PlayStation’sAstro Bothas become an incredible success story for the publisher and a perfect museum into its history. Beyond being a joyous 3D platformer on its own,Astro Botfeels like stepping into a time machine through the lineage of PlayStation, with loving odes and homages to the iconic lineup of PlayStation systems. Aiding this history lesson is the inclusion of special levels that let the titular Astro Bot take control of certain noteworthy PlayStation franchises.
One of the most surprising special levels revolves around Astro Bot turning intothe playable characters fromLocoRoco. A somewhat obscure franchise that first made a name for itself on the PlayStation Portable,LocoRoco’s inclusion feels notable up against the other PlayStation franchises to receive special levels, such asGod of War,Uncharted, andHorizon. More than anything, this surprising inclusion provides some hope that perhaps a newLocoRocotitle could come sooner rather than later.
Astro Bot’s LocoRoco Section Makes A New Game Possible
Fans Won’t Have To Look Far To Find The LocoRoco Series
Relative to theother franchises represented inAstro Bot,LocoRocois far more obscure. All of its major titles were released on the PlayStation Portable in the late 2000s, and the franchise never got a proper original game release on a home console. Thankfully, fans who are looking to get into the franchise won’t have to look too far to find its biggest titles.
Both the originalLocoRocoand its sequel received remasters on the PlayStation 4 in 2017, and these titles are also playable as backward-compatible games on the PlayStation 5. Furthermore, 2009’sLocoRoco Midnight Carnival, a spinoff title that also serves as a continuation ofLocoRoco 2, saw a re-issue on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in 2022. All three of these games are also available as part of thePremium tier of Sony’s PlayStation Plus service, making all of them very accessible for newcomers who want to get into the series for the first time.
LocoRoco Could See A Return With The PlayStation VR2
LocoRococould benefit from including some compatibility with the PlayStation VR2 in the future. Sony has had a very rough time selling its latest virtual reality headset, and rumors have abounded thatSony is cutting some of its support for PS VR2. Before officially deciding that it’s a lost cause, however, Sony should at least attempt to experiment with some new VR2 games, andLocoRocowould be the perfect place to start.
Of course, a flat mode would probably be best for helping to sell the game, but it would be great to see some kind of VR2 integration in a newLocoRocotitle. Being that this game is centered around tilting a stage to move its jelly-like LocoRoco characters around a level, the VR2’s range of motion could allow players to tilt their heads to guide the characters across the environment. It would be a unique demonstration of the hardware, one that Sony is practically begging for given the VR2’s current struggles.
LocoRoco’s inclusion feels notable up against the other PlayStation franchises to receive special levels, such asGod of War,Uncharted, andHorizon.
Team Asobi Is The Perfect Developer For A LocoRoco Revival
Being that Team Asobi is the last remnant oftheLocoRocofranchise’s original developer, Japan Studio, theAstro Botdeveloper would be the perfect candidate to bring backLocoRoco. The developer has clearly shown its love for the original game with this integration intoAstro Bot, to the point where it almost feels like an audition to take over asLocoRoco’s new developer. Perhaps this new special level could become an exciting springboard for Team Asobi to take the bull by the horns and bring backLocoRocoin a big way.
What’s more, given that Team Asobi has clear experience with virtual reality in2018’sAstro Bot Rescue Mission, this developer could make those VR2 dreams come true. This team has done an incredible job showcasing PlayStation’s hardware for several years now, and Team Asobi seems like the right developer to truly sell audiences on the PlayStation VR2. Whether or not that comes to fruition,LocoRocois deserving of a revival, and hopefully its appearance in Astro Bot is only the tip of the iceberg.
JOIN ASTRO IN A BRAND-NEW, SUPERSIZED SPACE ADVENTURE
The PS5® mothership has been wrecked, leaving ASTRO and the bot crew scattered all over the galaxies. Time to ride your trusty Dual Speeder across more than 50 planets full of fun, danger and surprises. On your journey, make the most of ASTRO’s new powers and reunite with many iconic heroes from the PlayStation universe!
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Power up your platforming
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