If Nintendo doesn’t make another Kuru Kuru Kururin, it’s time someone else does.
I love creative puzzle adventures, so a cute game called Spinfrog, which puts you in control of a frog piloting a helicopter through a well-thought-out maze-like level, has a few itches. Some challenges with precision might pull my hair out a bit, but more often than not Spinfrog is a good time and aptly evokes its clear inspiration.
For those unfamiliar with the fledgling GBA game series that was largely Japan exclusive, Spinfrog has it well patterned. It is necessary to move while being conscious of the rotating blade. Helping you are speedups and slowdowns and some powerups. The tutorial teaches you the basics, but some of the 60+ missions will take your gloves off and you’ll have to quickly adapt to navigating your helicopter through tight corridors without crashing.
The welcoming visuals may make this game feel cold, but it will test your ability to quickly avoid disaster while collecting coins and unlocking adorable frogcopter accessories. This game is easy to run, and if you’ve been craving Nintendo’s long-lost niche franchise Kuru Kuru Kururin, this is probably the best game to play (especially since the GBA version’s only active appearance is the Wii U Virtual console), this will be deprecated in 2023). I had a great time with Spinfrog, but it doesn’t quite match the fun I had playing Kuru Kuru Kururin on the Wii U a few years ago. Still, it’s fun without being difficult or frustrating.