Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Kurukkurin revitalizes the classic competitive puzzle genre by placing the beloved Sailor Guardians at the center of the action. Each match unfolds on a 10×6 grid of clear hearts, and players select one of ten playable characters—each armed with unique special moves that can dramatically shift the board. The primary objective is simple: convert clear hearts into colored hearts, form contiguous groups, and trigger clears to send treasures spiraling toward the bottom of the screen. The player who amasses the most treasures by the round’s end claims victory.

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The control scheme is intuitive yet deceptively deep: you move a cursor one space at a time to paint hearts red, yellow, blue, or green. Chains and combos are the lifeblood of high-level play, rewarding careful planning and split-second timing. Clearing adjacent hearts not only adds to your treasure count but also causes all remaining hearts and treasures to plummet downward, creating new opportunities for cascading clears. The constant shift in board state demands both tactical foresight and adaptability as you react to the opponent’s advances.

Special moves inject another strategic layer. Each character’s signature attack can disrupt the rival’s grid or bolster your own board position. For example, Sailor Mars unleashes a temporary block of fiery hearts that freeze your opponent’s cursor, while Sailor Mercury calls forth a flood of water hearts to wash away colored clusters. Learning to time these abilities—whether to break an enemy chain or salvage your own—is essential for mastering Kurukkurin’s competitive pulse.

Multiplayer matches, whether local or CPU-based, highlight the title’s true potential. While the single-player ladder offers a moderate challenge, head-to-head bouts sharpen skills and underscore the importance of board awareness. Casual players will delight in the flashy character animations and lighthearted banter, whereas dedicated puzzle fans can fine-tune advanced strategies like combo stacking and treasure zoning for maximum effect.

Graphics

Visually, Kurukkurin embraces the vibrant, pastel-infused aesthetic of the Sailor Moon S era. Character sprites are faithfully rendered in crisp pixel art, capturing each Guardian’s iconic silhouette, costume details, and signature attack animations. When you execute a special move, you’re treated to brief full-screen cuts that showcase dynamic poses and magical effects straight out of the anime series.

The heart-shaped puzzle pieces themselves are richly shaded to give a subtle three-dimensional feel, making it easy to distinguish between colors even in the heat of battle. Backgrounds change to reflect different stages—ranging from the Silent Möbius Laboratory to the Rainbow Crystal Palace—each adorned with atmospheric lighting and subtle parallax scrolling. These touches elevate the otherwise static puzzle field into a living environment.

Animation frames are smooth and expressive. Characters giggle, pose, and taunt in precise choreography, adding personality to every win and loss. Even the treasure icons—pearls, star-shaped brooches, and Crescent Moon wands—are detailed with care, ensuring each victory feels rewarding both mechanically and visually.

On the downside, the game runs on older hardware, so you won’t find modern high-definition polish or 3D particle effects. However, for purists and fans of retro charm, Kurukkurin’s pixel-perfect rendition of the Sailor Moon universe more than makes up for any graphical limitations.

Story

As a puzzle title, Kurukkurin doesn’t weave an extensive narrative, but it does frame each match within the context of the Sailor Guardians’ overarching battle against the Death Busters. Before each round, brief dialogue exchanges set the stage: Sailor Neptune and Uranus strategize over board control, while Tuxedo Mask offers impassioned encouragement to his allies. These vignettes, though short, lend a sense of continuity and fan-service fun to each confrontation.

The roster spans the core S Series team, allowing players to experience light-hearted interactions between classic pairings. Chibiusa’s cheerful quips, Sailor Mercury’s analytical commentary, and Pluto’s stoic interjections all contribute to a charming micro-story that mirrors the anime’s dynamics. Even without a branching plot, these character moments reward repeat playthroughs as you unlock new dialogue and watch relationships unfold.

Villainous cameos are minimal but effective. On rare occasions, you’ll face off against computer-controlled incarnations of the Death Busters—puzzle avatars representing the series’ antagonists. Their AI patterns differ slightly from human strategies, introducing fresh board layouts and obstacle placement. These boss-like puzzles break the monotony and reinforce the sense that you’re battling for the fate of both hearts and crystals alike.

Ultimately, Kurukkurin prioritizes gameplay over deep storytelling, yet it retains enough narrative flavor to satisfy series devotees. The simple framework ensures matches remain brisk and accessible while still feeling anchored in the Sailor Moon mythos.

Overall Experience

Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Kurukkurin stands out as one of the more polished licensed puzzle games of its era. It strikes a satisfying balance between approachability for newcomers and strategic depth for puzzle veterans. Fans of Sailor Moon will appreciate the faithful character portrayals, while competitive players will relish the nuanced board interactions and special-move dynamics.

The game’s replay value is considerable, thanks to its diverse roster and local multiplayer offerings. Engaging in friendly rivalries with friends or exploring the CPU ladder in solo mode delivers hours of colorful, tactical fun. Though online play is absent, the quick-match structure and little-to-no loading times ensure that every bout feels immediate and exciting.

Sound design further enriches the experience: the upbeat J-pop soundtrack, drawn from the S Series soundtrack, sets an energetic tone, and each character’s voice clips are delightfully on-point. Audio cues for heart clears, combos, and special moves keep you attuned to the flow of battle and heighten the satisfaction of well-executed plays.

For anyone seeking a charming puzzle game steeped in Sailor Moon nostalgia, Kurukkurin is an excellent pick. It may not redefine the genre, but it delivers a shine befitting its magical-girl inspiration—and the thrill of painting hearts in lunar hues remains as captivating today as it was upon release.

Retro Replay Score

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