Happy birthday to me :)

I've been eyeing up (virtually, via Amazon) the quirky PS2 title, Chulip, for some time, so when my birthday came around last week I bought a copy as a gift to myself. It arrived yesterday, but I won't be playing it--or even opening it--until I wrap up New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

I'll share some impressions here after I've spent some time with the title, which may be the weirdest game to hit the PS2 (or any system, really). Don't believe me? Check out this description, taken from Natsume's official Chulip site:

"You and your father have just moved into a rural town famous for an ancient legend. It's been said that whoever kisses underneath the old tree on the hill will be destined to live happily ever after. With your eyes set on a girl living in a nearby pipe, you set out on your quest. Filled with a new determination, you've sworn to yourself that you'll do whatever it takes to kiss this charming little girl underneath the ancient tree and spend the rest of your life with her."

Please note that the object of the main character's affection lives in a pipe. Oh, and he gets her to return his affection by kissing everyone else in town.

Anyone interested in learning more about Chulip should check out the interview (with director Yoshirou Kimura) and review posted to 1up.com around the time of the title's Stateside release in 2007.