The Gamer's Quarter

Lestrade

So on the weekend I downloaded (after much frustration) the Loco Roco demo for The Wife's PSP. It's only one level, but even as I type this, I wish I was playing it.

Thank the heavens that developers are starting to ignore the 99-odd buttons on any given game console. Loco Roco uses three of the PSP's myriad pokey-bits; it's so nice to not need any sort of tutorial at all. The demo plops you right in (literally) and you're off, with no hand-holding required.

Of course, the real star of the show is the music—more accurately, the game's reliance on it. The fantastic, catchy tune is one thing, but seeing your fat Loco Roco singing along, or the group of little Loco Rocos alternately singing and chanting, "hey, hey!" to the music like they were fist-pumping at a metal concert, is infinitely endearing.

When the game zipped me along, Sonic-style, I was practically squealing in delight. Being slurped into some sort of airstream and then ejected out the other end feels really fun, probably because of way one has to interact with a PSP to play. I find that despite the cuteness, the game isn't easy. I finished the demo level simply enough, but realizing that there were a lot of Loco Roco that I missed was a surprise—how the hell do I get to them, I thought? I think there's more longevity in the game than one might think while haphazardly bouncing through the environment.

Does anyone else have this? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

SuperWes · Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:32 am Post subject:

Yeah man, that demo is really, really awesome. My only real disappointment isn't with the game itself, but with the PSP itself (as is pretty standard with the PSP at this point). It's the type of game that begs for analog shoulder buttons and/or some sort of tilt control. What they do with digital controls is pretty great, but it feels like it could be so much better.

The game's already out in Europe and Japan. I wonder how well it's been doing...

-Wes
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Lestrade · Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:07 am Post subject:

The Panda and I saw the Japanese game this weekend and really wanted to buy it, but the store's ridiculous import price scared us off.

Alc · . Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 109 Location: UK

This is the main reason I'm wishing I had a PSP. There isn't much else on the platform that really grabs me/can't be had better elsewhere, but Loco Roco looks like a joyous experience.

Swimmy · . Joined: 16 Sep 2005 Posts: 990 Location: Fairfax, VA

Here's a good Youtube video.

I can feel what you're talking about just watching that. This looks adorable and awesome.

Edit: Maybe a little lacking in flow. Maybe the person playing just sucks.
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"Ayn Rand fans are the old school version of Xenogears fanboys."
-seryogin

Lestrade · Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:38 am Post subject:

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

I think I might be the only person who wasn't that crazy about the demo. It's very fun yes, but not in a "I can pick this up and play it any time" sort of way for me. Mostly because getting all the flowers or locos or rocos or whatever invovled doing the exact same thing every playthrough, it was more of a puzzle than an action game for me. Once I got all of them at the end of the level, I didn't feel any reason to play it again.

Plus my guess is this will be ported to the PS2 at some point given how the other major sellers for the PSP (Lumines, GTA: LCS) are as well.

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

Also, I stopped reading Kotaku and Joystiq a while ago. All the 'trendy lingo' bullshit started getting to me.

OtakupunkX · . Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 730

So after watching that video I'm really thinking that I might have to invested in some used PSP hardware...

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Pijaibros · Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:59 pm Post subject:

Well dang, it all makes sense now.

I am so going to convince a friend to pick this up as soon as its available and borrow his PSP for a weekend.It's just so happy and who doesn't like that?