For those familiar with the concept behind Kururin Squash, we congratulate you for your niche-puzzle loving ways. The Eighting-developed Kukurin games have ventured onto GBA on two previous occasions, but the name remains one of the least notorious in Nintendo’s catalogue. This Gamecube rendition follows a similar concept to its handheld predecessors: Kuru Kuru Kukurin and Kuru Kuru Paradise, but with the extra 'oomph' afforded by a full power console and a bigger screen.
The premise is relatively simple: although difficult to describe without constant reference to diagrams (as the official Kururin Squash has opted to use). Basically, the player controls a rotating stick (which is a hovercraft, obviously) and has to navigate mazes, collecting pick-ups (which are ducklings, even more obviously). And they even managed to fit some giant flying goldfish in there too. As wacky, zany and inexplicable as it may be; previous Kuru Kuru games have been well received by Japanese gamers who enjoy the uber-addictive, accessible simplicity and the tense multiplayer competition. Kururin Squash is likely to appeal to those same people.
There has been no mention of a release outside of Japan, where it's heading for an October 14th release, but as ever, we shall keep our fingers crossed for some kind of PAL pilgrimage. We shall let you know if anything changes: meanwhile, see what you make of these screenshots.