Software:LocoRoco

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The LocoRoco Original Soundtrack: LocoRoco No Uta was published by Columbia Records and released in October 2006 in Japan. The album contains 42 tracks from the game.[1]

Versions

Demos

Following the release of Firmware 2.7 on April 25, 2006, a downloadable demo of LocoRoco was released on the game's Japanese website and was the first Sony-sanctioned user-downloadable game for the PSP.[2] A demo localized for western countries was released in June 2006, shortly before the game's full European release.[3] It includes one level that will take the player around 5–15 minutes to complete, depending on the number of secret areas the player encounters.[4] A special Halloween-themed demo was released for download on October 26, 2006,[5] It featured some exclusive graphics and objects, like Jack-o-lanterns, spirits, and more. Few puzzles were implemented. A Christmas-themed demo was released for download on December 11, 2006.[6] It featured some exclusive graphics like Santa's sleigh and more. A unique LocoRoco song is implemented.

Mobile version

A mobile version of LocoRoco, LocoRoco Mobile, was created for distribution via i-mode, a wireless service in Japan, and was made available as a pre-installed application for Sony Ericsson SO703i devices on February 16, 2007.[7][8] The mobile game has since been released in western countries by developer Gamelion and publisher Glu Mobile as LocoRoco Hi on May 15, 2009.[9][10][11]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings85%[12]
Metacritic83/100[13]
Review scores
PublicationScore
1Up.comB+[14]
Eurogamer9/10[15]
Famitsu34/40[16]
GamePro3/5[17]
GameSpot7.7/10[18]
GameSpyStarStarStarHalf star[19]
IGN9/10[20]
PALGN8/10[21]
Pocket GamerStarStarStarStarHalf star[22]
X-PlayStarStarStarStar[23]

LocoRoco has received mostly positive reviews from critics. The game was consistently praised for its bright and bold graphics. Charles Herold of the New York Times compared the graphics to Katamari Damacy, calling them "simple" and "pretty"[24] while Sam Kennedy of 1UP considered it akin to "playing out an adorable cartoon".[14] The unique environments of each level were also credited to help the game's charm, with Kristan Reed of Eurogamer believing that the game presents a "look and feel unlike anything we've seen before" and that shows "a truly brilliant realisation of how to take 2D gaming into uncharted territory."[15] The music of the game was considered to be "quirky and catchy",[25][14][24] with Will Tuttle of GameSpy saying that "there's a good chance that you'll be humming some of the tunes all day".[19] The game, at times, was compared to a "slow-motion version of Sonic the Hedgehog" with the player controlling the LocoRoco as they move up and down hills and through loop-de-loops in the level.[14][24] This gameplay allows the game to be easily accessible to players, with IGN's Juan Castro noting that the controls are "not simplistic so much as it's refreshingly elegant",[20] and Kennedy commenting that while LocoRoco is not perfect, it was "perfect for the PSP".[14] As noted by Neil McGreevy of the BBC, LocoRoco "is the best game Nintendo never made."[26]

A common complaint from game reviewers was the repetitive nature of the game, as no new gameplay mechanics are introduced after the player learns to roll and jump, and that the levels are "far from challenging".[18][19] However, these reviewers also commented that the monotonous gameplay is not as significant an issue with a gaming system like the PSP that encourages shorter play sessions.[18][19] Reviewers also commented on the length of the game, considering it short with only a few extras that would add some additional enjoyment after completing the main game.[15][18]

LocoRoco won two awards at the 2006 BAFTA Games Awards for "Best Children's Game" and "Best Character", and was nominated for six additional awards: "Best Audio", "Best Original Score", "Best Innovation", "Artistic Achievement", "Best Gameplay" and "Best Casual and Social Game".[27] LocoRoco also won two awards at the 10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards for "Children's Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition", in addition to being nominated for "Outstanding Innovation in Gaming" and "Handheld Game of the Year".[28] The Associated Press named LocoRoco its handheld game of the year for 2006.[29]

Prior to its release in North America, 1UP blogger Alejandro Quan-Madrid equated the Moja characters in LocoRoco to blackface, and citing the game as an example of "institutionalized racism that needs calling out".[30][31] Quan-Madrid and 1UP reporter Jemery Parish noted that the Japanese culture does not have the same racial population as western countries like the United States, and as such, blackface or other similar representations of black persons are taken for granted in that country, and localization usually handles such issues.[32] Quan-Madrid called on Sony to make a simple color change to the Moja, similar to what Capcom had done for the character of Oil Man in Mega Man Powered Up.[30] Developers for the game, including Kouno, noted that the Moja character design was based on the hairstyle of Keigo Tsuchiya, the game's artist, at the time of development, and did not mean to imply any racist tones.[33][30][34] The accusation of racism came days before a similar charge against Sony for an advertisement for the white-colored PSP, portraying a white woman subjugating a black woman.[35]

The Yellow LocoRoco, as seen on the game's cover, has become a mascot for the PSP system.[36]

Sales of LocoRoco were not strong in Japan, with just more than 30,000 copies sold the first week, and about 170,000 in total sales for the year.[37][38] The game was more successful in Europe and North America, prompting Sony to start development of additional titles.[39]

Sequels

LocoRoco Cocoreccho is a LocoRoco program for the PlayStation 3, released in September 2007 as a downloadable title through the PlayStation Store. It is described by Sony as an "interactive screensaver," rather than a game.[40] Instead of tilting the world, the game instead puts the player in control of a butterfly that will draw LocoRoco to it, guiding them to sleeping LocoRoco to wake them up and collect enough LocoRoco to progress to other parts of the single stage.

LocoRoco 2, a sequel to the original LocoRoco, was officially announced at the 2008 Tokyo Game Show[41] though Phil Harrison, Sony's worldwide studios chief, revealed the game to be in development during an interview at the 2007 D.I.C.E. Summit.[42] The game was released worldwide between late 2008 and early 2009.

A third PSP LocoRoco game, LocoRoco Midnight Carnival, is a Halloween-themed spin-off title which features an enhanced bounce skill called "Boing!"[43] The game was digitally released on October 29, 2009, for North American and European areas,[44] and on November 1, 2009, in Japan for the launch of the PSP Go.[45] There are also LocoRoco costumes for LittleBigPlanet.

LocoRocos appear in the 2024 PlayStation 5 game Astro Bot, having their own themed level in the game's fourth area and a remixed theme song that plays in it as well with the main bot who leads Astro to the level after the boss being the Yellow LocoRoco and the bots that can be rescued in the level being the other five LocoRocos from the first game. They also assist Astro in the game's finale with the rest of the PlayStation Armada against Nebulax.

Notes


References

  1. ↑ "LocoRoco Original Soundtrack: LocoRoco No Uta". Play Asia. http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-8l-49-en-70-1kyk.html. 
  2. ↑ Bradwell, Tom (2006-04-25). "LocoRoco PSP demo". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news250406locoroco. 
  3. ↑ Bradwell, Tom (2006-06-06). "LocoRoco European demo". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news060606locorocodemoeuro. 
  4. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (2006-06-05). "The LocoMotion". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_locoroco_psp. 
  5. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (2006-10-27). "LocoRoco Halloween demo". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news271006pspfirmware. 
  6. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (2006-11-26). "LocoRoco gets Christmassy". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news271106locoroco. 
  7. ↑ "ロコロコモバイル LocoRoco Mobile" (in ja). Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. http://www.jp.playstation.com/scej/mobile/locoroco/index.html. 
  8. ↑ "上質感あるデザインの Style-Upパネルと、アロマの香りの組み合わせが新しい『SO703i』の発売について". February 16, 2007. http://www.sonyericsson.co.jp/company/press/20070216_so703i.html. 
  9. ↑ Spencer, Spanner (2009-01-27). "LocoRoco Hi rolling out onto mobile". Pocket Gamer. http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/LocoRoco+Hi/news.asp?c=11187. 
  10. ↑ "Glu Mobile's Q2 line-up". May 15, 2009. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/glu-mobile-s-q2-line-up-angels-demons-puzzle-locoroco-hi-and-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-headed-for-european-mobiles. 
  11. ↑ Spencer, Spanner (May 15, 2009). "LocoRoco Hi rolls out onto mobile". https://www.pocketgamer.com/locoroco-hi/locoroco-hi-rolls-out-onto-mobile/. 
  12. ↑ "LocoRoco for PSP". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/psp/930044-locoroco/index.html. 
  13. ↑ "LocoRoco (psp: 2006) Reviews". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psp/locorocof. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Kennedy, Sam (2006-09-05). "LocoRoco (PSP)". http://www.1up.com/reviews/locoroco_4. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Reed, Kristan (2006-06-05). "LocoRoco". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_locoroco_psp. 
  16. ↑ Reilly, Adam (July 6, 2009). "Nintendo Reviews | Famitsu Rates bit Generations & More at C3 News". Cubed3.com. http://www.cubed3.com/news/5477. 
  17. ↑ DFS (2006-09-05). "Review: LocoRoco". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psp/games/reviews/79801.shtml. Retrieved 2020-11-23. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Gerstmann, Jeff (2006-09-05). "LocoRoco". http://www.gamespot.com/psp/action/locoroco/review.html. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Tuttle, Will (2006-09-05). "LocoRoco Review". http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/loco-roco/731202p1.html. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Castro, Juan (2006-09-05). "LocoRoco Review". http://psp.ign.com/articles/730/730456p1.html. 
  21. ↑ Leuveren, Luke (2006-09-10). "LocoRoco Review: It's Loco, but is it any good?". http://www.palgn.com.au/article.php?title=LocoRoco+Review&id=4731&sid=6863fb80f6f7b49b470339c9645f7c51. 
  22. ↑ Bennallack, Owain (2006-06-23). "LocoRoco: The PSP is on a Roll". http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/PSP/LocoRoco/review.asp?c=1249. 
  23. ↑ Mastrapa, Gus. "Loco Roco". http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1248/Loco_Roco.html. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Harold, Charles (2006-09-07). "Game Theory; What's Your Mood: Chaotic Epic or Childlike Journey?". New York Times. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0DE4D61631F934A3575AC0A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1. 
  25. ↑ Saltzmann, Marc (2006-09-01). "Rock 'n' roll with 'LocoRoco'". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/fun.games/09/01/loco.roco/. 
  26. ↑ McGreevy, Neil (2006-06-17). "Tiny blobs bring PSP to life". BBC. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5071830.stm. 
  27. ↑ "Games Nominations 2006". BAFTA. 2006. http://www.bafta.org/awards/video-games/nominations/?year=2006. 
  28. ↑ "AIAS Annual Awards - 10th Annual Awards". Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. 2006. http://www.interactive.org/awards/annual_awards.asp?idAward=2007. 
  29. ↑ Slagle, Matt (2006-12-13). "Reviews: Best, Worst in Video Games 2006". Associated Press. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,236302,00.html. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Quan-Madrid, Alejandro (2006-06-27). "Just Plain Loco". 1UP. http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=7208651&publicUserId=5525398. 
  31. ↑ Gibson, Ellie (2006-07-03). "Is LocoRoco racist?". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news030706locoroco. 
  32. ↑ Parish, Jeremy (2006-06-30). "Internet 1, Civility 0". 1UP. http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=7221859&publicUserId=5379721. 
  33. ↑ Fear, Ed (2007-08-07). "Going Loco". Develop. http://www.developmag.com/interviews/50/Going-Loco. Retrieved 2009-03-04. 
  34. ↑ Gibson, Ellie (2007-05-22). "Going Loco". GamesIndustry.biz. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/going-loco. 
  35. ↑ Gibson, Ellie (2006-07-05). "Sony defends PSP ad following accusations of racism". GamesIndustry.Biz. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/sony-defends-psp-ad-following-accusations-of-racism. 
  36. ↑ "PSP Icon Makes Its Rolling Return With LocoRoco 2". PR Newswire. 2009-02-10. http://videogames.yahoo.com/news-1287972. 
  37. ↑ Kuittinen, Tero (2006-08-03). "Nintendo hits the next level". The Street. http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/TheStreet/NintendoHitsTheNextLevel.aspx. 
  38. ↑ Jenkins, David (2006-07-21). "Konami's Power Pro Hits Home Run In Japanese Charts". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=10174. 
  39. ↑ "A colourful showcase of the vibrant new LocoRoco2 for PSP". Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. 2008-10-09. http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4714&NewsAreaID=2. 
  40. ↑ Purchase, Rob (2007-08-31). "LocoRoco PS3 not a game". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/locoroco-ps3-not-a-game. 
  41. ↑ Tanaka, John (2008-09-30). "Sony To Unveil Nine PS3 Titles at TGS". IGN. http://psp.ign.com/articles/914/914753p1.html. 
  42. ↑ Hatfield, Damien (2007-02-07). "Dice 2007: Phil Harrison's Been Playing LocoRoco 2". IGN. http://psp.ign.com/articles/762/762856p1.html. 
  43. ↑ "A Closer Look At Loco Roco Midnight Carnival". 1 September 2009. http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/09/01/a-closer-look-at-loco-roco-midnight-carnival/. 
  44. ↑ Breckon, Nick (2009-10-16). "LocoRoco Midnight Carnival Rolling Out October 29". Shacknews. http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/60907. 
  45. ↑ Tanaka, John (August 18, 2009). "IGN: LocoRoco Returns". IGN.com. http://psp.ign.com/articles/101/1014901p1.html. 

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