Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2591 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Nintendo
• Released on: 2007-02-23
• Platform: Nintendo Wii

Amazon.co.uk Review
You may already have played a mini-game on the Wii, in something like Rayman Raving Rabbids or WarioWare, where you have to move a ball through a maze simply by tilting the Wii remote. Kororinpa (basically the Japanese equivalent of the word "plink") is those mini-games expanded and turned into a whole game. It’s also not too dissimilar to Super Monkey Ball, in the sense that you control the maze, not the ball, moving the remote to tilt the game world and get your little marble to the goal on each level. Unlike Monkey Ball though the game works in full 3D, with you twisting and turning the maze so that one minute you’re rolling down a slide which you then twist around to become the ceiling or wall.

As you might imagine the added complexity of thinking in three dimensions makes the game seem almost impossibly hard at times, but it’s ruthlessly fair and however much you might like to pretend failure is always your fault and not the game or the controller’s. Sensibly, developer Hudson has ensured that the maze designs are the only overcomplicated aspect, and there are a number of cute animal shaped marbles to unlock as well as some that are heavier or more bouncy. There’s also a split screen two player mode where oddly the second player has to use the nunchuck – a feature apparently added only to cause animosity between players as you fight for control. It’s not for the short of temper, but for those with the patience to play it this is the most rewarding puzzler for a long time.
HARRISON DENT

Manufacturer's Description
Prepare to rock and roll as your brain does a loop the loop with the ultimate Wii puzzle game. Using tilting Wii's motion sensitive Wii Remote with poise and precision, players must seek to navigate their favourite cute and quirky balls, each with their own look and varying benefits, through complex 3D mazes. Therefore no complicated button combinations are necessary, the tactile controls allow players to tip and tilt their environment in all directions, even upside-down to 180 degrees - making the game intuitive and easy for anyone to pick up and play, whilst still remaining challenging and addictive.

A steady hand and a keen strategic eye are key to keep your favourite ball on the right track in Kororinpa. As the maze is tilted the ball will move as it would in real life, as if pulled by gravity. But beware; too much slant could see the ball roll out of control off the edge of the maze sending the player back to the start! Whist progressing along the course, players must also collect all the Red Crystals to unlock the goal, which in turn unlocks the next maze adding yet more precision and strategy to the challenges.

To prove yourself as the ball master, you can also go head to head against a friend using one Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller, splitting the screen either horizontally or vertically. In multiplayer mode the first player to reach the end of the maze collecting all their Red Crystals will reign victorious over their fellow contender!

With over 50 quirky mazes available to unlock and five different environments to experience there will always be a new and exciting challenge around the corner. Each environment has its own unique music, obstacles and visual style for the player to enjoy. Whilst progressing through the game players should also keep a look out for Green Crystals that unlock secret environments and even more stages to challenge even the most experienced puzzlers.

As if that wasn't tricky enough, each of your balls has a varying level of Response, Speed, Slide and Bounce. Players must therefore select their ball carefully in order to successfully complete Kororinpa. As more levels are completed the types of balls that can be selected will increase, including balls such as a ladybug, cat, penguin, watermelon and even a pig, each boasting different characteristics and varying levels of control.

Customer Reviews

Great fun on the wii!
This marble madness type game is brilliant fun ont the wii and makes excelletn use of the controller for the wii. The music is addictive and the graphics are cute.

Brilliant fun! 10/10

Possibly the best game I've played on the Wii!
I'll try to keep this review relatively short for you - I'm not really someone who writes many reviews for stuff but I felt this game thoroughly deserves more praise!

I bought this game after reading some good reviews about it and I also wanted something a bit different to play on the Wii. This game surpassed my expectations in every way! It's a fantastic fun 2 player game and is also extremely enjoyable in single player mode trying to beat your top scores. It's incredibly imaginative and refreshingly different to many games out there. The idea is amazingly simple but unbelievably addictive. You have to keep your ball on the course and get it to the end as quickly as possibly using the tilt/motion sensor of the Wii remote, sounds dull I know but the design and layout of each course is beautifully designed and there are surprises around each corner - I found myself unable to put the controller down for hours and thoroughly enjoyed every minute playing it. Yes, as some other people have mentioned, there are not really enough levels but even if the game had 1000 levels I'm sure it still wouldn't be enough! There are about 47 levels in total and each one is superb fun. Even when you complete all of the levels you can play the game all over again using a different ball, each one gives the game a slightly different feel (faster, slower, bouncier etc). Overall I found this game to be totally addictive, fantastic fun and beautifully made. Yes there could be more levels, yes the graphics are not as crisp and vivid as an Xbox 360 or PS3 game but it just wouldn't work on any other console - the Wii remote feels so responsive and works like a charm on this game! 5 stars all round in my opinion! Roll on Kororinpa 2!! (excuse the pun...) :)

Brilliantly compulsive
This is one of the most compulsive and addictive games I have played for a long time.

65 levels to tax your control over the Wii remote and you can change difficulty using more awkward balls.

A great one for kids and adults alike.