Lost Nintendo classic Kuru Kuru Kururin resurfaces on Wii U

By Danny Cowan February 12, 2016

nintendo kuru kururin makes stateside debut on wii u header — Image used with permission by copyright holder

A long-lost Game Boy Advance classic makes its first ever appearance in North America this week as part of Nintendo’s latest eShop update. Previously available exclusively in Japan in Europe, the Nintendo-published puzzler Kuru Kuru Kururin is now available for download on the Wii U.

Kuru Kuru Kururin joins a broad selection of new eShop releases this week, including standouts like Big Brain Academy, Outside the Realm, and Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty.

Originally released for Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance portable console in 2001, Kuru Kuru Kururin is a reflex-testing puzzle game that challenges players to navigate an oblong, constantly spinning aircraft through narrow passageways and labyrinthine mazes. Stages must be completed without touching each level’s surrounding walls, requiring players to develop precision navigation skills throughout.

Though an English-language version of Kuru Kuru Kururin eventually surfaced in Europe, the game never saw an official release in North America. It later served as a direct inspiration for 2014’s popular indie release Roundabout, which adapted Kururin‘s gameplay mechanics in the context of an off-kilter action game featuring a revolving limousine.

Joining Kuru Kuru Kururin on the Wii U eShop this week is Polarium Advance, a tile-flipping puzzler that first appeared on the Game Boy Advance from publisher Atlus in 2006. This week also marks the eShop launch of Big Brain Academy, a Nintendo-developed educational game originally published for the Nintendo DS.

The Wii U additionally hosts a port of Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty this week, along with the multiplayer action game Cutie Clash, casual puzzler Outside the Realm, and fishing sim Cutie Pets Go Fishing.

eShop customers can also sample a selection of bargain-priced Atlus games this week, including The Legend of Legacy, Citizens of Earth, and Shin Megami Tensei IV. Sale prices remain in effect through February 18th.

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https://twitter.com/GameHistoryOrg/status/1494398068346654720
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Why is Nintendo shutting down the 3DS and Wii eShops?
Officially, Nintendo’s FAQ on the eShop closures says “this is part of the natural life cycle for any product line as it becomes less used by consumers over time." The answer doesn’t get into specifics and might confuse those still playing games on the system or fans of games only available on Wii U or 3DS. Omdia Principal Analyst Matthew Bailey explains Nintendo’s user base argument in more detail, highlighting the massive gap between the number of people playing the Switch as opposed to the Wii U.
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"The Wii U’s global active installed base will drop under one million in 2022."