Rimururu

Rimururu (リムルル, Rimururu} is a fictional character from SNK's Samurai Shodown series of fighting games. She is the younger adopted sister of Nakoruru, and lives in an Ainu village on Hokkaidō, Japan. She fights with a kodachi named "Hahakuru," and she can call upon the ice spirit "Konril" to assist her in battle. She greatly admires her older sister, and like her, strives to protect nature. Like her older sister, Rimururu has been referred to as a priestess of the Ainu religion. Her prototype design in this game was formerly a scrapped concept for one of the heroines from another SNK game, Robo Army. She appears in many of the series' merchandise, and even has her own character image CD.

According to the creators' commentary for Samurai Shodown V, she is one of the main programmers' favorite characters.

History
(Games are listed in order they were released. Translation of original japanese game title is listed after US title, then year in which game takes place is listed)

Preface
Rimururu is a guardian of nature and the living beings of the earth like her older sister, Nakoruru

Ambrosia Arc
In SS II "Haohmaru's Journey to Hell", which takes place in 1789 (spring to summer), Rimururu makes appearance in Nakoruru's ending, but isnt playable herself.

In SS III "Zankuro's Infinite Sword", which takes place in 1788 (summer to early autumn), Rimururu still trains her skills, and also repels evil from the forest during her elder sister's absence. Noting the evil energy of Amakusa, she pursues him to prevent polluting of nature.

In SS IV "Amakusa's Advent", which takes place in 1788 (autumn to early winter), Rimururu follows Nakoruru to Shimabara to protect Nature and to offer her assistance.

In Samurai Shodown RPG, which covers almost whole Ambrosia arc: Information Needed

Yuga Arc
In SS 64, which takes place from 1789 autumn to 1790 summer, After Nakoruru disappeared and was thought to be dead, Rimururu succeeded her role as the maiden of Kamui Kotan and started training to fight in stead of her sister. When Nakoruru unexpectedly returned to battle evil again, Rimururu assisted her. In the end she helped her sister and Haohmaru defeat Yuga the Destroyer

In SS 64 Warriors Rage "Tale of Slashing Demon Asura", which takes place in 1790 (late autumn to winter), Rimururu accompanied Nakoruru again in the mission to defeat evil again, after they heared that Yuga the Destroyer returned.

After those events, Nakoruru became a spirit of nature for many years and Rimururu finally became maiden of Kamui Kotan protecting nature in Nakoruru's stead. But shortly afterwards, Rimururu and her ice spirit Konril were sealed by the villain Oboro because she possessed the light maiden powers.

In SS Warriors Rage PSX "New Chapter of Blade", which takes place in 1811, Rimururu is still sealed. She was released after Haohmaru defeated guardians of place she was sealed at. When awakened, she was not aware about fact that she sleeped around 20 years, wondering about why Haohmaru became so old.

Dark Emperor Arc
In SS V "Zero", which takes place in 1786 (January to late summer), Rimururu and Nakoruru were playing in the forest when Konru ran off and she chased after it. Her grandma then called out to her to have some soup with Nakoruru. Going back, Rimururu realized Nakoruru ran off somewhere. She then resolved to go out and find her sister. Upon reaching land of Hinowa, Rimururu told Gaoh that she just wanted to find her sister and that anything else he has to say is not important. Gaoh then told her he has to kill her. After defeating Gaoh, Rimururu called out to Nakoruru but started to cry when she doesn't came. Rimururu then remembered the time Nakoruru found her in the forest, crying. Nakoruru asked her what is wrong and Rimururu replied that her sister is gone. Nakoruru then adopted Rimururu as her sister and told her not to cry anymore. Rimururu then stopped crying when Nakoruru appeared and told her she had become an Ainu fighter. Rimururu then told her she wants to become one as well, like her sister. Nakoruru forbids it and says they should go home.

In SS VI "Tale of World's Greatest Swordsmen", which is alternative continuity of SS V: Information needed.

Golba Arc
In SS Edge of Destiny "Flash", which takes place somewhere after SS 64: Information needed.

Retcons
In Samurai Shodown V, SNK retconned previously established storyline of Nakoruru and Rimururu as actual sisters, and instead showed them as unrelated by blood.

Personality
Rimururu idolizes her sister and wants to be like her every way possible. Just like any teenager, Rimururu is cheerfull and is always seen smiling.

Powers

 * Ice Spirit Control - Rimururu can summon and control the ice spirit, Konril.

Fighting Style
With her ice spirit Konru, sometimes translated as "Konril", she has the ability to freeze her foes. Her normal attacks are similar to her sister with some modifications in execution. Unlike her sister, many of her moves are short range, giving her a narrower range of efficiency than her sister. However, this may not be a disadvantage as the swiftness in most of her moves make up for it. Like her sister, she may also reflect projectiles with proper timing. In Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage, her Slash form relies more on Konru, making her playing style more defensive. Her Bust form, however, is more aggressive and the more close-ranged of the two.

Music

 * Kokoro no Kagami (Heart's Mirror) - Samurai Shodown III, V
 * Kokoro no Kagami -So no ni - Samurai Shodown IV
 * Banquet Invitation - Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits: Bushidou Retsuden
 * Silken Snow - Samurai Shodown 64
 * Snow - Samurai Shodown 64-2
 * Awakening - Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage
 * Purification - Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage

Image Songs

 * Afereru Omoi ~ Kori no Yosei (Feelings Overflowing ~ Fairy of Ice) - 1996 Image Song
 * With a Smiling Face... - 1998 Image Song
 * Kokoro wo Tsunaide - Duet Image Song with Nakoruru
 * Heavy Baby's 2 - Neo Geo DJ Station shared image song

Game Appearances



 * Samurai Shodown III
 * Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits: Bushidou Retsuden
 * Samurai Shodown IV
 * Samurai Shodown 64
 * Samurai Shodown 64-2
 * SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium - as unplayable Olympic mode character
 * Samurai Shodown: Warriors Rage - as unplayable story character
 * Samurai Shodown V
 * Samurai Shodown V Special
 * Samurai Shodown VI
 * Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny

Anime Appearances

 * Nakoruru ~Ano hito kara no okurimono~ (OVA)
 * Samurai Spirits 2: Asura-Zanmaden (OVA)

Trivia

 * Rimururu's name has been mistranslated in some games/publications as "Rimnerel", because of poor Japanese romanization. (i.e. SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash)
 * Rimururu first appeared in Nakoruru's ending in Samurai Shodown II, and had her first outing as a playable character in Samurai Shodown III. She has since become one of the most popular characters in the series.
 * She is not related to Nakoruru by blood, but considers her as a sister anyway since they were raised together.
 * In her first appearances, Rimururu is a palette swap of her sister. But since Samurai Shodown 64 series, Rimururu's appearance had been changed to look younger to denote that the fifth series happened before the other series chronologically. She maintains her look through Samurai Shodown VI.
 * On the official Samurai Shodown site, Rimururu is not listed on the character roster for Warriors Rage due to her unplayable status. However, she is still a part of the storyline and official art was constructed for her.
 * On the Samurai Shodown V Special, Rimururu can be fatalitied which is something players cannot do on previous Samurai Shodown merchandises.