For awhile now, I have been trying to think of a creative way to tie together everything in Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure. Alas, my mind draws a blank. Simply put, Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure is a hidden gem hiding in plain sight.
Gurumin follows the adventures of 12 year-old Purin. She just moved to a mining town because her archeological parents wanted her to have some stability for a change. There is one major problem: There are no kids in town. Plus, Grandpa is a little dopey. Instead, she quickly finds that the town is right next to a village of monsters. Interestingly enough, adults cannot see them. Shortly after Purin starts hanging out with the monster villagers, they are attacked by a mysterious group of OTHER monsters known as the Phantoms. And the Phantoms are bent on destroying everything in sight. So by removing the sacred drill in the monster town square, it is up to Purin to rescue her friends and put a stop to the maniacal world destruction. It is not a bad plot, and it is fun to play through. Little jokes abound throughout the game, whether it is a bit of slapstick or word play.
Graphically, the game is an odd mixture. On the one hand, it is well-done. Gurumin has a very cute, charming and detailed world. Water flows through banks. Trees are seen in great detail. Things that are destroyed can be seen crumbling or shattering, such as rocks and pots. Purin moves with perfect grace most of the time. On the other hand, monster animations are jerky. I found it very off-putting. If Purin moves well, why couldn’t the rest of the characters move well? Maybe the developers did it to reduce load times. Maybe they did it so everything flows together more coherently. It stopped by bothering (most of the time) after a bit.
Controls are exceedingly tight. Actually, they could be considered too tight. Every little push of a button executes an attack. Sometimes it takes place a few seconds after a button is pushed. But it happens, regardless of how many buttons are pushed. It takes awhile to get used to it as it is a little frustrating to see everything take place. It works into the strategy element of the game, knowing when to attack and when to let it all play out. The camera is almost perfect. It rarely gets in your way or blocks what you need to see. However, you have complete control over it. You can rotate it to your heart’s content, setting it up so your jumps are perfect. It really works in the 3-D world.
Gameplay is action-adventure with heavy emphasis on action. There are lots of Phantoms to take down in each level, and there are plenty of things that need shattered. No matter how often it is done, taking down Phantoms is always fun. At the end of each level, a piece of furniture is given to one of Purin’s monster friends and unlocks additional levels. You also are graded on how well you do. Destroy every enemy and pot, and you earn a gold medal. Then take your hard-earned medals back to Purin’s grandpa and trade them in for money or other types of headwear.
Yes, there are several types of hats in this game. Each piece of headwear has different properties and comes into play at different times. For example, one of the more prominent pieces is the goggles. These wonderful eye protectors protect Purin from water. Steal equipment from Phantoms, and you can take their junk to the store and upgrade your equipment. Those goggles that reduce water damage can be upgraded to make you immune to water. This makes it possible to swim without taking damage. The vampire hat will transform inflicted damage into health. The crown will reduce shop prices. It is a neat, fun and whimsical concept.
Sound is solid. The map music has this bongo-like sound to begin the adventure. Strong drumbeats mix in with pianos to create a fun area to explore. Synthesizers emphasize this at various times. The rest of the time they mix with some “hollow” drumbeats to create a mellow atmosphere. Furthermore, the rest of the game sounds well. Purin’s jumps have a springy sound to them, the twisting of the drill when used, shards of ice popping up when using a special attack, and the chimes of stepping stones. There is voice acting, and I feel it does a wonderful job of helping to create a living world.
In conclusion, Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure is a fun game. It isn’t completely perfect. But man, it is fun! It is a downright cute and enjoyable adventure. Everything that is needed for a strong 3-D adventure is present. On the one hand, I really want to finish the game to see how it all ends. On the other, I do not want it to end. It is such a blast jumping from space to space and beating up malignant monsters.
Those who own a PSP and are looking for a fun game to play cannot do much better than Gurumin . I found it my local game store for about $10. You can download it off the PlayStation Network for $15. And it is heck of a value, especially if you take the time to re-beat the levels. When I started playing this Gurumin several weeks ago, I had no idea that his would become one of my favorite games. This really is a hidden jewel in plain sight. Go experience it for yourself. It is an excellent game to play on a sleepy day.
