It might be the GBA game that most people are unfamiliar with and it’s certainly the most low key game out of a stacked lineup but Kuru Kuru Kuruin is a wonderful action puzzle game and well worth a play through. The game never received a North American release but I used to play it all the time thanks to other means back in the day. And I think now is the perfect time for people who never played it to pick it up.
Supposedly the concept is you play as a bird thing piloting a helicopter. But really you play as a stick, a rotating stick. You go through closed courses and the goal is not to touch the sides as that will kill you (you typically have 3 HP). You can control how fast you spin and also reverse direction to wind your way around obstacles. It’s super simple but very colorfully done with some [lovely peppy GBA-style puzzle music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOBTKt48mYY&list=PLC1B69F7C3882D9FC&index=4). The difficulty is, for me, just right and it ends up being very satisfying. It also has 4 player multiplayer with NSO.
This isn’t going to win anyone’s Game of the Year award but I think people will have a great time with it and I didn’t want people to miss out.
Here are some gameplay videos as well:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKHdwAEzPfM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKHdwAEzPfM)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILAlBvqlZyA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILAlBvqlZyA)
by junglespycamp
28 Comments
Really? It wasn’t North America? We had it in Europe for sure.
I loved this game as a kid and I played it all the time when my cousin gave me his GBA. Unfortunately I never had one on my own, my father didn’t allow it.
I was so excited when I saw it in the Nintendo Direct, I immediately downloaded it and started playing. It feels so good to have this game back.
Great game, re-playing through it now. One of my fav GBA games (and there were many great games on that system). Randomly I got the itch for it last week before the direct and got a game called Spinfrog. It’s similar but not the same.
This game is so stupid it cracks me up.
I like nintendo putting weird barely known games in the launch line ups of the nso apps, every one of them has actually been good so far, winback was a surprise from the n64 launch line up.
The game was available to NA via Wii U virtual console, but well…it was the Wii U. Also, you could control how fast it moves, but not the speed it spins.
I played and beat the game over the weekend. The levels weren’t too hard. There were a couple of levels that took a bit of extra thinking to get the cosmetics while also trying to get a no-hit run. Yes, there are pickups that change the color and shape of the heli, but thay don’t effect the gameplay.
Maybe I’ll go through it again to get the fastest time.
This game is a blast.
I think it’s fine to sleep on it as long as you put it under your pillow.
This was an assist trophy in brawl for those who are curious!
Been playing it and already I love it. It’s hard, but really really good. I hope we get more of these lesser known Nintendo games on the service.
I saw it during the reveal and thought it was awesome. Shame it took almost two decades for a US release.
Couldn’t agree more, never played it until the switch release and I love it. It’s such a unique puzzle game
This game is a feel good time! I had never played it before and just beat the main adventure. Its a little frustrating at times but addictive and satisfying when you beat a level. I highly recommend it. It is great to play between metroid prime sessions and there is a ton of replayability.
Played a bunch of this way back. Really fun.
The first time I saw this game was this Nintendo Direct and it made me curious. Now I’m close to beat this game, meanwhile even trying to beat time records and finish levels without hitting obstacles. I love it so far, gameplay is addictive, worlds are colorful and different, characters are silly and soundtrack is a blast. Great game to fill short breaks, I’d recommend it.
I remember wanting this at the GBA launch, and not understanding why Nintendo wouldn’t localize something so simple. I get why they didn’t localize that Napoleon game, but this series was weirdly excluded from North america.
I totally slept on it but figured, “What the hell, I’ll try it out.” and ended up discovering that it’s exactly my kind of game, I absolutely loved it and played the whole thing, challenges included, in one long sitting.
That being said, I wouldn’t have played that initial sitting had it not been for the rewind feature. How anyone was supposed to perfect the game with no rewind and a d-pad is beyond me.
I’m loving it so far. Very addictive.
I’m about halfway now. I’m really enjoying it! I also groaned a bit when they revealed it but it’s one of those amazing little gems.
It’s so much better than Irritating Stick
Agreed, somehow me and my brother had this game when we were kids and it was great. Really surprised to see it on the list.
This was actually the game I was most excited for! Hopefully they’ll either remaster the GC game or give a sequel
Kururin Paradise is amazing too.
Had never heard of it before.
Now it’s my most played game since they dropped GB/GBA, great game.
Didn’t realise it was never released in the US, that explains the puzzled looks on people’s faces during the Direct.
Over here in Europe I think it was a launch game. We all pretty much ignored it back then because there was cooler stuff out (F-Zero) but I’ll give it a shot via NSO at some point.
This was the first game I had with my GBA and I absolutely loved it back then. I’m enjoying playing it on the switch again.
This is one of my most played GBA games ever. Brilliant game! I still put batteries in my GBA regularly to play this game.
Seems like one of the puzzle games that you could get addicted to and start to see even when you close your eyes. I’m in.
I have been having so much fun playing this game!! And it makes me think of puru puru pururin from welcome to the nhk in a funny way I appreciate.