Did you play GURUMIN?

[Red Hairdo]

Users can retract vote.

So, why a Gurumin poll, of all things? Because it's badass.

Awesome game. I guess I almost missed quite the boat: I only played this game solely in order to investigate for Ys cameos, but this game is incredible in many, many, many ways, which kept me going. Very good things about it, all of its own.

I voted on "Yes!", because I'm still thoroughly digesting it, currently almost finishing my 5th, Crazy Mode playthrough. I'll retract my vote later.

If any of you didn't even touch it yet... Please, do so! Highly recommended! Don't let its appearance and looks fool you either!

Great OST, features warm, GOOD stories with some surprises and provides interesting playability.

On its 5th difficulty setting (completely optional), it also proves to be harder than any Ys game I ever played in any difficulty (IMO), in case someone wants some real challenge. Otherwise, the game is very light and easy-going, being pleasant to just about everyone.


So... with all that said, who in ALoY played it, and what are your thoughts on it?

[yotaka]

PC and PSP versions. Played it ages ago.

[Ascended Mermaid]

I've completed it on Normal, counting the secret optional boss. It took until over half of the game before I warmed up to it, because it seemed too relaxing otherwise. I'd like to finish it some more in other difficulties and unlock everything at some point.

[Raison D'etritus]

Feb 27, 2012 23:05:38 GMT -5 @karura said:

Is Gurumin PSP only? I don´t mind playing it since it´s Falcom, but...you know...

Probably shouldn't have alienated someone who'd have sent you a PSP, eh?

. . .by alienate, I mean "abduct and anal probe."
I'm still sore about that.

[Yakra]

One more vote to the no! ^ ^;~ Though I keep telling myself that I want to play it. Especially after hearing all about le mad-Red-Hairdo-playthorugh. X'D

Actually. I feel like REALLY finally playing it loads these days after having to look at the Gurumin wallpaper on the workplace computer everyday. X'''D Wallpapers can be... brainwashing? (It looks even more super cute and fun because of that!)

*silly reason haver for finally feeling motivated to play a game one bought years back and doomed to catch dust*

[Red Hairdo]

I forgot to say, but I played the PSP version, myself. European version, in English.

As yutaka pointed out, it's there for the PC too (and I have been told by Seldane it looks much better there), but as usual, the main issue is that it can't be played in English. So if you are unable to handle the Japanese, you might miss out on some of the light story and everything... Unless if you are really persistant and use some tools/dictionaries out there.

[Raison D'etritus]

Actually, somebody ripped the text from the PSP TitS for use with the PC version. It's not even a patch, just a couple files to overwrite the original.
I have no idea how one would go about this, but it's theoretically possible for any similar game, I presume.

****assuming of course that one were to legally own a copy of both PC and English PSP games. Of course.****

[Raison D'etritus]

I've read that too. While I haven't personally gotten around to trying it yet, I did check out the link/comments/etc, and there were claims that swapping in the original files fixed the issue, and can then be swapped back.
It's plausible there'd be more such issues elsewhere, of course, but it also stands to reason someone who cared to could work around them.

At the very least, I guess someone who wanted to make an actual patch could do so with relative ease
(like the Rondo of Blood one which used the same method)

[Haven]

Depressing ending... will not play again ;_;

[Nalacakes]

I played a little of it and really liked it, but it didn't run very nicely on my old PC. I should really install it on my new one when I find time~!

[Red Hairdo]

Feb 29, 2012 4:23:56 GMT -5 Haven said:

Depressing ending... will not play again ;_;

Finish the game on its 4th difficulty setting for an "extra". It's not sad. *hint hint*

Or was the 3rd difficulty setting (Hard) enough for the player to view it?

Anyways, do it!

[Leroy]

Nope.

[korzic]

I just started playing this today, actually. Indeed, the cutesy art style might dissuade some people from playing it (it did me for a while), but once you get past that, it really is just as fun as Falcom's other titles.

Anyway, since I've only just finished the first dungeon, I can't comment much, but for the brief time I've played so far, it really is quite enjoyable! I must say, though, that Cylinder fellow is a bit creepy, hitting on a 12 year old girl...

[winterfury]

Bought a used psp just for this little game, it was awesome.

[Red Hairdo]

Mar 31, 2012 20:13:27 GMT -5 korzic said:

I just started playing this today, actually. Indeed, the cutesy art style might dissuade some people from playing it (it did me for a while), but once you get past that, it really is just as fun as Falcom's other titles.

Anyway, since I've only just finished the first dungeon, I can't comment much, but for the brief time I've played so far, it really is quite enjoyable! I must say, though, that Cylinder fellow is a bit creepy, hitting on a 12 year old girl...

Oooh, I'm 100% sure it will grow on you, korzic. I'm so damn sure about it! XD

You'll love it. If you ever decide to go hardcore and finish the game on the new unlockable difficulties (there are 3), expect truly thrilling boss fights!! On the last difficulty even the normal enemies feel like bosses. And the bosses feel like... @__@ Well, it's like each boss becomes a Kishgal of sorts, if you know what I mean.
Just know I'm here to help, even if once every while.


Currently I stopped until I finish Ys Seven! I'm on the last boss on the final playthrough.

SPOILER: Click to show

Although I want to beat the optinal boss first. Which is... the hardest thing to ever accomplish in any game, if I'm not mistaken (on this difficulty I mean). ...And I LOVE THAT!

XD

Gurumin rules!

[SkyeWelse]

Hmm, I must be losing it. I could have sworn I posted here already. I loved Gurumin! Enjoyed it much more than I thought I ever would actually. The game really grows on you the further you progress in the game and to me, the entire final battle and ending was just very well done and epic! I rarely shed tears for games, but I did once for ICO and I did for Gurumin's ending. Those who have finished the game will probably (I hope) know which part I'm referring to...

Oh and Black Bean... a cheesy optional SUPER-BOSS. He's impossible. Don't even try. : )

-Thomas

[Ascended Mermaid]

Really? I loved fighting Black Bean. I think I actually killed him more than once, just for the lols. I agree though, it took me a while to warm up to it -- it reminds me of Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (N64), except it starts off (IMO) a little slow, with much of the level design relying at first on blockade traps. As you progress, the levels open up a little more, you learn to utilize the various moves such as the rhythm combo jumps (which become more and more important), and the traps become more well-planned than your typical Zelda "clear the room to proceed" blockades. The second half definitely won me over.

// As for the ending, I have to disagree. I didn't really find anything unusual about it. It doesn't compare to Ys Seven's ending, or even Xanadu Next's. I guess I didn't really care about the characters or the story in this one. if I wanted a childhood-type story with imaginative (though not technically imaginary, but sentient all the same) characters, ones that I'd care even a little about, I'd have to go with the Toy Story trilogy. Just because I disagree, though, doesn't invalidate how anyone else feels about it. I'm just sensitive to different things, and Gurumin itself just felt a little too silly for me to view in a serious light.

[SkyeWelse]

Oh I agree. It's definitely a silly game and not really to be taken all that seriously. But there was one especially serious or touching part that I found was simply wonderful storytelling.

Oh yeah, we have spoiler tags, don't we!

SPOILER: Click to show

I'm specifically talking about the relationship between Motoro (the big blue cat obake) and Parin and finding out why Motoro has been keeping his distance from her throughout the game.

Parin finally learns the truth at the end, that Motoro had known her grandfather and that they were friends when he was just a child, but because the obake can only been seen by children, eventually as the boy grew up, he would no longer be able to see his friend Motoro. The grandfather was left not knowing what happened to his friend, and Motoro was unable to communicate with the grandfather.

Thus, because of this, Motoro knew that it would be better if he just never got attached to any other humans he came in contact with, including Parin since their friendship couldn't last anyway.

The part I really love about that game that is a tear jerker for me is that Parin tells Motoro that his way of thinking is stupid, and finds a solution, painting Motoro in a way so that her Grandfather, and subsequently any children thereafter that grow up and cannot see the obake normally will have a means to see them and know that they are still around, not lost and not forgotten.

For me, seeing a scene like that where the grandfather becomes reunited with a chlldhood friend, one that he never expected to see again, that's truly touching. That was some pretty serious storytelling in a non-serious game.

-Thomas