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{{Short description|1994 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Gururin
| image = Gururin arcade flyer.jpg
| developer = Face{{efn|Additional work by Minato Giken}}
| publisher = [[SNK]]
| producer = Kenichi Iwanaga
| designer = Kingo Hiraku
| programmer = Kaori Hijiya<br />Noriyuki Tabata
| artist = Kenichi Kumakura<br />Masako Araki<br />Michiyo Morohoshi
| composer = Atsuko Iwanaga<br />Kenji Sugai
| platforms = [[Arcade game|Arcade]]
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|25 May 1994}}
| genre = [[Puzzle video game|Puzzle]]
| modes = {{flatlist|
*[[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
*[[Multiplayer video game|Multiplayer]]}}
| arcade system = [[Neo Geo (system)|Neo Geo MVS]]
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Gururin'''''|ぐるりん|||lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a [[puzzle video game|puzzle]] [[Arcade game|arcade]] [[video game]] developed by Face, with the assistance of Minato Giken, and originally published by [[SNK]] on May 25, 1994. It was the first game to be created by Face for the [[Neo Geo (system)|Neo Geo]] [[Video game#Platforms|platform]] and it was not released on the [[Neo Geo (system)|Neo Geo AES]] (home).
In the game, players must match 3 [[people]] with their respective colored outfit, while rotating the playfield in order to rearrange them. Though it was initially only launched for the Neo Geo MVS (arcade), ''Gururin'' was later re-released by [[Hamster Corporation|HAMSTER Corporation]] through download services for various [[Video game console|console]]s in 2018. A [[Video game conversion|conversion]] for the [[Neo Geo CD]] was planned and even previewed but it did not receive an official release to the public.
''Gururin'' has garnered mixed critical reception since its original release in arcades from reviewers who felt mixed towards several aspects of the game such as the visuals, sound design and gameplay, while its difficulty and learning curve has been heavily criticized.
== Gameplay ==
[[File:NEOGEO Gururin.png|thumb|left|Gameplay screenshot.]]
''Gururin'' is a [[Tile-matching video game|tile-matching]] puzzle game reminiscent of ''[[Columns (video game)|Columns]]'' and ''[[Puyo Puyo (video game)|Puyo Puyo]]'', where the player must match 3 people wearing the same color outfit vertically or horizontally in order to become [[warrior]]s as the main objective. In addition to the single-player mode, the game also features a competitive two-player mode where one human competes against either a computer-controlled opponents or against other human players in versus matches to become the winner. If a [[Memory card#Video game consoles|memory card]] is present, the players are allowed to save their high-score.<ref name="B!MDOh!NGg">{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ABeepMD_JP_1994-08.pdf&page=136|title=Oh! Neo Geo Vol. 24 - ぐるりん|magazine=[[:ja:ゲーマガ#BEEP!メガドライブ|Beep! MegaDrive]]|issue=59|publisher=[[SB Creative|SoftBank Creative]]|date=August 1994|page=134|lang=ja}}</ref>
A unique feature of the game is the rotation of people around the playfield; By pressing A or B, players rotate the arena either to the left or the right, changing the positioning of people. On occasions, an arrow appears indicating the correct way to match 3 people of the same color. However, people can also potentially grab their hands to not let themselves go, making puzzle solving more complex and later levels increase in difficulty as well. If the people manages to occupy the playfield, the [[Game over|game is over]] unless players insert more credits into the arcade machine to continue playing.
== Development and release ==
''Gururin'' served as the first project to be developed by Face for the Neo Geo platform and its creation was helmed by [[Video game producer|producer]] Kenichi Iwanaga.<ref name="Gstaff">{{cite video game|title=Gururin|developer=Face, Minato Giken|publisher=SNK|date=25 May 1994|platform=Arcade|level=Gururin Staff|language=ja}}</ref><ref name="Gah">{{cite web|url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=gururin&page=detail&id=1054|title=Gururin (MVS)|website=arcade-history.com|accessdate=2019-08-03}}</ref> Iwanaga was also both its [[Video game design#Game designer|designer]] and [[Video game programmer|programmer]] along with Kaori Hijiya, Kingo Hiraku and Noriyuki Tabata.<ref name="Gstaff"/> [[Video game artist|Artist]]s Masako Araki, Michiyo Morohoshi and Kenichi Kumakura were responsible for the [[pixel art]], while Atsuko Iwanaga and Kenji Sugai were in charge of its sound design, among other people collaborating in its development.<ref name="Gstaff"/>
''Gururin'' was initially only launched for the arcades by SNK on May 25, 1994.<ref name="NEOGEOsnk">{{cite web|url=http://neogeomuseum.snk-corp.co.jp/english/catalogue/|title=Title Catalogue - NEOGEO MUSEUM|publisher=[[SNK#2003–2016: SNK Playmore|SNK Playmore]]|access-date=2019-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828035857/http://neogeomuseum.snk-corp.co.jp/english/catalogue/|archive-date=2018-08-28|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[Neo Geo CD]] version was announced and even showcased for playing to the attendees at SNK's booth during the [[Consumer Electronics Show|Winter Consumer Electronics Show]] in [[1995 in video gaming|1995]] but it was never released for unknown reasons.<ref name="DHGFNGCDg">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Gamefan_Vol_3_Issue_03#page/n109/mode/1up|title=WCES Special - Winter CES '95 - SNK|magazine=[[GameFan]]|volume=3|issue=3|publisher=DieHard Gamers Club|date=March 1995|page=109|access-date=2019-07-24}}</ref> The game has since received a re-release in 2018 on various [[digital distribution]] platforms such as the [[Nintendo eShop]], [[PlayStation Network]] and [[Xbox Live]] as part of the [[Arcade Archives#ACA Neo Geo|ACA Neo Geo]] series by HAMSTER Corporation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Moyse|first=Chris|url=https://www.destructoid.com/stories/obscure-neo-geo-puzzler-gururin-drops-onto-modern-platforms-today-498325.phtml|title=Obscure Neo Geo puzzler Gururin drops onto modern platforms today - Room-spinning puzzler available now|work=[[Destructoid]]|publisher=[[Enthusiast Gaming]]|date=April 12, 2018|access-date=2020-12-24}}</ref>
== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
|GR        = (Switch) 50%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/switch/234131-aca-neogeo-gururin/index.html|title=ACA NeoGeo: Gururin for Nintendo Switch|work=[[GameRankings]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|date=2019|accessdate=2019-07-24}}</ref>
|Allgame   = (Neo Geo) {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="AGNGg">{{cite web|last=Knight|first=Kyle|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=17006&tab=review|title=Gururin [Japanese] (Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System) - Review|work=[[AllGame]]|publisher=[[All Media Network]]|date=1998|access-date=2019-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115224303/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=17006&tab=review|archive-date=2014-11-15|url-status=live}}</ref>
|NLife     = (Switch) 5 / 10<ref name="NLifeNSg">{{cite web|last=Lopes|first=Gonçalo|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/gururin_neogeo|title=Gururin Review (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)|work=[[Nintendo Life]]|publisher=Nlife Media|date=April 18, 2018|accessdate=2019-07-24}}</ref>
|rev1      = ''Cubed3''
|rev1Score = (Switch) 5 / 10<ref name="C3eSg">{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Gabriel|url=http://www.cubed3.com/review/4805/1/aca-neogeo-gururin-nintendo-switch.html|title=ACA NEOGEO Gururin (Nintendo Switch) Review|work=Cubed3|publisher=Cubed3 Limited|date=April 20, 2018|accessdate=2019-07-24}}</ref>
}}
''Gururin'' has been met mixed reception from critics since its initial release.<ref name="MBNGg">{{cite magazine|last=Löwenstein|first=Richard|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AMegablast_DE_1994-03.pdf&page=59|title=SNK Neo Geo - Neues Vom Neo Geo: Gururin|magazine=Megablast|issue=5|publisher=Joker-Verlag|date=March 1994|page=59|lang=de}}</ref> ''[[AllGame]]'''s Kyle Knight criticized the visuals, sound design, difficulty and learning curve but praised the addictive gameplay and rotating mechanic.<ref name="AGNGg"/> In a retrospective review, Gonçalo Lopes from ''[[Nintendo Life]]'' regarded the graphics and music for being surreal and psychedelic, despite being standard for the genre but criticized for being complicated for players, recommending other titles on the Neo Geo such as ''[[Puzzled (video game)|Puzzled]]'', ''[[Magical Drop]]'' and ''[[Puzzle Bobble]]''.<ref name="NLifeNSg"/> In another retrospective review, Gabriel Jones of ''Cubed3'' criticized its level of complexity and learning curve, stating that it was a stark contrast to the "pick up and play" philosophy of other arcade titles.<ref name="C3eSg"/>
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
== External links ==
* [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/arcade/575815-gururin ''Gururin''] at [[GameFAQs]]
* [https://www.giantbomb.com/gururin/3030-67973/ ''Gururin''] at [[Giant Bomb]]
* [https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8052 ''Gururin''] at [[Killer List of Videogames]]
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/gururin ''Gururin''] at [[MobyGames]]
{{Portal bar|1990s|Japan|Video games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gururin}}
[[Category:1994 video games]]
[[Category:ACA Neo Geo games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Neo Geo CD games]]
[[Category:Face (company) games]]
[[Category:Hamster Corporation games]]
[[Category:Minato Giken games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Neo Geo games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation Network games]]
[[Category:Puzzle video games]]
[[Category:SNK games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Xbox One games]]