Metareview -- Tokobot (PSP)

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 7th 2005 at 11:00AM }

Tecmo has decided to venture where few PSP developers have gone before. Tokobot, believe it or not, is a brand new franchise exclusive to the PSP—and it's only $30. The game is a throwback to the days of the pure platformer, but is marred by control issues and been-there-done-that gameplay. While we applaud Tecmo for freshening-up the PSP library, we're still waiting for that game that will make all non-PSP owners jealous—and no, as complete as it is, Lumines isn't it.

Review sample:

GamePro (90/100) - "Tokobot is a technological treat, with virtually zero loading, crisp colors, and a pleasingly quirky little soundtrack."
IGN (75/100) - "[Everything] about this game feels like it's foundation for a great sequel rather than its own must-play game."
GameSpy (50/100) - "Divested of any real spark, Tokobot runs out of steam quickly, mires itself in mediocrity, and never manages to rise above it."

[via Metacritic]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

LinkerX @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

What about GTA

Momus @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

GameSpy must think themselves hot shit for knowing what divested means. D'ooh! *shakes fist*

And the PSP is one step closer to having a real game library. Two steps back for taking so long. Awww, so close!

Shane @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Now this is the one game on the PSP i think looks really cool.

Mark B @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

GamePro gives it a 90 and GameSpy gives it a 50?

GameRankings (last time I checked) had a 74 critics score and a 94 users score.

Bottom line, as badly as GamePro sucks, it seems that GameSpy is the one who is totally full of shit.

Kamalot @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

"marred by control issues and been-there-done-that gameplay"

Sounds like an exciting reason to go out and purchase a PSP!

funkonaut @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Is this the game that makes the PSP fun?

:(deriuqer) eman ruoY @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I don't understand how daft you must be to dislike the psp and its library. Do you all wipe?

Seriously since I got mine, my ds has been shelved. Even the weakest of games (mercury) trumps the ds games.

Wipeout for example is still growing, releasing new courses, tracks, crafts practically every month. It's wild, because no matter how I compare and contrast, the ds is pathetically antiquated.

The psp is a must have.

Matix @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Come on lets be fair..

-GameSpot: 8.2/10
-IGN: 7.5/10
-GamePro: 4.5/10
-1Up: 6/10
-GameDaily: 4/5
-YG: 4/5
-GamerFeed: 4/5
-Famitsu: 31/40

Overall for a $30 Dollar Game, thats not a bad deal.

GTi-VR6 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

oh for gods sake!! Can we get a contributor on Joystiq who doesn't constantly put a negative spin on everything PSP???
Five out of Seven reviews on metacritic were favorable and Mr. Ransom-Wiley decides to pull his quote from the second worst.
What a friggin suprise.

The ZeroCorpse @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

It would be tough for someone to make a game that makes me want a PSP again. That system really turned me off with its half-assed support from Sony. No media software included? No USB cable included? Memory Stick Pro Duo (the most expensive memory card) instead of the less expensive, more popular choices out there? Games that cost as much as a home console version, but stripped down for portable? No TV output?

No thanks. I won my PSP, and I'm still glad I sold the dust-collecting piece of junk while it was still worth something.

I'm quite happy with my iPod 5G for video, photos and music. It has all the features Sony skipped with the PSP (media software included, TV output, downloads available at launch, 30GB of space for the same price as a PSP Gigapack alone, etc.) and as for games, I may just end up going back to the DS camp. I hated my DS at launch, but now that they've got a good library of games, I might grab one.

Sony is screwing up a lot lately. They aren't doing much to make the public like them. Soon, it will be considered as bad to own a Sony product as it was to own a Packard-Bell computer.

Kirk @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I too have both current portables (DS & PSP) and I NEVER touch my PSP. Actually that's not true, I use my PSP every Sunday over WiFi to keep current on my Fantasy Football scores on Yahoo. Whoo-hoo!

I was looking forward to this seemingly original title for quite some time...but alas, it looks to me like it's pure junk. I think some lucky kid's parents are gonna find a cheap PSP for sale this Christmas. I shoulda saved my $ for a 360.

Sony is suffering from a lack of originality. Sure they have the kick ass tech backing them up...but high tech doesn't mean high level of fun. The DS however, is puny to the PSP tech...but somehow keeps me playing and buying new titles for it.

Sense @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I was afraid that this game would make me regret selling my PSP. Looks like I don't have to worry.

BTW, is it actually $30? That's the cheapest PSP game ever.

Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I swear you guys who are bitching about what Gamespy gives a review need to take a step back and try to remember what a person who reviews a game does...he/she is giving their O-P-I-N-I-O-N.

That person is basing their review on what they think of it. You guys take a bad review as if it were a personal attack or something...geez...

Mark B @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Jago,

I'm down on GameSpy because the average review score is around 75 but they scored the game a 50. In my eyes, something is very wrong with that picture. GameSpy is known for shit like that. Check out their review of Matrix: Path of Neo. That's just one example.

I trust GameRankings and to a lesser extent MetaCritic. If I had to pick only one website for reviews though, it would be GameSpot.