A Colourful Critter Caper

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday January 19, 2009

Jason Hill

LOCOROCO 2

PSP G Price $49.95

Rating 4

Some PSP owners might grumble that LocoRoco 2 is overly similar to its delightfully quirky predecessor but once you start playing, it is almost impossible to wipe the smile off your face. With its gorgeous visuals, delightful music and seemingly endless parade of amusing goodies, it's a charming game that anyone can pick up and immediately enjoy.

Your task is to carefully guide coloured blobs to safety while rescuing friends. The smiling spheres can be fused together or directed as a herd.

While more difficult to manoeuvre, splitting them is often necessary for squeezing through small crevices and navigating multiple courses simultaneously.

Controls are effortlessly simple, with the shoulder buttons used to tilt the playing field left or right. Pressing both together makes your charming little buddies jump (and attack some foes).

The game is more challenging than its predecessor, with harder-to-reach treasures and more aggressive foes that can spike or gobble your critters. It can be frustrating when perfect timing is required to bounce your way up to tantalisingly close fruit but exploration is rewarded.

The varied, cleverly designed levels include trampolines, wobbly platforms, machinery and rope swings to make progress more treacherous. Occasionally players will stumble on special housing that offers temporary abilities like being able to smash through barriers as a boulder or bounce higher as a ball.

There are also singing interludes, which require you to press buttons in time with the infectious tunes, while other treats include simple mini-games like whack-a-mole contests and races.

Endgame More delightful rock'n'roll fun for all ages.

© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald

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