A perfect example of 'pick up and play' gameplay, which will put a smile on your face.
The aim of the game is as standard. Get from start to finish, thus completing the level. However, the real gameplay comes in collecting all the items in the level, which where the difficulty starts to crank up a bit. Items are well hidden in levels. Some hidden items involve shaking bushes, completing certain tasks, going through fake walls, or going off the beaten track into possibly hard to reach areas. Gaining all 20 Loco in a level will unlock a par time for that level, which is quite a challenge.
Completing certain tasks will enable you to add to your LocoHouse, which in itself is a small puzzle game. New items can be gained here, but only by working out how to get your Loco from A to B using your existing items. Items can also be gained from the various Minigames, but these are only for gaining new items.
The gameplay is simplistic but effective. The graphics are clean and crisp with no slowdown. Not very complex graphics mind, but then they do not need to be!
The standing point of LocoRoco is the awesome music, something which is a big talking point. Like Marmite, you either love it or hate it, but all credit goes to the developers for their imaginative thinking. Locos will sing along to the present song, and if you have enough separate loco, just like themselves, they will sing two separate parts of the song, a backing chorus and the main song.
A perfect game for the PSP platform, finding all the items on a level is a rewarding experience, the characters and music will make you smile, and don't be surprised if you find yourself humming away to the music, it really can be that addictive.