PSP Review: LocoRoco 2
Released: February 10th, 2009 (US)
Developer: Japan Studio
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Platformer
Pros: Anyone can play, intuitive level design, bargain price, and cute as a button
Cons: Too easy for some, too short, annoying music, and just too much like the first game.
The balance between keeping what works and adding new content is a thought that weighs heavily on the mind of creators in any genre. In addition, it is always funny to see consumers who crave for new get enraged when something so dear to them gets twisted into something completely unrelated to the source material. This event is very commonplace in the world of videogames, and this factor is no more apparent than the case of LocoRoco 2.
For those of you who do not know, LocoRoco is a game where you play as these blob creatures called LocoRoco as they are trying to save their planet from the dreaded enemies (and by dread I mean the hair style) called the Moja. This is basically the plot for both games but for a game like this there really is no need for one.
The sequel plays just like the first as you play as the planet guiding the LocoRoco through the stages by tilting the world using the shoulder buttons. As you traverse each stage you collect red fruit that causes your LocoRoco to increase in size. When you need to fit into a tight space you call down a lightning bolt to split the large blob into individual creatures that can come together again when there is enough space. The controls work for the game and the skills needed to complete a level are not really precise, which allows anyone to pick up and play but keeps the game from becoming a true challenge.
With these simplistic controls you guide the LocoRoco though extremely colorful and diverse levels and try to find the end. These stages are extremely intricate filled with different paths and secret areas to be found simply by discovering them or by having a large enough blob. Each stage is filled with different challenges that you must overcome that you much use different configurations of your LocoRoco. There are some enemies to fight but all you really do is jump on top of them a few times. Each stage is rather short and you will feel like you are rushing through the game as you complete it in a couple of hours. Still, like any platformer the highest score is gained from collecting the most items in the least amount of time, giving you some reason to replay any stage to increase your high score.
Like its predecessor the art design is just amazing. Its flat and clean textures lend well to the diverse color pallet and the amazing amount of detailed animation it uses in the foreground and background. Each level is like a microcosm onto itself, having a distinct look with an array of different platforms and friendly looking creatures. As a guy it is hard to admit this, but I find the game to be extremely cute. What are not cute are the gibberish songs the game has for music. This may sound racist to some of you but I know in my heart the “lyrics” are not Japanese and all the songs really get on your nerves after no more than a few minutes of play, forcing you to turn the sound off.
Like the first game you get to play as one of six different colored LocoRoco. This game adds a seventh, but besides a different look and theme song there is no real difference when you play as any of these characters. New mechanics of this game are the underwater levels (that are actually stomach able after a while) and a rhythm based music game used to unlock certain areas. In addition, the minigames library has been expanded from the first to include gambling on a race and a whack-a-mole clone.
As I said before this game is simple enough for anyone to pick up and play, and being released as a bargain title at $20 makes it a worthwhile purchase for anyone wanting to use their PSP again. Don’t let its childlike exterior fool you, as this is a fun game no matter how old you really are.
