 1 of The Giant's Bath and sublevel 2 of Hazard Training. "tekiF" refers to the "f" version of an enemy; in this case, it possibly refers to the Toady Bloyster (as opposed to the Ranging Bloyster).
room_north_tutorial_1_snow: Near duplicate of room_north_1_snow, differing only on layout.txt and route.txt. Used only on sublevel 1 of the Emergence Cave.
room_north_1_hiba_tsuchi: Near duplicate of room_north_1_tsuchi (circular soil room with one exit), differing only on layout.txt and route.txt. Used only on sublevel 3 of the Hole of Beasts and sublevel 2 of Emperor's Realm. "hiba" is the internal name for the fire geysers.
room_north_1_mat_tsuchi: Same as the previous one. All three of these units differ in the same files. This one is used in sublevels 1 and 5 of the Cryptic Cavern.
room_Oashi8x9_s_conc: Near duplicate of room_Oashi8x9_conc (large circular room with partial stone floor and light shining in), differing only on layout.txt. Used only on the Cavernous Abyss.
room_tako2x2_8_tekiF_tile: Near duplicate of room_tako2x2_8_tile (square tile room with 4 exits), differing only on layout.txt. Used only on the Bully Den. "tekiF" refers to the "f" version of an enemy.
2-Player variants
As with the previous section, these units are near duplicates of existing units, but with layout.txt changed to fit the 2-Player Battle arenas.