Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure

About

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Nihon Falcom and was released on March 30, 2015. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure is an action-packed role-playing game where players control a brave young girl named Parin. Armed with a magical drill, Parin embarks on a mission to save a village of friendly monsters from an evil force. With exciting battles, vibrant graphics, and a host of charming characters, Gurumin offers a thrilling and engaging gameplay experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure screenshot

+12

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 578 reviews

music98 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Charming characters and a lighthearted story that appeals to both children and adults.
Fun and engaging combat system with a unique rhythm-based mechanic for critical hits.
Colorful graphics and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic PS1 and PS2 platformers.

Camera control can be awkward, making platforming sections frustrating.
Some voice acting is subpar, leading to a lack of emotional engagement.
Repetitive level design with mirrored stages can feel tedious for completionists.

music
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy, upbeat tracks that evoke nostalgia and enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is noted for its diversity and quality, often compared to classic titles, and features a unique mechanic where players can achieve critical hits by timing their attacks to the rhythm of the music. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout elements of the game, contributing significantly to its charm and enjoyment.
- “The music, sound effects, and tone of the game evoked a nostalgic feeling in me, allowing me to enjoy the game for hours.”
- “The music is incredible, the characters are goofy and cute, and there's even a secret very difficult superboss.”
- “The music is very good.”
- “The music is rather repetitive and for 2015 it doesn't really hold up that well graphically.”
- “The characters, cutscenes, voice acting, music, general story/script/writing/climax, etc. is bad to awful.”
- “The music gradually gets better throughout the game, comprising hints of RPGs from bygone eras intermingled with... well, bits of everything really!”
story
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
5%
The story of the game is generally described as simple and charming, appealing primarily to a younger audience with its lighthearted themes and cute characters. While it may lack depth and complexity, it effectively engages players with enjoyable narrative beats and some unexpected twists, making it a fun experience overall. The dialogue and character interactions enhance the storytelling, contributing to a nostalgic and whimsical atmosphere reminiscent of classic children's media.
- “The strength of the game lies in the characters and the story.”
- “The story is charming, and the plucky voice acting accompanies it well.”
- “The protagonist is a young yet strong girl with funny monster friends and foes, and the story, while simple, is also pretty interesting: while most RPG stories are about a struggle against evil, this one is more about the aftermath and has some touching implications about losing contact with old friends.”
- “The story is almost nonexistent.”
- “The story is very simplistic and feels lazy, relying on its 'kiddiness' to cover up its lack of depth.”
- “The story is cookie-cutter and saccharine, involving giving monsters furniture to make them happy so that their happiness drives away the darkness.”
gameplay
121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
43%
9%
The gameplay is generally described as simple yet enjoyable, featuring charming characters, engaging mechanics, and a nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of classic PS1/N64 titles. While some players appreciate the fun and replayability, others note issues such as clunky controls, repetitive elements, and a lack of complexity that can lead to boredom. Overall, the game offers a solid experience with a mix of action, light RPG elements, and a delightful soundtrack, though it may not meet modern standards for depth and polish.
- “The gameplay is simple but solid.”
- “This is a very fun platformer with light RPG mechanics.”
- “Great music and art direction which are woven into the fun gameplay.”
- “This game runs into the same issues that a lot of old PS1/N64 games run into... the mechanics are a bit sloppy, there is a lack of details for puzzles (you're going to have to look up), and they sometimes just get boring at some point.”
- “The gameplay felt somewhat sluggish.”
- “Camera, controls, combat system, hitboxes, jumps - every mechanic is implemented badly.”
graphics
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, cutesy art style reminiscent of early 2000s titles, particularly those from the PS1 and PS2 eras. While some players note the graphics can feel dated or blocky, many appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and vibrant colors that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered appealing and fitting for the game's whimsical tone, despite some technical limitations.
- “The graphics are beautiful and hit the style they were aiming for perfectly.”
- “The art style is adorable, the story is entertaining, and the combat is amazing!”
- “This game is a charming little action adventure from Falcom, with a light story, some really goofy characters and a nice colorful art style.”
- “The graphics are horrible, the voice acting is some of the worst I've ever heard, the story is almost nonexistent.”
- “Graphics look like the original PSP version, so they aren't great for a PC game either.”
- “Choppy graphics, repetitive gameplay, dreadful dialogue, and very generic backgrounds.”
humor
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its charming and light-hearted nature, featuring funny dialogue, quirky characters, and nostalgic nods to classic N64 vibes. While some voice acting may come off as corny, it adds to the overall cute and enjoyable experience, appealing to both children and adults. Players appreciate the clever humor woven into the gameplay and interactions, making it a delightful adventure filled with amusing moments.
- “The humor is on point, the mini-games are varied and enjoyable, there's plenty of world-interaction and always a chance NPCs will have something new to say.”
- “The little things in this game, the little quips here and there show an underlying humor and a love for what they were making.”
- “Great gameplay, absurdly hilarious dialogue and moments, full controller support, the game is aesthetically pleasing for a PSP port, great voice acting, fun story, satisfying for both adults and children, smooth optimization for PC and much more to offer.”
replayability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
60%
12%
The game boasts high replayability, with numerous collectibles, unlockables, and difficulty settings that encourage players to revisit it. Many reviewers appreciate the engaging gameplay and charming atmosphere, noting that the option for "new game+" and various mission rankings enhance the experience. Overall, players find the replay value significant, making it enjoyable even after multiple playthroughs.
- “The game has lots of collectibles and unlockables including costumes and harder difficulty modes, giving it some replayability if you feel so inclined.”
- “Overall an engaging game with clunky but forgiving controls and a surprising amount of replay value.”
- “A cute and fun action RPG, I love that it has so much replay value. I beat the game 4 times and I'm still not at 100%, and the best part is that the game was still fun even after the 4th walkthrough.”
- “I dunno if it has any replay value, but I'm too lazy to start this again.”
- “The game is pretty straightforward but offers plenty of things as unlockables to add replayability.”
- “New game + requires collecting items again (not necessarily a bad thing, it does add a 'replayability' aspect than a god mode).”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
Players find the grinding in the game to be tedious and clunky, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging experience. While some aspects, like upgrading hats, require significant effort for minimal reward, others note that the game can be completed without excessive grinding. Overall, the design choices contribute to a frustrating grind, particularly when pursuing optional content or rare items.
- “It's also not very grindy outside of the overpowered level 5 (maximum) upgrades for the hats and gear, but you can beat the game without these.”
- “Though this game is cutesy and has some charm going for it, it is immensely clunky and feels tedious to plow through.”
- “In terms of criticisms, there's the previously mentioned optional super boss (who is awful), and the several-hour-long tedious grind to get enough scrap parts to upgrade one of the game's many hats to max rank.”
- “Sorry folks, but when I reach the point where I want to turn the game off to go do housework because the game is so tedious, you know that there is a problem with its design.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Overall, the game's optimization varies significantly across platforms. While PC users report smooth performance and good optimization, Linux players experience issues, particularly with vsync leading to stuttering. The game is generally well-received for its gameplay and aesthetics, but some performance problems persist, especially for those playing the PSP port.
- “Great gameplay, absurdly hilarious dialogue and moments, full controller support, the game is aesthetically pleasing for a PSP port, great voice acting, fun story, satisfying for both adults and children, smooth optimization for PC and much more to offer.”
- “No problem with the game performance.”
- “You are evaluated after every stage based on your performance on time, enemies defeated, jars broken, and chests found, and these award you medals.”
- “Linux performance in my experience wasn't good.”
- “(beware you may have to spend a little time getting vsync to work properly without stuttering massively)”
- “Aside from some performance issues, which might have been how it was on the PSP, it's a decent port as well.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
83%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report smooth performance and minimal bugs, others encounter significant glitches that detract from the experience. Notably, issues with achievements and graphical bugs in ultra settings have been highlighted, leading to frustration among users.
- “The game runs very smoothly and is practically bug-free.”
- “I haven't encountered any crashes or major glitches, which makes for a seamless experience.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; I can play for hours without any issues.”
- “Good but buggy.”
- “Tl;dr I got the game for free and I feel robbed; it's buggy and Mastiff should be ashamed.”
- “There are some odd glitches - notably, that you need to avoid S-ranking every single level in order to get the 'S-rank every single level' achievement.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Character development in the game is highlighted by a charming main character whose personality blends cuteness and sass, complemented by appealing designs and nostalgic early 00s aesthetics. However, some players feel that the RPG elements are lacking, with minimal character growth and a weak plot, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The main character has a personality with a nice blend of cute and sass that matches her character design.”
- “I haven't played a game that grabs me in such a long time; from story arc and character design to gameplay, graphics, and music, Gurumin has it all.”
- “There's a child-like whimsical nature encapsulated in the experience which the character designs, music, art style, and the totality of the visuals help convey.”
- “I find the 'RPG' aspects lacking; no real character development and no real plot.”
- “The character designs, voice acting, animations, menu designs, and music all have that early 00s Japanese charm.”
- “There's a child-like whimsical nature encapsulated in the experience which the character designs, music, art style, and the totality of the visual helps convey.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes strong emotional responses through its heartwarming narrative, focusing on themes of friendship and the bittersweet nature of growing up. The protagonist's journey, supported by charming monster characters and a well-crafted script, resonates with players of all ages, making it a nostalgic and wholesome experience. Overall, it successfully captures the essence of childhood emotions while delivering an engaging story.
- “The protagonist is a young yet strong girl with funny monster friends and foes, and the story, while simple, is also pretty interesting: while most RPG stories are about a struggle against evil, this one is more about the aftermath and has some touching implications about losing contact with old friends.”
- “The story is heartwarming in a childlike way as both your monster friends and bad guys all have interesting personalities, and the well-written script and professional voice acting really help bring them to life.”
- “But all things considered, it's a wholesome title that's worth a go for people of all ages.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, combining engaging graphics and music that evoke a sense of childhood wonder. Reviewers appreciate the light-hearted tone and unique ambiance, which contribute to a memorable gaming experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature that enhances both the enjoyment and replay value of the game.
- “I never got the chance to get it for my PSP when I was little, so I got it now on PC and the graphics, music, and atmosphere really make me feel like I'm 8 again.”
- “My favorite things about this game are the very easy learning curve, the replay value, the light-hearted atmosphere, and the characters.”
- “They just blend together to form an atmosphere that's not really like any game I've played before.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers appreciate the game's decision to avoid DLC and microtransactions, highlighting the benefits of maintaining a straightforward monetization model that enhances player experience without the pressure of additional purchases.
- “The game offers a fair monetization model that respects players' time and investment.”
- “I appreciate that the developers prioritize gameplay over aggressive monetization strategies.”
- “It's refreshing to see a game that doesn't rely heavily on DLC and microtransactions.”
- “The game feels like it's designed more for profit than for player enjoyment, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game purchases.”
- “I can't believe how many features are locked behind paywalls; it ruins the experience for those who don't want to spend extra.”
- “The monetization strategy is aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to buy something.”

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83%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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10h Median play time

9h Average play time

9-12h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure is a role playing game with fantasy theme.

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure is available on PC, Windows, PlayStation and PSP.

On average players spend around 9 hours playing Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure.

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure was released on March 30, 2015.

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure was developed by Nihon Falcom.

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its grinding.

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure is a single player game.

Similar games include Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection, Dust: An Elysian Tail, DRAGON QUEST HEROES™ Slime Edition, Sudeki, Pumpkin Jack and others.

Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure

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