It's tough to talk critically about Gurumin, in the same way that it can be tough to discuss a really good meal right after you've finished it. All the little nuances and flavors that hit you just right while you're hungry for them, they just kind of fade away into a satisfying afterglow that leaves you sated, but unable to formulate a thought other than, “Mmm... full.” All of which to say, it's been a thin and hungry season for PSP owners, but I have a feeling Gurumin is what you've been craving. Let's digest it together, then.

Gurumin is rated “E 10+,” and while it's certainly appealing to the younger folk, it's more accurate to say that this action-RPG is a title for kids of ALL ages, be they very young or very old. The writing has a quality of sincerity that, while simple, contains moments of real wit and flair that should be able to get a chuckle out of even the most jaded traveler of virtual worlds.

Our heroine, a 12-year old girl by the name of Parin, starts her adventure in a little town to which her parents have exiled her for the summer. Her grandfather, who for some credibility-defying reason is named “Hyperbolic,” barely remembers who Parin is when she arrives. Her parents have promised to write, but it's a fairly fruitless journey to the mailbox every day ... there's never a letter in it. Moreover, it's a mining town, and there just aren't any other kids for a twelve-year old to play with. Even the town dog is standoffish. The cake shop owner has a soft spot for kids, but other than that, it's not shaping up to be a real fun season until Parin makes her first real friend.

The bad news is, the friend is an imaginary monster. (All of a sudden you have to wonder what exactly made Parin's parents send her away for the summer.)

The good news is there's more where she came from. A whole LOT more. Through a little kid-sized hole in a brick wall in town, there's an alley that leads to a door. Behind that door is Monster Town, and yes, it is filled with monsters. They're not the threatening type – quite the opposite, in fact they're in need of help. And since, being a little girl, Parin is one of the only humans around who believes in monsters – and being that she's quite a tough cookie as well – it's up to her (and you!) to lend a hand in helping the monsters dig themselves out of a mess.

It's really easy to sympathize with Parin. Of course her situation – adjusting to a new place, looking for friends, desperately seeking some kind of adventure – is one which we've all had to struggle with before. But more than that, she's got a lot of charisma – she's an entertaining kid! It's hard to find an adventure hero with a balanced nature – and harder to find a heroine that isn't more memorable for her spandex jumpsuit than for her personality. Nor is she caught in the middle of an existential crisis, nor is she trying to save the world – she's a sharp cookie, and maybe a little bit of a smarty-pants, who is just pitching in to help out her friends. Through her words, and even her idle animations, Parin is a sincere and likable leading lady, and that goes a long way towards making an above-average journey into an excellent adventure.

Moving Parin around is a lot of fun, too. The controls on the PSP are notoriously touchy and there are a lot of games out there that suffer for it – this isn't one of them. You can run, jump, attack, and even do a little Ninja Gaiden-esque wall run with real ease in this game. Which is a good thing, because you're going to be doing quite a bit of running around. Missions are normally short and sweet, but there is unfortunately a bit of fetch-questing, where you'll have to run to town to drop something off, then back to the field, then back to Monster Town, then back to the field, etc.

“The field?” Right, back to the action. Gurumin is an action-RPG, not unlike the Kingdom Hearts series, a sort of hybrid between 3D platform games and your traditional turn-based RPGs. Outside of Monster Town is a large World Map, the majority of which is covered with “Dark Mist” that prevents you from reaching all but a few locations. As you explore those locations, defeating the evil creatures within, rescuing the friendly monsters, and helping them settle back into their homes in Monster Town, the monsters' good cheer will spill over into the field, clearing away the dark mist and allowing you to access more locations.

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