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iPhone It In: Rolando

by Justin McElroy { Feb 23rd 2009 at 4:30PM }

Anyone who's ever played LocoRoco has been guilty of it. You just can't help but tip your PSP to the left or right, trying for that extra smidgen of incline to get your gelatinous balls of goo rolling, even though you know it has no real effect. But in ngmoco's Rolando, the controls are all about the angle of your system, and it makes for some of the most fun you can have on your iPhone.

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LocoRoco 2: cheaper than the original game

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 14th 2009 at 1:55PM }

Why is LocoRoco 2 so much cheaper than the original?

A. It's so much better than the original game and they simply want more people to play it.
B. They're begging you to please just stop pirating their games.

Whatever the reason, we're happy with the price, as revealed on the PlayStation.Blog. LocoRoco 2 hits American retail stores on February 10th.

Gallery: LocoRoco 2

LocoRoco 2 hits the US this February

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 24th 2008 at 1:15PM }

After such a tiring localization process (from English to ... er, English), LocoRoco 2 will be available in the US this February. The blubbery fellows are finally coming back to the PSP with tons of enhancements over the original title. Watch for it on UMD on February 10th, 2009.

[Thanks, Alex L.!]

IGN goes loco with LocoRoco 2 videos

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 21st 2008 at 1:45PM }

Don't expect to find anything too startling about these LocoRoco 2 videos. We're totally enamored by the upcoming PSP sequel, but the core gameplay experience has remained largely the same. Check out the megaton of videos released on IGN to find out for yourself. One video is embedded, after the break.

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This week's LittleBigPlanet DLC is 'Loco'

by Majed Athab { Nov 18th 2008 at 7:20PM }

Expect more LittleBigPlanet DLC to come in every week. Some of it is free, and some of it is not. This week's free LittleBigPlanet DLC is a costume designed by fan "nebu1ou5" for the "LittleBigChallenge 003- Official in-game SackBoy Costume Contest" held on the official LBP website. It's a Sackboy with a very outdated television set over his head and a remote in his hand. See that after the break.

As for the content which you'll have to shell out some dough for, there are some weird looking LocoRoco costumes to grab. You can see all five LocoRoco-themed costumes posted above. All five come bundled together for $2.99. For us, these costumes are slightly disappointing seeing as there's only a mild resemblance to the lovable LocoRoco blobs, but we suppose those hand accessories (or LocoRoco bracelets?) make up for it.

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TGS 08: LocoRoco 2 and the curiously embargoed trailer

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 12th 2008 at 1:30AM }

Strangely, only one thing we reported on at Tokyo Game Show this year was under embargo. And that was this LocoRoco 2 trailer. Why? We don't know. If you read our hands-on impressions, you'll know that we're absolutely in love with this rather substantial sequel. Take a watch and see if you can find all the new gameplay features and enemies.

TGS 08: LocoRoco 2 and the curiously embargoed trailer

by Joystiq Staff { Oct 12th 2008 at 1:30AM }

TGS 08: LocoRoco 2 grabs us with cuteness and depth

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 10th 2008 at 9:00AM }

"Sorry it took so long," LocoRoco designer Tsutomu Kouno told me. In spite of the original's high-profile and well-received launch on the PSP, it's been over two years since we saw these lovable blubbers hit Sony's handheld. The silence around the long-rumored sequel is a bit baffling, as getting our hands on with the upcoming PSP title revealed a disarming amount of new content for the sequel.

It's undeniable that the original LocoRoco charmed hardcore gamers, thanks to its lovable style and rather unique design. However, it couldn't keep the attention of these gamers, as it was perhaps a bit too simplistic. While children and casual gamers were enchanted, hardcore gamers needed substance beyond tilting left and right.

So perhaps LocoRoco 2 is Kouno's attempt at bridging the gap between hardcore and casual audiences. The upcoming PSP-exclusive sequel maintains all the saccachrin sweetness of the original, but adds new gameplay features that add a tremendous amount of depth to the experience. The sheer amount of content found in this UMD/downloadable game is staggering.

Gallery: LocoRoco 2

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TGS 08: LocoRoco 2 grabs us with cuteness and depth

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 10th 2008 at 9:00AM }

"Sorry it took so long," LocoRoco designer Tsutomu Kouno told me. In spite of the original's high-profile and well-received launch on the PSP, it's been over two years since we saw these lovable blubbers hit Sony's handheld. The silence around the long-rumored sequel is a bit baffling, as getting our hands on with the upcoming PSP title revealed a disarming amount of new content for the sequel.

It's undeniable that the original LocoRoco charmed hardcore gamers, thanks to its lovable style and rather unique design. However, it couldn't keep the attention of these gamers, as it was perhaps a bit too simplistic. While children and casual gamers were enchanted, hardcore gamers needed substance beyond tilting left and right.

So perhaps LocoRoco 2 is Kouno's attempt at bridging the gap between hardcore and casual audiences. The upcoming PSP-exclusive sequel maintains all the saccharin sweetness of the original, but adds new gameplay features that add a tremendous amount of depth to the experience. The sheer amount of content found in this UMD/downloadable game is staggering.

Gallery: LocoRoco 2

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GC 2008: The first trailer for LocoRoco 2

by Justin McElroy { Aug 20th 2008 at 9:30AM }

Do us a favor, just for safety's sake: If you've recently been eating sugary foods (Blueberry Muffintop cereal springs to mind) do not watch this Leipzig Games Convention trailer for LocoRoco 2, which is so adorably, pinchably sweet that combining it with other glucose-rich product is a one way ticket to diabetes.

We don't learn much from the trailer, just that it looks like LocoRoco 2 will be sporting a lot more gameplay variety ... oh, and that we'll never ever get that song out of our heads.

LocoRoco 2 trailer is predictably adorable

by Alan Tsang { Aug 20th 2008 at 8:00AM }

Download to PSP

This new LocoRoco 2 "special movie" found on the official Japanese website shows us just how cute things on the PSP can be. The art direction looks about the same in this highly-anticipated sequel, along with some kawaii music that can get a little annoying if you listen to it more than once. The cute little blobs demonstrates some of their new skills here, such as swimming and biting. Stay for the end, which makes us wish there was a LocoRoco TV show.

[Via NeoGAF]

PSP E3 2008 screenshot roundup

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jul 16th 2008 at 6:30AM }

Liberation? Retribution? There's definitely something up with the jump to handheld third person ... Dive deeper into the mystery in the gallery below, and then check out Super Stardust (um, not in HD), and a pair of colorful sequels posted after the break.

Gallery: Resistance: Retribution

Gallery: Super Stardust Portable
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LocoRoco 2 official site opens, includes screens

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 11th 2008 at 11:30AM }

The official Japanese LocoRoco 2 site has opened, and it includes the very first screenshots of the recently announced sequel. Unsurprisingly, the new LocoRoco looks exactly like the original. For those that were captivated by the charming style of the first game, that's far from a bad thing. Those that play close attention will see some of the LocoRoco's abilities (like swimming, pictured above). Stay tuned, because a game as big as this one will obviously garner a lot of attention.

LocoRoco sequel already 75% done

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 10th 2008 at 5:00AM }

While LocoRoco 2 was only officially announced yesterday, it's been in development for quite some time. According to Famitsu (via 1UP), the title is already 75% complete. The sequel will feature the return of the original's Moja Troop, but this time they have some tricks up their sleeves. They'll be after the adorable LocoRocos with the power of music. Uh-oh! "The Moja Troop are back with some new bosses, but this time they've also learned some songs," director Tsutomu Kouno says. "They've been practicing as hard as they can, and they've learned how to use music to sap the energy out of everyone. Now nobody feels like doing anything, so the LocoRoco have to go around the world and pep everyone back up again."

According to Kouno, the game will retain the same simplistic charm of the original. "We've tried our best not to change the core gameplay too much," he says. "We're being careful to keep it from getting too complex, and in addition to that, we're putting in lots of new features for people who played the first game to enjoy." But, expect new moves, such as the ability to go underwater and the ability to bite things.

Will we get to play it at E3? We hope so. Sony plans on showing new PSP games at E3, undoubtedly. This would be an ideal candidate.

Famitsu: Patapon 2 marches on Japan PSPs this Winter

by Ross Miller { Jul 9th 2008 at 9:00AM }

The latest issue of Famitsu (via PSPHype) reveals a sequel to Patapon is in the works and coming to Japanese PSPs this Winter (no US or Europe release mentioned). The game is being developed by Pyramid Studios, who made the previous game and LocoRoco. The magazine also has a two-page spread of LocoRoco 2, although gives no release date for any region. No matter how many times you shout pata-pata-pata-pon, the game won't get here any faster.

[Via PSP Fanboy; Image via Penny Arcade]