bit-tech Shopping: Sony Loco Roco (PSP)

Rating: 8

Time with product: 6 Months

Strengths: Cute characters, innovative play mechanics, unique sound/visuals, easy to pick up and play

Weaknesses: Repetitive game play, short overall length, lacks multiplayer

Summary: Sony's PSP has long been missing unique and innovative system sellers like Loco Roco, something Nintendo has never had a problem with on any of its handheld systems. Loco Roco actually reaches the high quality standards of many popular Nintendo handheld titles, so let's hope this is the start of a trend for PSP. Player will spend most of their time guiding their loco roco (a smalled colored blob) through forty short levels. You'll do this by tilting Loco's world to roll him here and there, sometimes making him jump to avoid hazards or reach out of the way areas. Loco will also expand in size as he collect items, but he can break down into a series of small blobs to squeeze through tight areas. Loco Roco can be great fun in short bursts, but the forty short levels will quickly blur together during longer play sessions. Experienced players will find it too easy, but it may satisfy beginning players. Fans of platforming games should consider a purchase for $20 or less. Loco Roco is definitely one of the more unique and memorable titles for PSP in this genre.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2

Strengths: Charming lead character, unique game play, memorable audio & graphics, easy for beginners

Weaknesses: Monotonous game play, only 40 short levels, no multiplayer support

Summary: Loco Roco is exactly the kind of new and unique franchise that the PSP really needed to help establish the system when it first came out. This game has got a cartoon graphic and catchy audio style that nobody who spends more than a few moments with it will forget. Most of the game play centers on maneuvering a small blob (the loco roco) through five different worlds of eight levels each. You'll occasionally bounce to avoid hazards and reach hidden or difficult to reach areas, and you'll also grow in size as you collect items, sometimes requiring you to break down into a number of smaller blobs to squeeze through tighter areas. While Loco Roco is really fun in short bursts, you'll soon notice that all five worlds and their landscapes are pretty much the same. Challenge is relatively easy unless you're a perfectionist who must collect everything. Still, platforming game fans should definitely pick this up for $15 or less. If you're still unsure, try the free downloadable demo.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Easy to learn.Cute and entertaining even for an adult.A game your wife and kids can play.A good change from all the other games out there.

Weaknesses: If you're an adult, the background music may make other people wonder about you if you're playing in public.

Summary: I own games from every genre including military combat, martial arts fighting, football, hockey, and every type of racing games. Loco Roco is a very nice change of pace from all these other games. Very creative in design, the cute graphics attract not only the younger crowd but the older crowd as well. To learn the game doesn't take much time and the game offers hints on using the controls if it senses you're not sure what buttons to press. As you roll the Roco to different levels, the Roco becomes fatter and fatter as you gather the different objects. You can decompose the Roco into smaller Rocos to squeeze through tight passages. Overall the game is light, entertaining and doesn't fustrate you the way other games may.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2 Weeks

Strengths: Inventive gameplay, cute characters, fun music

Weaknesses: If anything, it's a little short

Summary: Take control of the cute blobs known as Loco Roco as you help them roll and bounce through colorful levels. This is a really fun game that really tests your puzzle solving skills as well as your dexterity. The simple controls make this easy for anyone to pick up and play, but there are plenty of challenges for more experience players as well. This game reminds me of old 2D platformers like Sonic where anyone can finish the levels, but there are plenty of secrets to find if you really want to explore. This is a must have for any PSP owner.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 5

Strengths: Fun quirky gameplay combined with an equally as quirky graphics style

Weaknesses: Novelty isn't built upon on necessity, little incentive to keep collecting everything

Summary: This game is clearly aimed at gamers who like more recent Nintendo games, from its graphical style to its simple gameplay. It's not bad for a pick up and play game, but loads dull it somewhat, as well as little incentive to collect everything, as it doesn't add anything that most would consider worthwhile.