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Parlin is a twelve year old girl, and she has a friend named Pino. Sounds pretty mundane, you say? Here is the fun part: none of the adults in town can see Pino, because Pino is a monster and only the children are able to see monsters...

Parlin was sent to live with her grandfather in the mining town Tiese. On her first day there she found a new friend, Pino. Pino took Parlin to her home in the world unseen by mortals, where monsters are the norm. Parlin adventures through the land defeating evil, trying to restore balance to the world. The game features a very cute storyline, including a peaceful society, a great evil and friends in need. There is just enough of the plot exposed in each mission to make you want to keep playing the game to get to the end and see if everything works out for our heroine and her friends.

The plot is revealed via a linear progression, leading you through each mission in turn. Some missions are set are inside dungeons, others are in the wilderness. Each mission has a unique environment that you have to work your way through by defeating the invading Phantoms. At various points, puzzle- or maze-solving is required to reach the next area of the level.

Parlin is armed with the Legendary Drill, a spear-like device that, according to legend, was wielded by a human to defeat the evil dragon Tokaron. The Drill is a very handy thing to have: it’s very effective when used against Phantoms, and also works very well for tunneling through walls, floors and other obstacles.

In the town of Tiese, Parlin has access to a couple of shops, one of which will supply her with various items, such as goggles and gasmasks, which can aid her in the land of the monsters. She can also purchase various candy items at the sweetshop, which she can eat in a fight to help bolster her health.

Graphics-wise the game reminds me of a Japanese animation cartoon. The images are very clear and it’s easy to see what is going on in the game. The gameplay is fairly simple in operation and does not require a high level of hand/eye coordination.

Though there is some combat in the game, it is not gratuitous or graphic. The game is obviously aimed at the younger crowd, although I think some older than the intended audience will enjoy it as well. There is some reading involved in throughout the game, but I think that most 3rd or 4th graders shouldn’t have any difficulty understanding what is written.

To sum up: Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure is a fun little game that may well distract you for a few hours while you’re getting through your laundry.