TGS07: LocoRoco Cocoreccho hands-on

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 19th 2007 at 11:44AM }

LocoRoco Cocoreccho will arrive on the PlayStation Store this week, and we were able to get some time with it at Sony's pre-TGS media event. We're sad to say that this brand new PS3 sequel loses one of the most important aspects of the original: simplicity. LocoRoco on the PSP charmed gamers with its simple and intuitive play mechanic that could be understood from the moment one picks up the system.

One cannot say the same for Cocoreccho, the supposed "screensaver" game for PS3. There are too many different control mechanisms at play, creating a generally disparate experience. For example, the ability to tilt the world is surprisingly inconsistent: it can only occur during specific parts of each level. Players will have to rock the controller, pump it up and down, sway it left and right throughout each level -- in addition to having to move the analog stick to control the floating butterflies that motivate the LocoRocos to move along. The lengthy tutorial that's included with our demo worries us that the game is much too complicated for its own good.

Obviously, we need to spend more time with the title to fully understand the nuances of the "game" -- perhaps when slowly introduced to the experience, it becomes much more endearing. But in the very little we've seen, we were dismayed by the surprising complexity of this LocoRoco follow-up.

Tags: locoroco, locoroco-cocoreccho, tgs07

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

drdre74 @ Sep 19th 2007 12:01PM

Yeah I was thinking the same thing when I first saw the trailer. It just seems to have lost what made it fun.they should have just upgraded the PSP version.

russ99 @ Sep 19th 2007 12:09PM

I'm a huge fan of the PSP LocoRoco, and I think the new control scheme is pretty cool.

Sony could have just churned out a cheap and easy LocoRoco II remake for PS3, but instead changed everything up a bit and came up with new game concepts for such an awesome visual treat.

haiddasalami @ Sep 19th 2007 5:39PM

I think LocoRoco was developed for the psp in mind. As said by russ, sony is not giving us the same old locoroco and remind urself it takes more than 10-20 mins to love locoroco. When i first played it, I was turned off but then after glowing reviews i tried it out and loved it.

PhillyVu @ Sep 20th 2007 10:05AM

yeah, I agree with haiddasalami. I initially tried LocoRoco and just didn't get it, but a few friends told me to try again and I just got it the second time.

Still one of my favorite games.

Not sure of making the controls more complicated, but I guess it's on the PS3 so it should use the technology. It would be a waste not to.

Michael Williams @ Sep 20th 2007 2:42PM

If anyone is interested then they can look at my review of it. But heres a hint ... its not good

http://micstergaming.blogspot.com/2007/09/locoroco-cocoreccho-for-ps3.html

Bent.ley @ Sep 24th 2007 6:44PM

Actually, I've just been playing it for about three hours and it is a great, fun distraction... the controls are NOT over-complex at all, just unusual! The Loco Rocos follow your butterfly when you press 'O', so you have to tease them into tricky areas. Certain gates can be activated by shaking the controller. Some flowers can be removed to reveal new paths, again by shaking the controller. It's essential a huge, looped level that you guide the locos around trying to unlock them all. For £2, it's a bargain- it's not as "complete" as the PSP version, but it IS great fun once you get past the initial fear of working out wheat the hell you are doing.

£2 well spent if you ask me. A great little game, and the inclusion of online ranking is always a bonus. Give it a go, it costs less than a pint and will last much longer.

stephen70 @ Nov 14th 2007 7:19AM

Must be a terrible shock to hardcore gamers to use something other than thumbsticks. What i have to move the controller the way i want my player to move -its so complicated and the controller it's so heavy hahaha speak to my hand :-).
I am a new console owner and i refuse to buy any flying-driving game without motion steering , and will be happily waiting for an FPS with motion based view control even if it takes another 12 months for someone to write one. Motion based pan and tilt is the reason i bought the PS3. The developers have not mastered the full capability of the sixaxis (yes it is six it can do more than just detecting l-r and f-b tilt it can also do hotizontal tilt, and movement in up-down ,left-right and forward-backward as well.