The LocoRoco series has put gibberish on a pedestal and continues to follow the trend with its eagerly awaited sequel, the aptly named LocoRoco 2. The first instalment attained cult status among PSP owners and ultimately went on to perform solidly at retail, and gamers can expect a fairly decent overhaul when it comes to the sequel, which should appeal to both newcomers and fans alike. We had the chance to get our hands on the final code for LocoRoco 2 at CES 2009 and came away suitably impressed.
In terms of gameplay the developers have carried much of the core mechanics over from the original title. You still tap circle to break up your LocoRoco blob into a tiny army and you hold on it to regroup them all into one massive entity. The same goes for the jumping mechanics as well. However, a new feature is the ability to swim underwater this time around. LocoRoco can now dive and rise with a simple press of the circle button when under the water. On top of this, they’ve also been upgraded with stronger jumping skills, the ability to bite into things to remove fruit, and of course the introduction of "vehicles."
Vehicles are probably the most significant change to be found in the sequel. The team behind LocoRoco 2 has implemented new characters in which your LocoRoco can jump onto in order to smash through certain sections or to ride across specific set pieces of land.
This new iteration also brings forth a plethora of mini-games that will take up plenty of your time. These games range from actual "LocoRoco race betting," a Whack-a-LocoRoco styled game, and a side-scrolling shooter that has you piloting a MuiMui ship taking on hordes of enemies. Regardless of which one you find the best, each of these mini-games should be enough to keep you busy.
Furthermore the music, which is a key contributor to the overall LocoRoco experience, has been integrated within its own mini-game as well. Throughout levels you can tap the circle button in tune with the melody in order to collect musical notes. These in turn will allow you to gain new LocoRoco abilities and place key items in more accessible locations than before. Furthering the music integration is the great level design that offers a very complimentary feel to each annoyingly infectious tune. The design team has truly outdone itself with the variety of levels on offer.
Also, don’t expect the LocoRoco to be the only singing act in this latest instalment. The Moja Troop is back and better than ever, as they’ve been practicing on their vocal cords in order to bring a tune of their own into the LocoRoco atmosphere.
All of these new additions to the franchise help LocoRoco 2 surpass the original with ease. While some hardcore fans may stick to their guns in regarding the first title as the pinnacle of the series, newcomers will have a lot of reason to disagree. With a retail price set up of USD 19.99, this alongside Patapon 2 makes the PlayStation Portable the premier choice for casual gamers in 2009.