Tokobot Plus: Mysteries of the Karakuri
- January 08, 2007 14:21 PM PST
- Email this!
The original Tokobot title for the PSP was a fun game designed to challenge gamers with lighthearted action. The puzzled based adventure was a perfectly fit for Sony's much-maligned handheld.
- GamePro Score
- User Score
- Write your review!
Developer Tecmo has taken the robot-based title and ported it onto the PS2 but the jump to the bigger stage exposes some of the game's faults.
Domo Arigato, Mister Roboto
Tokobot Plus' story involves a prehistoric civilization that was so advanced, it had access to robotic technology. You play as Bolt, a young lad living in the present day who must save the world with the help of some nauseatingly cute creatures called Tokobots. The story is a little hazy, so I'm not totally sure what you're saving the world from, but as the old saying goes, it's the journey and not the destination that counts.
Navigating through the ancient ruins of the robot-enabled civilization, you'll come across challenges and puzzles that can only be solved with the help of the Tokobots. Some obstacles can be overcome with a specific Tokobot move, while other challenges require a crafty combination of Tokobot shenanigans.
Teamwork is an essential aspect of this game and losing even one Tokobot can hinder your ability to solve even the most basic of puzzles. There's even an enemy that you meet early on in the game who you shouldn't bother fighting you until you've increased your Tokobot gang from six members to eight. Fortunately, as the game progresses, your Tokobots gain new moves, which is a good thing considering the fact that certain puzzles and bosses can only be defeated in specific ways.
Inspector Gadget
What I didn't like was the pacing of the game, as the action really takes a while to pick up. There are several supporting characters and all of them are equally annoying; worse yet, they seem to pop up frequently, like unwanted relatives, and you'll find yourself hitting the X button over and over just to get them to shut up.
The game's graphics are about what you would expect from a late-gen PS2 title and there's really nothing that stands out visually. Also squeaking under the bar of mediocrity is the audio component, which is cheesy and repetitive, though oddly fitting with the spirit of the game. The controls are simple but they will try your patience at times.
Still, for all its warts, Tokobot Plus is a decent title with challenging puzzles that will reward your patience and dedication. It's probably best as an extended rental but some of you might find that it's worth the full price of admission.
