Kororinpa (コロリンパ), known as Kororinpa: Marble Mania in North America, is a video game for Nintendo's Wii video game console. It was released in Japan on December 2, 2006 as a launch title for the Wii, then in Europe on February 23, 2007 and North America on March 20, 2007.

Kororinpa
Developer(s)Hudson Soft
Publisher(s)Hudson Soft[6]
Platform(s)Wii, mobile phone
ReleaseWii
i-mode
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

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Kororinpa is based on the marble game Labyrinth, but instead of using knobs on the sides to tilt the level, the player rotates the Wii Remote as if they were holding the twisted pathways of each maze in order to navigate a spherical object to the end goal. There are 45 levels that increase in difficulty sequentially and eventually require some speed as well as accuracy.

Some mazes cause the player to tilt them in such a way so that a wall becomes a floor, or to interact with objects such as magnets or conveyor belts. Each level contains a number of orange crystals and a single green crystal. Collection of all orange crystals is necessary for progression, while green crystals are optional, but unlock secret levels. In addition, players may be awarded with bronze, silver, or gold trophies for completing levels within a predetermined amount of time. Obtaining these trophies unlocks new balls, music, and 5 additional bonus levels. Once the forty-five single-player levels have been completed, a mirror mode is unlocked.

Development

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Reception

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The Wii version received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[7] IGN UK cited the game as being "hard not to warm to", noting the "jolly soundtrack and cunning level design difficult to resist". However, they criticized the game for its lack of levels or challenge, and its "ill-conceived camera".[18] In Japan, however, Famitsu gave it a score of all four sixes for a total of 24 out of 40.[11] GameZone gave it a score of 6.5 out of 10, saying that the game "utilizes the Wii nicely. It's not a game that will last a long time, though, and it doesn't offer enough game hours to warrant the initial price."[23]

Kororinpa sold only 2,416 units on December 2, 2006, the day of the Wii launch in Japan.[24]

Sequel

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Marble Saga: Kororinpa features a plot in which the player assists a small ant named Anthony and his colony to locate the Golden Sunflower Seed. Players navigate through seventy-one stages across nine areas to open the Stump Temple, the final area. Marble Saga: Kororinpa also features thirty special stages in the North American release and one hundred special stages in the European release designed for use with the Wii Balance Board controller. The game features multiplayer race modes, an edit mode for custom stage creation and sharing through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and Mii integration. The game was released in North America on March 17, 2009, in Europe on May 1, 2009 and in Japan on August 6, 2009.[25][26] A Nintendo 3DS follow-up was planned but never released.[27]

Notes

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  1. ^ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 7.5/10, and the other gave it 7/10.

References

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  1. ^ Burman, Rob (January 22, 2007). "Kororinpa Rolling Into UK From February". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  2. ^ IGN staff (November 21, 2006). "Famitsu Rates Wii". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Shea, Cam (January 15, 2007). "Australian Nintendo Releases". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Casamassina, Matt (February 2, 2007). "Kororinpa US Bound". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  5. ^ Davies, Jonti (April 2, 2007). "Kororinpa rolls onto Japanese phones". Engadget (Joystiq). Yahoo! Inc. Archived from the original on May 1, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "Kororinpa: Marble Mania". Nintendo. Archived from the original on January 2, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Kororinpa: Marble Mania". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Edge staff (May 2007). "Kororinpa". Edge. No. 172. Future plc. p. 84.
  9. ^ Frank, Jenn; Tsao, Jennifer; Huber, Brooks (April 2007). "Kororinpa: Marble Mania" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 214. Ziff Davis. p. 79. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  10. ^ Reed, Kristan (February 23, 2007). "Kororinpa". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Dickens, Anthony (November 27, 2006). "Famitsu Wii Scores". Nintendo Life. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  12. ^ Vore, Bryan (May 2007). "Kororinpa: Marble Mania". Game Informer. No. 169. GameStop. Archived from the original on January 19, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  13. ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (March 20, 2007). "Kororinpa: Marble Mania Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  14. ^ Theobald, Phil (March 26, 2007). "GameSpy: Kororinpa: Marble Mania". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  15. ^ "Kororinpa: Marble Mania Review". GameTrailers. Viacom. April 5, 2007. Archived from the original on February 21, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Ellis, Elizabeth "KouAidou"; Ashby, Alicia "Lynxara" (May 2007). "Kororinpa: Marble Mania". Hardcore Gamer. Vol. 2, no. 11. Prima Games. p. 59. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  17. ^ Bozon, Mark (March 20, 2007). "Kororinpa: Marble Mania". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Burman, Rob (February 22, 2007). "Kororinpa UK Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  19. ^ "Kororinpa: Marble Mania". Nintendo Power. Vol. 215. Nintendo of America. May 2007. p. 87.
  20. ^ Kaluszka, Aaron (April 4, 2007). "Kororinpa: Marble Mania". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  21. ^ Herold, Charles (March 29, 2007). "Keeping Up With Tiger Woods by Swinging a Remote". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  22. ^ Hill, Jason (April 12, 2007). "Kororinpa". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  23. ^ Hollingshead, Anise (April 3, 2007). "Kororinpa: Marble Mania - WII - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (December 4, 2006). "Wii Sports Number One in Japan". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  25. ^ GamesIndustry International (August 20, 2008). "Konami/Hudson line-up". GamesIndustry.biz. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  26. ^ East, Tom (August 21, 2008). "LGC: Kororinpa Returns To Wii". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future plc. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  27. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (March 22, 2011). "Hudson Cancels Upcoming Titles". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
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