LocoRoco
- May 31, 2006 17:05 PM PST
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We love Katamari, but we're having an affair with LocoRoco
One part blob-simulator, one part whimsical sing-along, Sony's upcoming PSP game Loco Roco is short of anything but charm. Taking a cue from quirky titles like Katamari Damacy, Loco Roco should appeal to those gamers looking for something very, very different.
The premise of Loco Roco is simple -- guide your cute little blog through an obstacle course-like level, while trying to increase its girth and avoid sharp and pointy obstacles. Moving your blob is easy enough, with only the L and R shoulder buttons on the PSP being utilized. Pressing the R button, for example, will rotate the entire world in that direction. While tilted, pressing and releasing the L button will make your blob jump. In a way it's a bit similar to the world tilting mechanics of Super Monkey Ball, minus those annoying little simians.
While simply making it through a level is enough to progress further on, you'll want to seek out special flowers that, when eaten, will increase your blob's size. With each flower eaten, you blob will grow slightly larger, and each level has a maximum number of flowers that you can seek out and try to find. There are also a ton of other hidden items and goodies scattered about in each level, with some of them bordering on nearly impossible to find. But, size isn't everything. With a quick touch of the Circle button, you can explode your blob in to tiny little blobettes. Some levels have areas that are only accessible to these smaller blobs. Once you're done being separated, another quick tap of the Circle button will rejoin your blobs back in to one jolly body.
While the gameplay of Loco Roco is certainly unique, what really shines is the unique visuals and music. The world is a two-dimensional homage to simplicity, at once mimicking the PBS sentiments of the Teletubbies and Japanese anime. Levels are simple in nature, full of brightly colored trees, grasses, flowers, and even cutesy enemies. The real cute barrage, however, starts once the music gets playing. The demo we played had our cute blob singing along to a catchy gibberish tune, which was both bizarre and oddly appealing.
While our demo of the game was short, so far Loco Roco seems to be well on its way towards being one of the most unique and enjoyable PSP titles yet. The simple controls, surreal visuals, and catchy tunes should appeal to gamers of all types. So, eat your heart out of Prince of All Cosmos, you've got a new rival!
