TGS07: Our Latest Patapon Impressions

Patapon is a colorful side-scrolling rhythmic platformer that will soon make its way to the PSP. If anything, it looks like LocoRoco, but it plays very differently. Simple gameplay and cute, cuddly foreign languages are eliminated here. Rather, this rhythmic game depends on speed and accuracy in gameplay and some witty words from little eyeballs to gain attraction. And from what we can tell after seeing the game at TGS, it indeed looks like a stellar addition to the PSP family so far.

TGS07: Echochrome Still Looks Simplistically Good

A black-and-white mannequin plops from the sky and the soothing music of cellos and violins arises. There has never been a game more graphically simplistic than Echochrome, and as we were shown at E3, it’s much more dazzling than it looks. The object of the game is to make your mannequin’s way through complicated stairs and structures. And, it gets harder by each level. The “casual gaming revolution” that Nintendo has touted for birthing has a new player, and its name is SONY. Take a look at the updated trailer here on our VodPod.

TGS07: Patapon Gets Vocals, Music

There’s been no release date set for Patapon, but SONY continues to quietly advertise the game in advance of its release. The game, as we’ve come to know, is a rhythmic side-scroller, implementing LocoRoco-like 2D action with small and perhaps enjoyable characters. While it may alienate the most devoted fans of our cuddly LocoRoco thanks to an added element of violence and satire, it may well do justice to the casual gamer. In the latest trailer revealed at TGS, we finally have music and vocals, and a quaint look at the gameplay. It’s obvious that you have to click buttons to fight off these “monsters”/villains who seem to attack you. You can infer for yourself by checking out the trailer here in our VodPod. UPDATE: The wrong video was posted before; it has been replaced and still can be accessed at the link above.

TGS07: Square Enix Isn’t Done with the PSP Yet…

Kingdom Hearts is another one of those lovely Square Enix titles that is so enjoyable. It’s practically what has made Disney so popular there, and it’s just as equally popular over here. While we’ve yet to see the monstrous Crisis Core stateside, we do know that it will probably be soon as The War of the Lions and two Final Fantasy remakes have made their way over here. Now, Birth By Sleep is a prequel that adds depth and darkness to the realms of the Kingdom Hearts-universe. It’s no console game, but judging from Crisis Core’s performance, we can tell it’ll be just as technologically advanced as the most top-notch PS2 game out there and it will have a beautiful storyline.

TGS07: Clank Gets His Own PSP Game…

Ratchet is sooo 2007. Clank is all the rage now. High Impact, the guys and gals who brought you the entire Ratchet & Clank franchise including the best-selling Size Matters, which hit earlier this year on PSP, will be returning to the device in 2008 for Secret Agent Clank, in which Clank is all on his own. In terms of chronology, the game will take place before the upcoming PS3 game but after Size. The storyline will be a shocker to many Ratchet & Clank fans–Ratchet is being framed for “something” he didn’t do and Clank is out to prove that people are wrong about him all the while investigating exactly what happened. Martial arts will also play a major part of the game, bringing fighting into a technological-coated game of weaponry. Look out for some more Ratchet & Clank action as it heads your way next year. UPDATE: You can check out some gameplay in our VodPod.

[Via IGN]

The Nays Have It: Cocoreccho is “unenjoyable”…

The Playstation Network-version of our favorite game isn’t liked by reviewers from across the spectrum. Not only have they pelted it left and right, but they’ve criticized the fact that it’s only an interactive screensaver. Despite being cheap and continuing the franchise, Joystiq went as far to complain that the game lacked the simplicity of the first. This is not good as LocoRoco, which seems to be suffering a “mid-life crisis”, is just two games into the franchise. IGN perhaps put it most lightly: “a celebration of characters…if not the gameplay”. littlevish at the forums has a nice compilation of the current previews for the game and BGL will have a metareview out sometime soon.

Joystiq: LocoRoco PS3 loses “simplicity” of first game…

Just when Cocoreccho started to look good, Joystiq pounced it not for being an interactive screensaver, but rather for being uber-complicated. In an unexpected move, rather than just tilting the controller, they’re different ways to handle different mini-games. In a way, I must admit this could be good as many reviewers of the original said the game was a bit “repetitive”–that could’ve either meant no variety in levels or the fact that the controlling is pretty much all around the same. At the same time, it could alienate original LocoRoco fans who were dazzled by the game’s simplicity. The casual gamer who likes the original PSP game might not take a liking to this one. This is only Joystiq’s first-take though, and as many comments ambitiously say, Joystiq could be embracing the Nintendo-fanboyism they’ve come to hail. From experience, even Wii Sports had quite a few tough controls. We’ll find out more as the week goes.

TGS07 Coverage Plans

TGS07 is on its way and Beyond Get Loco will have all of the latest coverage. Expect head-on commentary that holds nothing back, a feature-packed post-TGS podcast on the way, all of the latest updates, and everything/anything we know about LocoRoco Cocoreccho or any other LocoRoco projects in the works (as well as our routine coverage of Patapon and Echochrome):

• Day-by-Day analysis and coverage of PSP games and Cocoreccho at TGS
• Commentary that pushes the limits by far, asking questions and taking names
• Every single LocoRoco rumor that exists in the world.
• All the Cocoreccho coverage we can muster from those who will be there
• Continuous updates on the VodPod featuring a slew of TGS-vids and Cocoreccho videos.
• Any updates we can find on Patapon, Echochrome, or any other SONY projects ahead.
• The latest news updates & discussions on a specialized-TGS board on the forums
• Exclusive polls and reviews from Beyond Get Loco-members via the uRcd feature.
• Announcements about our team podcasts & the upcoming Reviewrama

So get geared up as Beyond Get Loco readily prepares for the Tokyo Game Show 07 and stick with us for everything and anything you’ve gotta know about the show! See you there.

TGS07: Cocoreccho Screens Do Shine…

Our nasty criticism of the game LocoRoco Cocoreccho has seemed to fade away. The screensaver hits Thursday and still looks as gorgeous as it did before. It’s interactive and puts a different spin on the franchise we’ve come to love. Thanks to littlevish, we now have a slew of screens for your downloading pleasure. Click here to see two more and get the DL link.

More News on Cocoreccho

We were displeased–okay, a little bit more than displeased–to hear that LocoRoco Cocoreccho, or as it’s been called, Buu Buu Cocoreccho would be merely an interactive screensaver with a few minigames. Now, we’re hearing more about the game from the “official unofficial” or semi-official blog SONY runs, ThreeSpeech.

KEY FEATURES
High resolution at 1080p HD
SIXAXIS™ tilt functionality
3 Mini-games
Ranking modes:
Total score ranking: The player competes using the total number of LocoRoco collected plus the score of the mini-game.
Time Attack ranking:
The player competes using the total time taken to get to the goal. So all depends on the route chosen to reach the end of the game, the shortest it is, the better.
Characters:
LocoRoco: The mysterious creatures who love to bounce and roll around.
Mo[j]a: Loves to gobble up LocoRoco! Don’t let the LocoRoco get eaten!
Muumuu: LocoRocos friends.
BonMucha: The big bad Moja boss!
Online features:
Online ranking board

It’s nice to hear that there will be an online ranking board and 3 minigames, but I’m still not satisfied. I was looking forward to a full-fledged LocoRoco game, but it seems highly unlikely PS3 owners will see one anytime soon. There’s always hope for the PSP-vert. Cocoreccho will be playable at TGS.