Review for LocoRoco 2 Remastered. Game for PlayStation 4, the video game was released on 09/12/2017
LocoRoco 2 Remastered is the PlayStation 4 edition of a PSP exclusive from ten years ago. After the good sales result of LocoRoco Remastered, Sony has decided to transpose the sequel as well, keeping the strengths and weaknesses of the remastering work almost unchanged.
The only two criticisms in LocoRoco 2 Remastered are the Movie resolution, the original and now dramatic 480p, and the poor responsiveness of the controls. The first factor is understandable, although not justifiable: putting a hand on the footage of a remastering without ambitious aims would have been an unwanted additional cost, but the aesthetic result of a title that makes its design and style a huge strength; if you play on PlayStation 4 Pro and with a 4K screen, obviously the situation only gets worse.
As for the controls, LocoRoco 2 Remastered still offers a gaming experience far from frustration and indeed demonstrates how, for the times, the title had received a respectable programming. As is normal, over the years the input devices have gradually refined and for this reason alone the players, looking over their shoulder, wonder why they could play in certain conditions, for example without the aid of analog sticks. or high-precision mouse. Being a two-dimensional platform game and considering the sensitivity of the DualShock 4, it can get some sighs in some sections, even more so in the - frequent - case in which it is not possible to go back once you have crossed a certain part of the level. However, a couple of hours of running-in and patience are enough to adapt to this technical limit, without the rest of the experience being compromised.
The content of LocoRoco 2 Remastered remains the same as that of the 2008 title: a colorful platform developed in levels on two dimensions, many simple and fun mini-games and a plot and characters as funny as, at times, disturbing. No new music track among those already present: the OST is catchy and rhythmically perfect on every occasion, with perhaps some songs less inspired than others, but all able to leave their mark and remain etched in the memory.
LocoRoco 2 Remastered consists of about 30 levels, which can be overcome in 8-15 minutes each. The variety of graphics and mechanics inside them still strikes today and, apart from the aforementioned commands that are not always collaborative, crossing each map always gives satisfaction. The soul of a "portable game" in this case comes out with arrogance: it is certainly possible to play and appreciate the title in "full immersion", but the great strength of LocoRoco 2 Remastered remains the opportunity to have fun and advance even with extremely short sessions, one or two levels at a time.
The level design is always accurate and not tired, except for the already mentioned sections in which i uncooperative commands they can be an impediment. The only small movable criticism concerns the difficulty of identifying the "right way" to advance: backtracking is not always possible, this can force the player to repeat the level in order not to miss a secondary road.
In LocoRoco 2 Remastered the exploration is not essential to the progression of the plot, but it allows save the Mui Mui hidden between the levels, obtain the crafting resources necessary to build their house and accumulate the in-game currency necessary for this activity and the numerous other mini-games. Excluding some of the more advanced maps and just a few steps in which timing and knowledge of the level will be fundamental, the difficulty remains affordable for any player and even the bosses, once understood, will not be insurmountable, as LocoRoco bases its success on simplicity. Two-dimensional levels, opponents with easily readable behavior and few, basic actions available to the player: the ability to separate the Loco Roco into smaller entities to overcome narrow passages or to unite creatures into a single, powerful and fat ball to face enemies threatening and, of course, the possibility of eating the fruits scattered around to get bigger and bigger.
Finally, it should be noted that despite what one might believe, the musical component is only an accompaniment and LocoRoco 2 Remastered remains a pure platform, in which the rhythm game phases are limited to very short situations in which to press a button at the right time with the rhythm of the Loco Roco song. Nothing remotely similar then to titles like Patapon Remastered, with which LocoRoco 2 Remastered shares the original platform and the colorful style, but not the videogame genre.
LocoRoco 2 Remastered brings back the original experience of the title on a home platform, with a much higher resolution and support for PlayStation Network trophies. The original hardware limitations that shaped its portable nature have remained unchanged, but it is a game that has aged very well and is still fun today, for both new and old gamers.
► LocoRoco 2 Remastered is a Platform-type game developed by SIE Japan Studio and published by Sony for PlayStation 4, the video game was released on 09/12/2017
