LocoRoco
A 2006 PSP platformer with tilt controls and vibrant visuals.
LocoRoco is a platform game released in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable, created and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Designer Tsutomu Kouno wanted to make something that stood apart from other PSP games at the time. After showing a prototype of the core idea to his bosses, he spent about a year and a half finishing the project. Players guide colorful, jelly-like creatures called LocoRoco through levels by tilting the environment with the PSP’s shoulder buttons. Along the way, strange residents help out, while hazards and the invading Moja Troop must be avoided. The goal is to reach the end of each stage. LocoRoco can grow bigger by eating special berries, and they can split apart or merge back together to fit through tight spaces. The game’s bright visuals and dynamic music were praised, winning several awards from gaming press in 2006. Although sales were not high, its success led to three more LocoRoco titles: two PSP sequels—LocoRoco 2 and LocoRoco Midnight Carnival—and a PlayStation 3 spin-off called LocoRoco Cocoreccho!. A remastered version came out for PlayStation 4 in 2017.
**Plot** On a distant planet, LocoRoco and their friends, the Mui Mui, spend their days caring for nature, playing, and singing. When the Moja Troop arrives to take over, the LocoRoco don’t know how to fight them. The player takes on the role of the planet itself, guiding the LocoRoco to defeat the invaders and rescue the remaining LocoRoco, restoring peace.
**Gameplay** The game has five worlds, each with eight levels. In every level, players must reach the end, and they are scored based on how many LocoRoco they find, how fast they finish, and other factors. There are six types of LocoRoco, each with a different color, look, and singing voice. Only the yellow one is available at the start; the rest are unlocked as players complete levels. Choosing a different LocoRoco doesn’t change gameplay—only the songs. The creatures act like blobs of gelatin, squishing into new shapes when needed. Some beings in the world can turn them into squares or triangles, which lasts until the level ends or another shape-changing being is found. Players begin with one LocoRoco. Eating a berry makes it grow by one, up to a maximum of twenty. Tapping a face button splits the large blob into separate LocoRoco, while holding the button merges them back. Splitting is necessary to pass th
- release_year
- 2006
- release_dates
- {'europe': 'June 22, 2006', 'australia': 'June 29, 2006'}
Quick Facts
- Title
- LocoRoco
- Developer
- Japan StudioDeveloped as Japan Studio for the PlayStation 4 version. Mobile version developed by Gamelion.
- Publisher
- Sony Computer EntertainmentReleased as Sony Interactive Entertainment on the PlayStation 4. Mobile version published by Glu Mobile.
- Platforms
- PlayStation Portable, mobile phone, PlayStation 4
- Released
- PlayStation PortableEU · June 23, 2006 · AU · June 29, 2006 · JP · July 13, 2006 · NA · September 5, 2006MobileJP · February 16, 2007 · NA · May 15, 2009PlayStation 4WW · May 9, 2017
- Genre
- Platform, puzzle
- Modes
- Single-player
- Director
- Tsutomu Kouno
- Artist
- Keigo Tsuchiya
- Composer
- Nobuyuki Shimizu / Kemmei Adachi
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
LocoRoco was envisioned by Tsutomu Kouno, who previously worked on Ico. While on a train in 2004, Kouno sketched a game involving multiple similar characters not directly controlled by the player, and realized the planet-tilting aspect after rotating his phone. He chose the PSP for its shoulder buttons, which suited the tilting controls, and aimed to create something that felt at home on the handheld. Kouno wanted every aspect of the game to be unique, leading to his choices for graphics and music.
Development faced initial rejection at pitch meetings in early 2005, as management could not understand Kouno's vision of applying artificial intelligence to the LocoRoco. After a one-month pre-prototype demonstrated the rolling gameplay, Kouno received resources to develop a full prototype over three months with an eight-person team. The remainder of the game was completed in 11 months by a 16-person staff. The game was released in 2006 in Europe on June 23 and Australia on June 29.
Reader's Guide
LocoRoco's significance lies in its innovative tilt-based control scheme, which used the PSP's shoulder buttons to rotate the environment rather than directly controlling the character. This approach made the game accessible to younger players and international audiences, as Kouno noted the simple controls could be easily learned. The game's bright 2D graphics, dynamic music that added voices as more LocoRoco were collected, and unique art style using Bézier curves set it apart from other PSP titles. Although it did not sell in high volumes, its critical success led to two sequels for the PSP—LocoRoco 2 and LocoRoco Midnight Carnival—and a spin-off for the PlayStation 3, LocoRoco Cocoreccho!. A remastered version was released for the PlayStation 4 in 2017. The game's legacy includes its influence on minimalist, physics-based platformers and its demonstration that unconventional controls could create engaging gameplay.
Did You Know?
- The game was conceived by Tsutomu Kouno, who previously worked on Ico.
- Kouno sketched the initial concept on a PDA while on a train in 2004.
- The LocoRoco can grow up to a maximum size of twenty by eating special berries.
- A remastered version of the game was released in 2017 for the PlayStation 4.
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