Software:Gurumin
| Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Nihon Falcom[lower-alpha 1] |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Director(s) | Takayuki Kusano[1] |
| Producer(s) | Masayuki Katou[1] |
| Programmer(s) | Hideyuki Yamashita[1] |
| Artist(s) | Hiromi Okada Shunsuke Itou[1] |
| Writer(s) | Toshihiro Kondo[1] |
| Platform(s) | Windows, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo 3DS |
| Release | Windows
|
| Genre(s) | Action role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). is a 2004 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game stars a girl named Parin who wields a drill weapon who fights against phantoms who attack a village of monsters. The game features real time combat, rather than turn based combat. It features full voice acting for its characters.
The game was initially released for Windows, before being ported to the PlayStation Portable and 3DS.
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.
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.
Release
It was originally released in Japan in December 2004 for Windows. A PlayStation Portable version was later released in Japan in June 2006, then in 2007 in North America by Mastiff in February and in Europe by 505 Game Street in March. A Nintendo 3DS version, titled Gurumin 3D, was released in 2016. It was released on the Steam platform in 2015.[3]
Reception
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The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[15] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PSP version a total of 31 out of 40.[6]
Subsequent reviews for the 3DS port have been "mixed or average".[14]
Notes
- ↑ 2015 Windows version by Opus Studio. Nintendo 3DS version developed in conjunction with iNPLAS, Opus Studio, and Mastiff.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Nihon Falcom (2007-02-12) (in English). Software:Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure. PlayStation Portable. Mastiff. Scene: End credits.
- ↑ "ぐるみん3D" (in Japanese). Nintendo Co., Ltd.. https://www.nintendo.co.jp/titles/50010000042028.
- ↑ Sahdev, Ishaan (2015-03-30). "Falcom’s Gurumin Is Finally Available On Steam" (in en-US). https://www.siliconera.com/falcoms-gurumin-is-finally-available-on-steam/.
- ↑ Carter, Chris (April 4, 2015). "Review: Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (PC)". https://www.destructoid.com/review-gurumin-a-monstrous-adventure-290701.phtml.
- ↑ Bramwell, Tom (May 12, 2007). "Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (PSP)". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/gurumin-a-monstrous-adventure-review.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Collection of every PSP-game reviewed in Famitsu". NeoGAF. August 27, 2006. http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116580.
- ↑ Reeves, Ben (April 2007). "Gurumin [A Monstrous Adventure (PSP)"]. Game Informer (168). http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/7A1CEE0B-EA48-4062-8366-43F2A0BF706A.htm. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ↑ Hall, Spenser (March 12, 2007). "Review: Gurumin [A Monstrous Adventure (PSP)"]. GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psp/games/reviews/100528.shtml. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
- ↑ Magrino, Tom (February 23, 2007). "Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure Review (PSP)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gurumin-a-monstrous-adventure-review/1900-6166371/.
- ↑ Graziani, Gabe (March 14, 2007). "GameSpy: Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (PSP)". GameSpy. http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/gurumin/772672p1.html.
- ↑ Haynes, Jeff (February 12, 2007). "Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure Review (PSP)". IGN. Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/02/13/gurumin-a-monstrous-adventure-review.
- ↑ "Review: Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure". PSM: 85. April 2007.
- ↑ Herold, Charles (February 22, 2007). "Ordinary, but in a Heroic Fantasy Kind of Way". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/22/technology/22game.html?ex=1172811600&en=cfc99c88efc1dd7e&ei=5070&emc=eta1&_r=0.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Gurumin 3D: A Monstrous Adventure for 3DS Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/gurumin-a-monstrous-adventure/critic-reviews/?platform=3ds.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure for PSP Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/gurumin-a-monstrous-adventure/critic-reviews/?platform=psp.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Gurumin 3D official site
- MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.
Features
Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]
Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.
History

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]
In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]
On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]
In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]
See also
- IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/.
- ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/.
- ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1.
- ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521.
- ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media.
- ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned.
- ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner.
- ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames.
- ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games.
- ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/.
- ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/.
- ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/.
- ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/.
- ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames.
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