You're probably not alone if you've never heard of Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure. First released as a PC game way back in 2004 and a PlayStation Portable title shortly after, Gurumin has stayed largely off the map since its initial launch. Despite the favourable reviews that it received, this action-adventure RPG never saw a sequel, and it mostly faded into obscurity while retaining an almost cult following. That is, until now.
Originally developed by Nihon Falcom, Gurumin's North American localization and publishing for the PSP release was handled by Mastiff Games. Almost 10 years later, Mastiff is once again behind the release of Gurumin 3D, an update to the forgotten gem releasing exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS eShop; there's a remaster minus the '3D' that was released on PC in 2015, too. It may be coming out very soon, but we were lucky enough to get our hands on an early build; we sure are glad that we did.
As previously mentioned, Gurumin is an action-adventure RPG that implements real-time combat and puzzle solving. It's almost like a Zelda game, but much cuter and grounded in RPG and customization elements. Players take control of Parin, a young girl tasked with protecting Monster Village from the attacking phantoms. Sure, why not? Parin's attacks and abilities can be upgraded and customized through both leveling up and by donning special equipment. The customization system is simple, but there seem to be enough equipment options to truly make your character feel like your own.
The controls work well and feel natural on the 3DS, making use of the console's full array of inputs, including the touch screen to access menus and equipment. Some added functionality was present for the New 3DS specific controls as well, mostly allowing us to rotate the camera using the C-Stick. Combat is smooth and a little repetitive, but this is a game that revels in its simplicity, not putting a major emphasis on combat. From what we played, it's good clean fun that can be picked up and put down without forcing its players to be too invested.
One thing that we weren't expecting is just how great Gurumin looks on the 3DS. The world and characters are vibrant and colourful, and this shone through on the portable's small screens. The audio design was also a pleasant surprise, featuring an upbeat soundtrack and the full voice acting from the original release. If you're still on the fence about this one, it's worth noting that this game features the voice talents of Amber Hood, Dee Bradley Baker and Tara Strong, just to name a few.
While the game played well and looked great in our limited time with it, the one thing that we can't avoid mentioning is an apparent framerate issue. More than once were we subjected to some stuttering, an issue that was exacerbated by the use of the console's 3D display. It wasn't game breaking by any means, but it was definitely noticeable. We don't want to harp on it too much because we were playing an incomplete demo, but it is something that we hope can be addressed in the final build.
The one thing that Gurumin 3D does best is that it stays true to its original release. Sure, the camera controls may have been optimized and small tweaks were made to hide its age, but the core of this game has been preserved – and so has its charm. We haven't had the chance to play the final game, and the build that we did play at PAX West wasn't without its faults, but we're remaining hopeful that there's still time to fix those minor concerns.
The full release details have yet to be revealed, but we do know that Gurumin 3D is going to be a bargain priced at $14.99 and could land in October; we'll have a full review for you when it lands.
Comments 20
I hadn't heard of it, looks charming. Will look forward to a review and any EU release details.
before NL articles i had no idea this game existed in any form. looks fun and i will definitely be picking it up for 3ds!
I'll definitely be getting this game. For some reason it reminds me of Brave Fencer Musashi. It might be the art.
I was hoping a release date would be included. Ah well, hopefully it still launches in October!!!
This is HEAVY on my radar-- been following this for awhile. Can't wait!
I'm a little confused why a concrete release date hasn't been announced yet when it's so close to releasing. I'm really looking forward to trying this out.
Hope to receive my copy soon!
Man, I'm a sucker for cute Zelda-likes. And I'm even more on board when you throw in more traditional rpg elements, so I'll probably be getting this unless the final reviews are just completely in the toilet.
REALLY looking forward to this! I have a 'copy' for the PSP, but just never got around to playing it. But for the past few months since this 3ds version was announced I deleted the PSP copy and am waiting for this to drop in the euro eshop. Any word at all when it releases in Europe? Anything? Physical or digital? Both? Just digital? I'm cool with that. Hopefully it's €15 here.
Looks awesome! Can't wait to play!
This looks better and better every time I see an update on it. Just need a block size estimate and I'm good to go.
Can't wait to pick this one up once it arrives on the eShop! I remember it on the PSP but never got a chance to play it because, well, I didn't have one at the time.
Excellent PSP game, I remember.
Someone, anyone, please publish a physical version of this!
Huh. I'll have to get this.
Used to love this on the PSP. Think I'll check out the Steam-version.
This reminds me of Megaman Legends and Threads of Fate for some reason...
@Charinzardon You're not the only one who got Threads of Fate vibes!
(Too bad the soundtrack doesn't seem to measure up to that one so far, but the gameplay looks like it might fill that niche)
@World Yeah, it really seems, but it lacks the awesome transformations though, and now it also reminds me of tales of symphonia(because of the size and anime style of the characters).
I really enjoyed it on PSP.
Too bad I hardly buy the same game twice
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