Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure, known simply as Gurumin (ぐるみん) in Japan, is an action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom Corporation. It was originally released in Japan on December 25, 2004 for Microsoft Windows. A PlayStation Portable version was later released in Asia on June 27, 2006, in Japan on June 29, 2006, and North America on February 12, 2007, published by Mastiff. A Steam version was also later released on March 30, 2015. A Nintendo 3DS port, titled Gurumin 3D: A Monstrous Adventure (known as Gurumin 3D in Japan), was announced on June 16, 2016 for release in North America on October 13, 2016[2] and Europe on October 27, 2016. The Nintendo 3DS version was released in Japan in November 2016.[1]

Gurumin
Developer(s)Nihon Falcom[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo 3DS
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows
  • JP: December 25, 2004
  • KOR: September 23, 2005
  • WW: March 30, 2015
PlayStation Portable
  • AS: June 27, 2006
  • JP: June 29, 2006
  • NA: February 12, 2007
  • EU: March 23, 2007
Nintendo 3DS
  • NA: October 13, 2016
  • EU: October 27, 2016
  • JP: November 30, 2016[1]
Genre(s)Action RPG
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Gurumin is a 3D Action RPG with heavy emphasis on action through real-time combat. Parin can acquire various headwear which have varying effects while equipped such as protection from water damage, stronger attacks or HP restoration. Each piece of headwear can be upgraded to increase their effects. Parin's drill has up to four power levels that are increased through combat or restoration points in levels and decreased by taking damage. The current level of her drill dictates damage that can be dealt and can change up and down frequently in each level. Various consumable items can be bought or found which are used during levels to restore HP or drill power.

Gurumin offers replayability by offering new difficulty levels upon completion of the game. The game starts with Beginner and Normal modes; Hard, Happy and Crazy modes are opened up with completion of the previous difficulty level. While each difficulty alters the strength of the enemies, some also change other elements of the game such as removing environmental hazards in Beginner mode, an altered game script in Happy mode (Japanese version only) and only allowing damaging of enemies through critical hits in Crazy mode.

In addition to headwear that gives characters various abilities and protection there is also a number of outfits that can be equipped. Matching the right outfit with the right hat could unlock additional abilities. These are acquired by purchasing from the (vending machine), completing the game at a set difficulty level, or through other means such as playing on the right date when a special event happens.

Plot

A girl named Parin goes to live with her grandfather in Tiese Town after her parents are called overseas on an excavation trip. After being told that there are no other children in Tiese, she finds what looks like another girl who is being threatened by a dog. Parin rescues the girl and discovers that she is actually a monster (お化け, obake) which only children can see. To thank Parin, the monster takes her to a crack in the back wall of the town which is revealed to be a portal to the monster world. A group of monsters known as phantoms begin a series of attacks on Monster Village. Parin, who unearths a legendary drill, decides to fight against the phantoms and restore Monster Village.

Reception
Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPSP
Destructoid9/10[3]N/A
EurogamerN/A7/10[4]
FamitsuN/A31/40[5]
Game InformerN/A7/10[6]
GameProN/A3.75/5[7]
GameSpotN/A8/10[8]
GameSpyN/A[9]
GameZoneN/A8.5/10[10]
IGNN/A8/10[11]
PSMN/A8/10[12]
The New York TimesN/A(favorable)[13]
Aggregate score
Metacritic87/100[14]78/100[15]

The game received "generally favorable reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[14][15] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PSP version a total of 31 out of 40.[5] Subsequent reviews for the 3DS port have also been positive.[16][17]

Notes
  1. 2015 Windows version by Opus Studio. Nintendo 3DS version developed in conjunction with iNPLAS, Opus Studio, and Mastiff.
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References
  1. "ぐるみん3D" (in Japanese). Nintendo Co., Ltd. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  2. "Mastiff bringing Gurumin 3D: A Monstrous Adventure to 3DS eShop next month (NA) - Perfectly Nintendo". Perfectly Nintendo. 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
  3. Carter, Chris (April 4, 2015). "Review: Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (PC)". Destructoid. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  4. Bramwell, Tom (May 12, 2007). "Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (PSP)". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  5. "Collection of every PSP-game reviewed in Famitsu". NeoGAF. August 27, 2006. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  6. Reeves, Ben (April 2007). "Gurumin [A Monstrous Adventure] (PSP)". Game Informer (168). Archived from the original on May 2, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  7. Hall, Spenser (March 12, 2007). "Review: Gurumin [A Monstrous Adventure] (PSP)". GamePro. Archived from the original on March 10, 2008. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  8. Magrino, Tom (February 23, 2007). "Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure Review (PSP)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 27, 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  9. Graziani, Gabe (March 14, 2007). "GameSpy: Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (PSP)". GameSpy. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  10. Romano, Natalie (February 15, 2007). "Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure - PSP - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  11. Haynes, Jeff (February 12, 2007). "Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure Review (PSP)". IGN. Ziff Davis.
  12. "Review: Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure". PSM: 85. April 2007.
  13. Herold, Charles (February 22, 2007). "Ordinary, but in a Heroic Fantasy Kind of Way". The New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  14. "Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  15. "Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure for PSP Reviews". Metacritic.
  16. "Gurumin 3D: A Monstrous Adventure Review — A Frighteningly Good Time | DualShockers". Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  17. "Gurumin 3D: A Monstrous Adventure". Metacritic. Retrieved 2016-10-18.

Further reading
  • Gifford, Kevin (January 2007). "Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure". Newtype USA. Vol. 6 no. 1. pp. 134–135. ISSN 1541-4817.
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