LocoRoco, Sony's latest PSP platformer, has been called a lot of things. Some people suggest that it's simple minded, adorable and a whole lot of innocent fun. But when it came to 1up.com, Sam Kennedy seems to believe it's the "happiest game ever." Not only did he say that in his website review, but also when talking about the game in the newest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly. He suggests that it's the type of game that will make you smile inside, the type of game that can turn that frown upside down.

But is LocoRoco really the happiest game of all time? Is it a game that will make you forget about your troubles and focus on what's good in the world? In an attempt to get to the bottom of these questions, Defunct Games has decided to pit LocoRoco up against some of the most depressing things imaginable. Will LocoRoco be able to make things better when your house burned down or you are diagnosed with a mystery disease? Does Sony's newest game have the power to make everybody who plays it happy, regardless of the situations? Find out now when we put this game to the test to determine if the title is The Happiest Game Ever?

The Situation: Thanks to a backdoor draft you're stuck in Iraq for another 18 months while everybody tries to figure out what to do. Despite the fact that this is your second tour, you still don't have adequate armor ... and you seem to be the only one that cares. All around you is a civil war going on and you seem to be stuck in the middle of it. You recently pulled out of the Al Anbar province and are now stationed in Baghdad, but you fear that isn't much better. You have commanders constantly yelling at you and you don't know what you're supposed to be doing. You weren't able to find weapons of mass destruction and so far 3,000 of your friends have died in what Donald Rumsfeld promised would be a six month endeavor. Your family is worried, you can't sleep at night and you left a newborn baby at home that you won't see for at least another year. Yet you can't speak up against what is going on, that would be against the law and it would bring you great dishonor. So every day you do what they want and you pray that nothing bad happens to you.

Will LocoRoco Help? There's no doubt that our soldiers in Iraq (and Afghanistan for that matter) need some kind of diversion, but how much help can a little PSP be when you are dealing with suicide bombers, a civil war and landmines? Actually, I don't know the answer to that. I'm going to assume that every little bit helps and that it's kind of nice being able to focus your attention on a game or two in your off time ... if only for a few minutes. If our rough and tough soldiers do have the time to play games, then I suspect that LocoRoco will do them a lot of good; after all, it's the world's happiest game. If LocoRoco can't bring some sunshine to this otherwise dreary situation, then I don't know what will. Unfortunately LocoRoco won't bring your buddies back or cool off the 120 degree heat.

The Situation: Holy crap!! Your house just burned down!! In a blink of an eye all of those things you saved up for are destroyed and your cherished memories are gone. No more pictures of you as a child. No more 50 inch flat panel HDTV. No more bed. No more clothes. And you can kiss that unopened copy of Panzer Dragoon Saga goodbye. Everything you owned is gone, and there's not a thing you can do about it. All of a sudden it's up to you to figure out how to get your life back together, get some fresh clothes on your back and find someplace new to live. Will it be a friend's house? Perhaps staying with your parents? Maybe at a significant other's pad. No matter how you look at it, you're going to have to figure out something quick, because there's still smoke in the air and you have no place to sleep at night.

Will LocoRoco Help? Assuming the PSP was the only thing you saved (and if that's the case, then you have some messed up priorities), then yes, LocoRoco will indeed make you feel better ... for a couple of minutes. Sure you have to find someplace else to live, but for a few minutes you can enjoy sitting back and playing with these singing blobs. LocoRoco isn't going to help you buy new clothes or replace your stuff, but it will take your mind off of the crazy events that just happened. And hey, at least you still have one game you can play on the ride to your parents or the homeless shelter. And if bad turns to worse, you can trade it for food and shelter.

The Situation: That bitch! After spending three years cultivating this relationship, your girlfriend has decided to shack up with your best friend. Your best friend!! Damn her. Your heart is broken, you hate all women and you never want to love again. The very thought of her with another guy sends you into a rage that is hard to quell. All you want to do is kick ass and tell everybody how wronged you feel. For days you've paced back and forth in your apartment wondering what you did wrong. Did you not love her enough? Did you not spend enough money on her? Were you a bad lover? Are you ever going to forgive your friend? Hopefully some of these questions will be answered as you're throwing her stuff out on the lawn and breaking her most valuable possessions in the same way she broke your heart.

Will LocoRoco Help? If LocoRoco can get your mind off of something like this, then that must be one strong game. But when it comes right down to it, the best thing you can do is try and move on and not even think about how much she hurt you. Thinking about the situation is not helping you, all it's doing is keeping you angry and making you want to exact revenge ... neither of which is very healthy. So plug in LocoRoco, play the most adorable game you ever will see and then remember: there are more women than men in this world, it shouldn't be too hard to replace that heartless bitch.