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LocoRoco 2 Impressions
Written by Robert Falcon on Friday, January 23, 2009
The LocoRoco continue rolling and we've got impressions of their latest adventure.
Sony's LocoRoco will make a return to the PSP next month in an all-new sequel, budget-priced at a very reasonable $19.99. Like the original, LocoRoco 2 will feature lots of rolling antics, along with a few new tricks added for good measure. We recently got our hands on the import version, and we're happy to report that the smiling happy blobs still provide lots of fun.
The nasty Mojas are back, along with their leader, Banmucho. They're up to no good on the Locos' home world, making a mess of things and screwing around with the environment. It's up to the Locos to stop them, using their simple combat skills to get the job done.
Just like the original, you don't control the LocoRoco directly. Instead, you control their surrounding environment. You use the left and right shoulder buttons to tilt the level, giving them the momentum needed to roll along. You also hit the shoulder buttons together to temporary shake the planet, launching the Locos into the air. This proves useful for grabbing mid-air items, such as fruit and other goodies. The Locos start small in size, but grow with each peach you pick up. However, you can lose a Loco just as easily if you have an encounter with a Moja. On occasion, the enormous-sized Locos won't be able to squeeze into smaller areas, and you'll need to hit the circle button to break them into smaller creatures.
For part two, the Locos have some new abilities. For instance, they can now swim. Holding the circle button while you're underwater enables you to dive deeper. Locos also get sucked into smaller gaps to reach otherwise unattainable areas, and can climb into bigger structures to break through walls.
Outside of the new abilities, LocoRoco 2 plays just as well as the first. You'll have no trouble jumping into enemies, sliding along ledges and collecting goodies. There's also an additional rhythmic mini-game included. Whenever the Locos come across an area where they need to sing their way through, musical notes appear on the screen. You'll need to hit the face buttons on your PSP along with an icon rolling over the notes to successfully sing it. Otherwise, you won't get through. Finally, you'll enjoy unlockable mini-games involving the cute little Mui Mui, including a shooter and a variation on Whack-a-Mole.
If you were a fan of the cheerful presentation from the first game, we have good news. LocoRoco 2 is ridiculously happy, with smiling Locos bopping along throughout each slickly designed level and very upbeat background music. You may even find yourself humming these tunes for days on end. It's that good a soundtrack.
LocoRoco 2 will be available in the US on February 10th, and PSP owners who loved the first game should check it out. We'll post a review as soon as we snag a copy.
