[Tolkien]

But of course, the shock effect of the Phalanx requires good terrain. The sheer inflexibility of the Phalanx when it came to being flanked or on forested and rough terrain is the primary reason why the Hellenistic Empires fell to a more flexible, reformed Roman Legion system.

That and unimaginative commanders, but that's besides the point.

Pikes I suppose do have SOME advantages over cavalry: the repel is useful to negate the charge: which is one of the best shock values on cavalry. Past that though, Pikes don't have that much survivability against normal morale infantry. Pikes definitely have their uses, of course: against Giants (because those shields won't protect you when that Jotun Sword hits) or low morale chaff.