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{{Short description|2001 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}{{Infobox video game
|title = Kuru Kuru Kururin
|image = Kuru Kuru Kururin Coverart.jpg
|caption = European box art
|developer = [[Eighting]]
|publisher = [[Nintendo]]
|director = Hiroshi Sato<br>Masato Toyoshima
|producer = Shinji Hatano
|designer = Hironobu Fumita<br>Masahiro Yuge<br>Kenji Kawakita<br>Yuki Yonei
|series = ''Kururin''
|programmer = Yasunari Watanabe
|artist = Shinichi Ōnishi<br>[[Yoichi Kotabe]]
|composer = Atsuhiro Motoyama
|platforms = [[Game Boy Advance]] 
|released = {{vgrelease|JP|March 21, 2001|PAL|June 22, 2001}}
|genre = [[Puzzle video game|Puzzle]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Kuru Kuru Kururin'''''|くるくるくるりん|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a [[puzzle video game]] developed by [[Eighting]] and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[Game Boy Advance]] (GBA). It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001, and in Europe and Australia on June 22 as a launch title. It was not released in North America until February 2016 via the [[Wii U]]'s [[Virtual Console]] service. ''Kuru Kuru Kururin'' is the first title in the ''Kururin'' series and was followed by two Japan-only sequels, ''[[Kururin Paradise]]'' and ''[[Kururin Squash!]]''. The game was released on the [[Nintendo Classics]] service in February 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plant |first=Logan |date=2023-02-08 |title=Nintendo Switch Online Adding Game Boy and Game Boy Advance Games |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-online-game-boy-games |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305005529/https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-online-game-boy-games |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Gameplay==
[[Image:Kurukurukururin screenshot.PNG|left|thumb|Screenshot of ''Kuru Kuru Kururin'']]
The player controls a slowly spinning stick, and must maneuver it through a series of [[maze]]s without touching the walls. Infamously difficult,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/41957/kuru-kuru-kururin-review-revisit |title=Kuru Kuru Kururin Review Revisit |work=Nintendo World Report |date=2016-02-19 |access-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717065716/https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/41957/kuru-kuru-kururin-review-revisit |url-status=live }}</ref> the single player offers several goals per course, while the 4 player (single cart) multiplayer pits players in a race for fastest clear times.

The game starts with simple training levels, in which players are told how to play and how to get around the first corners. After that, there are three levels in each stage, which get progressively harder and longer. The obstacles and the look of the levels (ice, cave, machine, etc.) vary between stages. Taking damage incurs a time penalty, and losing all lives results in failing the level, requiring the player to restart the level from the beginning. Beginners can play the levels on Easy mode, where the stick is only half of its usual size.

There is a mode called Challenge mode, which is a collection of smaller levels, usually involving only one or two corners or objects to dodge.

==Plot==
The story begins when Kururin's brothers and sisters go missing, and it is up to him to find them. Kururin is initially unsure that he is up to the task because he has never left his home world before. Being the adventurous and helpful fellow he is, Kururin agrees to rescue his lost family. Teacher Hare trains Kururin in the art of controlling the Helirin, a stick-shaped helicopter that has a slow-spinning propeller. Piloting the Helirin through the different worlds will be a difficult task, but using Teacher Hare's valuable lessons, Kururin bravely sets out on his adventure to rescue his lost family.

==Development==
''Kuru Kuru Kururin'' was developed by the Japanese company [[Eighting]] and first announced at the [[Nintendo Space World]] 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/083/083313p1.html|title=More Game Boy Advance Shots|website=[[IGN]]|date=2000-08-09|access-date=2010-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613191724/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/083/083313p1.html|archive-date=2011-06-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| CVG = 5/10
| Edge = 7/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamekult.com/tout/jeux/fiches/J000004125_presse.html|title=Revue de presse internationale de Kuru Kuru Kururin|trans-title=International press coverage of Kuru Kuru Kururin|publisher=Gamekult|language=fr|access-date=2010-03-09|archive-date=October 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028145336/http://www.gamekult.com/tout/jeux/fiches/J000004125_presse.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| EuroG = 9/10<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_kurukuru_gba|title=KuruKuru Kururin Review|newspaper=Eurogamer.net|date=7 July 2001|access-date=2022-01-16|archive-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182419/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_kurukuru_gba|url-status=live}}</ref>
| GSpot = 7.1/10
| NWR = 9/10
}}
''Kuru Kuru Kururin'' received mostly positive reviews from critics. It was praised for its simple yet addictive gameplay. [[Eurogamer]] rated the game a score of 9 out of 10 points. The reviewer lauded the game's learning curve and stated that there would be no other puzzle game on the Game Boy Advance at the time that can "rival ''Kuru Kuru Kururin'' for its sheer addictiveness and fun-value".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_kurukuru_gba|title=KuruKuru Kururin Review|author=Martin Taylor|website=[[Eurogamer]]|date=2001-07-07|access-date=2010-03-09|archive-date=June 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617075921/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_kurukuru_gba|url-status=live}}</ref> Nintendo World Report, then known as Planet GameCube, gave ''Kuru Kuru Kururin'' the same score as Eurogamer and declared that it is "simple enough that anyone can pick this game up and play". The reviewer praised the game's multiplayer mode, which he described as "an absolute blast", as well as its lasting appeal, but also commented that the "cutesy" characters and music would be a turn-off for "a lot of people".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=3795|title=GBA Review: Kuru Kuru Kururin|author=Billy Berghammer|publisher=Nintendo World Report|date=2001-08-08|access-date=2010-03-09|archive-date=February 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201043522/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=3795|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Jeff Gerstmann]] of [[GameSpot]] rated ''Kuru Kuru Kururin'' 7.1 out of 10 and described its graphics as "simple but effective". He stated that the game is "excellent at filling up small periods of free time with its short, level-based nature".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gba/puzzle/kurukurukururin/review.html|title=Kuru Kuru Kururin Review for Game Boy Advance|author=Jeff Gerstmann|website=[[GameSpot]]|date=2001-04-23|access-date=2010-03-09|author-link=Jeff Gerstmann|archive-date=July 31, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731124540/http://www.gamespot.com/gba/puzzle/kurukurukururin/review.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' was less impressed by the game, rating it 5 out of 10. The reviewer declared the game to be "extremely frustrating" and said that it lacks "the perfect simplicity" of other puzzle games such as ''[[Mr. Driller]]'' and ''[[Tetris]]''. Nonetheless, he also commented that the novel gameplay of ''Kuru Kuru Kururin'' "will find many fans" and that the multiplayer mode is "unexpectedly brilliant".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=8603|title=Kuru Kuru Kururin Review|author=Stephen Fulljames|magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]]|date=2001-08-15|access-date=2010-03-09}}</ref>

==Legacy==
The first sequel, ''Kururin Paradise'', was released in 2002 for the Game Boy Advance. It was released in Japan only, even though ''Kururin Paradise'' was previously showcased at [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] [[History of E3#2002|2002]], the first time a ''Kururin'' game had been announced for the American market.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/360/360753p1.html|title=E3 2002: Hands-on: Kururin Paradise|website=[[IGN]]|date=2002-05-24|access-date=2010-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613191803/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/360/360753p1.html|archive-date=2011-06-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> Another sequel was also released only in Japan for the [[GameCube]] in 2004, entitled ''[[Kururin Squash!]]'', which became the only title of the series to use [[3D computer graphics]], as well as to appear on a home console.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/557/557111p1.html|title=Kururin Squash Playtest|author=Anoop Gantayat|website=[[IGN]]|date=2004-10-14|access-date=2010-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403025803/http://cube.ign.com/articles/557/557111p1.html|archive-date=2012-04-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Several references to the ''Kururin'' series are made in the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]]. The Helirin makes a cameo appearance as a trophy in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee|Melee]]'', but is incorrectly referred to as "Heririn" in the American version. The Helirin later appears in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl|Brawl]]'' as an Assist Trophy. Unlike most Assist Trophies, it doesn't attack, but it becomes part of the stage, and can be used as a platform or a wall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/items/assist/assist15.html|title=Assist Trophies|author=Masahiro Sakurai|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=2008-02-06|access-date=2010-03-08|author-link=Masahiro Sakurai|archive-date=2013-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224092143/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/items/assist/assist15.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Several other things in the ''Kururin'' series appear as Trophies and Stickers in the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various36_list.html|title=Trophy List|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=2008-04-08|access-date=2010-03-08|archive-date=2013-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224092135/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various36_list.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various37_list.html|title=Sticker List|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=2008-04-09|access-date=2010-03-08|archive-date=2013-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224083910/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/gamemode/various/various37_list.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{more citations needed|date=March 2010}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020820125802/http://www.nintendo.com.au/gba/games/kurukuru.php ''Kuru Kuru Kururin''] at [[Nintendo Australia|Nintendo.com.au]] (archived from the original)
* [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/akrj/index.html Official Japanese website] ([http://www.excite.co.jp/world/url/body?wb_url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n08/akrj/index.html&wb_lp=JAEN&wb_dis=2 translated using Excite.co.jp]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}})
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110605080258/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/sw2000/itiran/agb/soft/kurukuru/index.html Official Japanese SpaceWorld 2000 webpage] ([http://www.excite.co.jp/world/url/body?wb_url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/sw2000/itiran/agb/soft/kurukuru/index.html&wb_lp=JAEN&wb_dis=2 translated using Excite.co.jp]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}})
* {{moby game|id=/kuru-kuru-kururin}}

{{Eighting}}
{{Main franchises by Nintendo}}
{{Portal bar|Video games|2000s}}

[[Category:2001 video games]]
[[Category:Eighting games]]
[[Category:Game Boy Advance games]]
[[Category:Game Boy Advance-only games]]
[[Category:Helicopter video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Classics games]]
[[Category:Puzzle video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Atsuhiro Motoyama]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games for Wii U]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]