I finished my review very early this morning and didn't catch a few typos, so please ignore them.
Here is the review: Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure.
I was just about to start the final battle before my battery died so I am going to jump back into it when the little light turns off. 
Gurumin is a fun game, but lacks enough depth to be your primary gaming project.
In the non-gaming world---
Clearing out my belongings from my mother's house is proving quite a challenge. It's hard to grasp just how much of the little things there is. I did make some progress, and decided at least 75% of my book collection needs to go to the local library, where someone may get good use out of it. The books I am keeping in storage for myself include a fairly old set of Tolkien books (The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and The LotR), an old set of The Chronicles of Narnia, a set and a half of Harry Potter books (both American and British adult versions), a complete Japanese Dragonball set, a Vagabond set, and all my Yoshimoto Banana books. A few others will come with me on my travels:
Books of course, are but a sidestory in my quest to pack my life into 2 suitcases. I've got to make room for the necessities rather...the most important of which are shoes. I wear a 12 (30cm) and most men's sizes are limited to 27cm in Japan. Finding shoes that are both cool and actually fit my feet is no simple task and I hate buying shoes online.
Then there are the photo albums, important papers, music and movie collection, and of course my video game collection. The only piece of my luggage that seems to be totally put together is my backpack, and I give my condolences to anyone sitting around me on the planes. It's going to be huge as always, but this time it will have some significant weight to it. My music and dvd collection are in a big book of 300 discs and weigh too much to be practical for my suitcase. So that will be in backpack...as will my PSP, DS, iPod, digital camera (see below) and a book. Photography is a hobby of mine, and I hope to go on some interesting shoots around the Japanese countryside in coming months. I also have a Mt. Fuji climb planned this summer...
I will post further travel updates in the coming weeks, but for the time being I've got to get back to Persona 3 and get started on something else on my PSP. Somehow the PSP has given me incentive to play handheld games at home again...and I've even been trying my hand at Elite Beat Agents for DS. I can't say it's the best rhythm game I've played---that title goes to the Taiko no Tatsujin games---but it has its merits nonetheless...
Comments
The graphics are pretty, simple and bright. And I especially love the battle animations because the sound effects goes along well. Nothing feels more satisfying than slashing your enemies up.
Speaking of battles though, while you might have Free Combat, only certain places allows you to do so. And when you do, the enemies are always placed in the same position so it doesn't hold much of a challenge. Despite all that, I never grow tired of leveling my party up.
Hope this gives you a few impressions of the game.
Japan, or at least Tokyo has got many cool shoes the last time I went, so it's a shame something like this would become a concern of yours.
Lightfellower (Jude): I never find the right size in Japan, so it is quite a large concern actually.
Amlabella (Anthony): Mt. Fuji is not Mt. Everest
, the trail is family friendly and has a few vending machines along the way. I've read it's best to start at 12am so you reach the top just in time to see the Rising Sun...I am doing it alone as a self-discovery sort of adventure. I feel a deep spiritual connection to Japan so I feel this is something I have to do for myself...
But I'm sure the trail is safe, and hey, if they've got some vending machines, it's gotta be cool. And that's great that you're doing it yourself, that should be quite an experience.
I've always wanted to go to Japan for a week or two, btw. Let us know how your trip turns out.
I've had experiences like that too...that's why I stopped renting games! As for Japan...this is more than a simple trip so I am quite interested to see how it turns out myself. Will I be able to stay, or will I be deported...THAT is the question.
You people have some big feet....I wear a size 9 1/2.
Jeff: In some brands I have to wear a 13, but thank god not all the time. That would be just that more difficult to find shoes...Bowling Alleys at least carry up to size 30cm (12)...but I dunno about anything higher.
Kris: I was a 9.5 back when I was 15...Man I miss those days. My uncle and aunt both worked at the Nike headquarters in Oregon, near where I lived, and 9's are the men's test size, so they get them en masse for free. I had a shoe closet any athlete would be proud of...
Man, I wear a size 13. It would be hell for me in Japan when it came to footware.
Like Max said, stay in touch with the Temple. We would like to hear how everything is going for you over there.
mufujifi
I can't say anything much other than have fun packing. It's a pain because there's so many things to bring but so little space.