LocoRoco 2

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
Genre: Platformer/Puzzle
Release Date: February 10, 2009
Platform: PSP
Reviewer: Dan

Attention Wii and DS Shovelware developers: if you're going to develop a game that sells for $20, play this game first to see how budget titles are done right. LocoRoco 2 has me using my PSP again. It has somehow managed to drag me away from the likes of the Resistance 2 co-op mode and Street Fighter 4.

This time, the Moja have learned to sing, and clouds of their angry song are littering the LocoRoco homeworld (interesting fact I did not know before: you actually play as the planet the LocoRoco live on). It's up to you to toss the happy-looking, yellow sphere around each stage until you reach the end of it. Basic Platforming, Right?

Just in case you're not familiar with the friendly yellow blob guy on the cover, he's a LocoRoco. He rolls and bounces around his world finding Pickories to collect and other LocoRoco to absorb to make him bigger. He's the character you guide through each stage using probably the easiest controls you'll find in a game. Press R to tilt the world right, press L to tilt the world left, press both to jump. Now that the basics are out of the way, I can tell you what veteran LocoRoco enthusiasts will find in this version of the game.

If you played the first LocoRoco, you'll recognize all of the locations and the basic gameplay. However, there are a few new additions that really improve upon what the first game was doing. One thing you'll notice is that besides the pink and orange flies, you also collect musical notes. For every 100 notes you collect, you actually level up the stage (RPG element, YAY!) to gain certain bonuses like revealing where certain other LocoRoco are hiding. I for one am a fan of this since it keeps you going back to previous levels a.k.a. adds replay value.

You may also remember those spots where you needed a certain number of LocoRoco to unlock a little bonus? Well, those still exist in this one, but now instead of sitting there listening to the blobs sing, you get to play Parapa the Rapper for extra music notes. The neat thing is that the song changes based on the number and the type of LocoRoco. Speaking of type, you can now play as a purple LocoRoco if you choose.

There are also new ways in which you move about the LocoRoco world. At some points you'll jump inside of these rocks to more forcefully make your way through the game. You even get to float through an underwater stage that feels very natural with the game's controls.

Another nice thing to add to the replay value of this game is the Mui Mui House. Your goal here is to complete the Mui Mui house with random odds and ends you find throughout the game. It really doesn't add anything to the gameplay directly, but it will keep you playing if you're a completionist. They've even tossed in a few mini-games for you to try and a few random videos for you to watch.

Final Verdict

For only $20, LocoRoco 2 is well worth the price. The puzzles and gameplay vary enough from level to level to keep you comming back for more. The Cost to Gameplay time ratio is certainly very high for this one. While the controls have remained delightfully similar to the first LocoRoco, the rest of the game has improved quite a bit. I'd say this handheld gem deserves a 8.75 out of 10 and is a must-buy for the price.

Official Trailer