Claim set · data/claims/clu-clu-land-history.yaml

Clu Clu Land (history and reception)

Game: Clu Clu Land.

A Japanese retrospective catalog of Famicom software dates Clu Clu Land, from Nintendo, to 22 November 1984. clu-clu-land-history/release-famicom

Book懐かしファミコン パーフェクトガイド (Perfect Guide of Nostalgic Family Computer) · PDF p. 123, ファミコンソフト完全目録, 1984, row 027 — the OCR garbles the title; the scout read the page image as 027 1984/11/22 『クルクルランド』任天堂, between Urban Champion (025, 1984/11/14) and Excitebike (028, 1984/11/30)0271984/11/22 T勿!/^!/ランド』任天堂Our translation027, 1984/11/22, Kuru Kuru Land (Clu Clu Land), NintendoRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: The catalog is undated; "a Japanese retrospective catalog", not "a 2005 guide".

The catalog is an unsigned retrospective mook that names no source for its dates; no period or Nintendo source giving the day has been found.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

The game's Japanese title is Kuru Kuru Land (クルクルランド). Chris Scullion calls the English name a mistranslation, writing that in Japan "Kuru Kuru" means going round. clu-clu-land-history/title

ManualClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · first page (PDF p. 2)ファミリーコンピュータカセット・クルクルランド(HVC-CL)Our translationFamily Computer cassette Kuru Kuru Land (HVC-CL)The NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Clu Clu Land (p. 51), Fact boxThe name Clu Clu Land is actually a mistranslation.The NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Clu Clu Land (p. 51), Fact box — the rest of the box is unreadable in the OCRIn Japan, 'Kuru Kuru' means going roundRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: The booklet's first page is PDF p. 2.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

A 2005 Japanese list of arcade video games dates a Vs. System version of Clu Clu Land to December 1984 in its Japan part, the same month it gives Vs. Urban Champion and Vs. Excitebike. clu-clu-land-history/release-arcade

BookアーケードTVゲームリスト 国内・海外編 (1971-2005) · p. 57 (PDF p. 59), 国内編 (Japan), Nintendo — the list gives year and month only; the rows above read "84/12アーバンチャンピオン （VS)" and "84/12エキサイトパイク （VS)" (the OCR reads パイク for バイク)84/12クルクルランド (VS)Our translation84/12 Kuru Kuru Land (Clu Clu Land) (VS)アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内・海外編 (1971-2005) · introduction, 国内編と海外編、リストの限界日本と海外の市場において出荷された TV ゲームを、国内編と海外編に区分して収録するOur translation(it) records the TV games shipped in the Japanese and overseas markets, divided into a Japan part and an overseas partアーケードTVゲームリスト 国内・海外編 (1971-2005) · p. 75 (PDF p. 77), title indexクルクルランド 任天堂 84/12Our translationKuru Kuru Land, Nintendo, 84/12Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

A Japanese Nintendo flyer, copyright 1984, advertises the arcade Excitebike and Clu Clu Land together, marking each as released at the same time (同時発売). clu-clu-land-history/arcade-flyer

PublisherExcitebike / Clu Clu Land arcade flyer (Japan, 1984) · back (side 2) — read off the page image by the scout; the scan has no text layerNintendo Presents CLUCLULAND クルクルランド ©1984 NintendoExcitebike / Clu Clu Land arcade flyer (Japan, 1984) · both sides — printed beside each game; read off the page image by the scout同時発売Our translationreleased at the same timeRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Dropped the unquoted upright and table cabinets.

A copyright year is not a release date. The flyer prints no month.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

Nintendo of America's list of NES games dates the North American release of Clu Clu Land to October 1985. clu-clu-land-history/release-na

PublisherNES Games (Nintendo of America release list) · PDF p. 3 — the row reads Nintendo, October 1985; the list gives a month, not a dayClu Clu LandNES Games (Nintendo of America release list) · PDF p. 3 — the date column's entry for the Clu Clu Land row, which the text layer sets a few lines below the titleOctober 1985Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted the row's month, October 1985.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

In February 1986 Computer Entertainer counted Clu Clu Land among the 15 games sold with the NES in the markets the system had reached, an Action Series game at $30. clu-clu-land-history/na-launch-games

MagazineComputer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 11 (February 1986) · Nintendo Update (p. 13)is accompanied by 15 games in the markets where it isComputer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 11 (February 1986) · Nintendo Update (p. 13) — followed by "(Action Series at $30)"CLU CLU LAND, ICE CLIMBER, KUNG FU, SUPER MARIO BROS., and PINBALLComputer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 11 (February 1986) · Nintendo Update (p. 13)(Action Series at $30)Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

Chris Scullion's NES encyclopedia names Nintendo R&D1 as the developer. The Famicom booklet credits Nintendo and names no staff. clu-clu-land-history/makers

BookThe NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Clu Clu Land (p. 51) — the entry's header reads 1985, Nintendo, Nintendo R&D1 (year, publisher, developer); its year is the NES release'sCLU CLU LANDThe NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Clu Clu Land (p. 51)Nintendo R&D1Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · back cover (PDF p. 12) — over Nintendo's addresses in Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo and Okayama; the booklet has no staff credits© Nintendo 1984Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

The Famicom booklet's story: Unira has hidden gold ingots in Kuru Kuru Land, and Gloopy has to find them. A strange force in the land stops Gloopy moving freely, so the only ways to change direction are to grab a turn post and spin round it, or to bump into a wall and rebound. clu-clu-land-history/premise

ManualClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 6) — the OCR adds 人 before each 金塊; the page reads クルクルランドにウニラが金塊をかくしました。そのかくされた金塊をグルッピーが探し出すゲームです。ウニラが人金塊をかくしました。そのかくされた人金塊をグルッピーが探し出すゲームです。Our translationUnira has hidden gold ingots (in Kuru Kuru Land). The game is for Gloopy to find the hidden gold.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 6) — after "a strange force acts in Kuru Kuru Land"グルッピーが自由に動き回ることができません。Our translationGloopy can't move around freely.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 4 (PDF p. 6) — the sentence ends がないのです (there is no ... but), garbled in the OCRターンポストに手をかけてクルクル回るか、壁に体当たりしてバウンドするしか進行方向を変える方法Our translationThe only way to change direction is to put a hand on a turn post and spin round, or to bump into a wall and rebound.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.

The player is グルッピー (Gloopy) and the enemy ウニラ (Unira) in the Famicom booklet. Nintendo of America's 1987 guide calls the enemy the Sea Urchin (clu-clu-land-history/players-guide), and Chris Scullion calls the player Bubbles, a balloonfish (clu-clu-land-history/standing).

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

The control pad steers Gloopy: before the start it sets the direction Gloopy sets off in, and in play it puts out a hand in the direction pressed. The A and B buttons fire a shock wave, two at a time. clu-clu-land-history/controls

ManualClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4)グルッピーを操作します。Our translation(the control pad) operates Gloopy.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4) — under the heading スタート時 (at the start)する方向を決めますOur translation(at the start) decides the direction to set off inClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4)押した方向に手が出ます。Our translation(in play) a hand comes out in the direction pressed.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 3 (PDF p. 5), A and B buttons — the OCR reads 電撃波 as 電机波 and drops the 2 of 2連射; the page reads 電撃波を発射します。2連射ができます。電机波を発射します。…連射ができます。Our translationfires a shock wave. (Two) can be fired in a row.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · rules (PDF p. 8) — the sentence goes on to say that the moment the button is released sets the direction Gloopy shoots off in押し続けていると、その間中ターンポストの周囲をクルクルと回っていることができOur translationwhile (the button) is held, (Gloopy) can keep spinning round the turn postChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

The title screen offers a one-player and a two-player game; one player uses controller I, and two players use controllers I and II. clu-clu-land-history/modes

ManualClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4)1-PLAYERの場合はIコントローラーを使用してください。Our translationFor 1 player, use controller I.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 2 (PDF p. 4) — the OCR reads the numerals I and II as 還 and 田 and garbles the 2 of 2-PLAYER; the page reads 2-PLAYERの場合はI・IIコントローラーを使用してください。場合は還・田コントローラーを使用してくだOur translationFor 2 players, use controllers I and II.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 3 (PDF p. 5), title screen — the pictured title screen reads "1 PLAYER GAME" and "2 PLAYER GAME"; read off the page image by the scout1 PLAYER GAMEChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.

The booklet describes no difficulty setting.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

Gold appears where Gloopy passes over a spot where Unira hid it, and every ingot has to be found within the time limit to clear a stage. The shock wave stuns Unira only for a while: the booklet says to crush it against the outer wall while it is yellow. Unira hides the gold in a shape, and the color of the outer wall is a hint to which. clu-clu-land-history/rules

ManualClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 8), ルール&テクニック — the OCR adds 人 before the second 金塊ウニラがかくした金塊の上を、グルッピーが通過すると、人金塊があらわれます。Our translationWhen Gloopy passes over the gold Unira hid, the gold appears.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 8) — the OCR adds 人 before 金塊一定時間内に、すべての人金塊を探し出してくださいOur translationFind all the gold within the time limit.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 8)金塊を全部見つけると一面クリアになります。Our translationFinding all the gold clears the stage.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 8)再び息を吹き返してしまいますのでOur translation(a shock wave alone) it will come back to lifeClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 8)黄色くなっている間に、クルクルランドの外壁を利用して押しつぶしてください。Our translationWhile it is yellow, crush it using Kuru Kuru Land's outer wall.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 8) — of guessing which shape Unira has hidden the gold inクルクルランドの外壁の色をヒントにOur translationwith the color of Kuru Kuru Land's outer wall as a hintChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

The stages come in five color groups of four shapes each, and a bonus stage, with gold for the taking, follows the yellow ones. Clearing stage 21 ends a round, and stage 22 goes back to the first shape; from stage 22 on, crossing a found ingot again turns it back over, and a turned ingot scores nothing. clu-clu-land-history/stages

ManualClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 6 (PDF p. 8) — the OCR reads 5 as ら and 4 as 有 and breaks the sentence; the page reads クルクルランドは5色のグループに分かれており、それぞれ4種類の形(面)がありますクルクルランドはら色のグループに…分かれており、それぞれ有種類の形(面)がありOur translationKuru Kuru Land is divided into 5 color groups, each with 4 kinds of shape (stage).Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 10) — the OCR reads 黄色 (yellow) as 茜色茜色の面の後には、ボーナス面が出てきます。Our translationAfter the yellow stages, a bonus stage appears.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 10)金塊を取り放題Our translation(in it) gold for the takingClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 10) — the OCR breaks the line with a stray 321面クリアすると、1ラウンド終了したことになり、22面目…は最初にもどります。Our translationClearing stage 21 ends one round, and stage 22 returns to the first.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 10)22面目からは、1度見つけた金塊でも再びその上を通過すると、またもとに裏返ってしまいます。Our translationFrom stage 22, even gold already found turns back over if (Gloopy) passes over it again.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 10)金塊を裏返すと得点になりません。Our translationGold turned back over scores nothing.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Says "gold for the taking", as quoted, without "in the time".

The booklet's p. 7 pictures the twenty shapes; their names are read off the image only and aren't recorded here.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

Gloopy is lost by touching Unira, by going into a black hole (except while spinning on a turn post), or when the timer runs out. clu-clu-land-history/misses

ManualClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 10)ウニラにぶつかるとミスになります。Our translationBumping into Unira is a miss.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 10)ブラックホールに突っ込むとミスになります。(ただし、ターンポストに手をかけて回転した場合はミスになりません。)Our translationPlunging into a black hole is a miss. (But not when spinning with a hand on a turn post.)Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 8 (PDF p. 10) — followed by "(TIME 000) ミスになります" (is a miss)タイマーがなくなるとOur translationwhen the timer runs outChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

Bonus items appear in play: fruit worth 800 points, a bag worth 1,500, a flag that gives an extra Gloopy, and a timer that stops Unira, the time count and, in a two-player game, the other player for a while. An ingot scores 100 and Unira 500, and the time left becomes score. One player clearing a stage in 300 or less of elapsed time gets 2,000, the player with more ingots in a two-player game gets 2,000, and taking every ingot in a bonus stage gives 3,000. clu-clu-land-history/items-and-scoring

ManualClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 7)ボーナスフルーツ [800PTS.]Our translationbonus fruit, 800 pointsClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 7) — the bonus bag's value, printed under ボーナスバッグ; read on the page image (checked by the lead)1500PTS.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 7)ボーナスフラッグOur translationbonus flagClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 7) — of the bonus flag1つ増えます。Our translation(Gloopy) increases by one.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 7)ボーナスタイマーOur translationbonus timerClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 5 (PDF p. 7) — the OCR breaks the sentence; the page reads ウニラ、TIMEのカウント、相手プレイヤー(2-PLAYER GAMEの時)が一定時間ストップします。TIMEのカウント、相手…GAMEの時)が一定時間Our translationUnira, the TIME count and the opposing player (in a 2-PLAYER GAME) stop for a set time.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11), 得点金塊 100Our translationgold ingot, 100Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11)残りタイムが得点になります。Our translationThe time left becomes score.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11)1-PLAYERの場合、経過タイムが300以内で一面クリアすると 2000PTS.Our translationFor 1 player, clearing a stage within 300 of elapsed time, 2000 points.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11) — the OCR reads った as つた; the value is 2000PTS. on the page image, garbled in the OCRの場合、金塊を多く取つた方にOur translation(for 2 players) to the one who took more goldClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11)ボーナス面で、すべての金塊を取ると 3000PTOur translationIn a bonus stage, taking all the gold, 3000 points.Clu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11), 得点 — read on the page image (checked by the lead); the OCR garbles the valueウニラ……500PTS.Our translationUnira, 500 pointsClu Clu Land Famicom instruction booklet (Japan, HVC-CL) · printed p. 9 (PDF p. 11), 得点 — read on the page image (checked by the lead)金塊を多く取った方に……2000PTS.Our translation(for 2 players) to the one who took more gold, 2000 pointsRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Quoted Unira's 500, the bag's 1,500 and the two-player 2,000, read on the page image.

Unira's 500 points and the two-player 2,000 are garbled in the OCR; the lead read them on the page image.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

Nintendo of America's 1987 player's guide, which files Clu Clu Land in its Action Series, tells the story as an evil Sea Urchin stealing the kingdom's gold bars and hiding them in an aquatic maze. It says the only way to turn is by hooking a hand round a turn post or bouncing off a wall, and that the Sea Urchin's house, the Black Hole, swallows the player. clu-clu-land-history/players-guide

PublisherThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 139, An Underwater MysteryTwenty-thousand leagues under the sea in Clu Clu Land, an evil Sea Urchin hasThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 139stolen the kingdom's precious gold bars and hidden them in a mysterious aquaticThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 139The only way you can turn is by hooking aThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 139hand around a turn post or by bouncing off a wallThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 139his house, the Black Hole, whereThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 139he'll swallow you alive!The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 139, section headingACTION SERIESThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · contents — followed by "STAR VOYAGER 139"URBAN CHAMPION -CLU CLU LAND-Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.

Read from the text layer, not checked against the page image.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

Computer Entertainer's April 1986 review called Clu Clu Land a good maze game, found it more enjoyable in the two-player mode with the players working in tandem, and called the music cute and the graphics "colorful and crisp"; it listed it for one player or two at once, rated the graphics and the game play 3 each out of 4, and Recommended it at $29.95. clu-clu-land-history/ce-review

Value
{
 "review": "Computer Entertainer",
 "of": 4,
 "scores": {
  "graphics": 3,
  "game play": 3
 }
}
MagazineComputer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 1 (April 1986) · p. 11, review of Clu Clu Land — after "CLU CLU LAND ( … ) from Nintendo"; the ratings, garbled in the OCR, read "(♦♦♦/♦♦♦)" on the page image of Internet Archive item computer-entertainer-5-1, image n10 (checked by the lead; the scout had read four symbols for game play)takes you to an underground mystery maze where you must findComputer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 1 (April 1986) · p. 2, The Rating System — the key; the first set of diamonds rates graphics and the second game play4 SYMBOLS = excettenTComputer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 1 (April 1986) · p. 11, review of Clu Clu LandGood Maze GameComputer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 1 (April 1986) · p. 11, review of Clu Clu LandWe found the game actually more enjoyable in the two-player mode as the two players work in tandemComputer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 1 (April 1986) · p. 11, review of Clu Clu LandThe music is cute, and the graphics are colorful and crisp.Computer Entertainer, Vol. 5, No. 1 (April 1986) · p. 11, review of Clu Clu Land(one player; two-player simultaneous) Recommended (MSR $29.95)Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: The rating reads ♦♦♦ / ♦♦♦ on the page image, 3 and 3, not the scout's 3 and 4.

The review is unsigned.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land

In 2019 Chris Scullion wrote that Clu Clu Land isn't remembered to the same degree as the Mario and Zelda games of its time and called it an odd take on Pac-Man, in which the protagonist, a balloonfish called Bubbles, can only move forward and turns by grabbing turning posts. He wrote that it wasn't one of Nintendo's major hits, and that Bubbles returned as a hidden playable character in DK: King of Swing for the Game Boy Advance in 2005. clu-clu-land-history/standing

BookThe NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Clu Clu Land (p. 51)isn't quite remembered to the same degree as the Marios and Zeldas of its timeThe NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Clu Clu Land (p. 51)Land is an odd take on Pac-ManThe NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Clu Clu Land (p. 51)The game's protagonist is a balloonfish called BubblesThe NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Clu Clu Land (p. 51)Bubbles can only move forwardThe NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Clu Clu Land (p. 51)grab one of the levels' turning postsThe NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Clu Clu Land (p. 51)Although it isn't one of Nintendo's major hitsThe NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System · Clu Clu Land (p. 51)did return as a hidden playable character in 2005's Game Boy Advance game, DK: King of Swing.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.

Cited by: Clu Clu Land