Lumines Plus

"One of the greatest puzzle games in years"

Once upon a time, Lumines was released for the PSP. It was a best seller and groves of people said that it was the greatest puzzle game since the original Tetris. Unfortunately, I do not own a PSP or have any desire to get one. So when Lumines Plus was released for the PS2 at a budget price, I jumped on it. Soon I realized my mistake - I was a Lumines addict.

Overview:

In Lumines, 2x2 blocks drop from the top of the screen. Each square within the block is one of two different colors. The goal is to make 2x2 blocks of the same color. If you do, they are cleared when the timeline passes. You get bonuses for deleting multiple blocks with one sweep. If the screen fills up its game over. The speed of the timeline and how fast the blocks drop is determined by the tempo of the music. Periodically, the background and the music change. There is also a puzzle mode where you try to create certain shapes.

Graphics: 7

The graphics are relatively simple, but they don't need to be complicated to render blocks. The backgrounds are well drawn though. My complaint is that sometimes there is not enough contrast between the different blocks and the background. This makes it more difficult to position the blocks.

Sound: 9

The music itself is nothing to write home about, but what makes Lumines extraordinary is how seamlessly the music is incorporated. The tempo of the music determines how fast the blocks drop and how fast the timeline sweeps. This is one of the best incorporations of music in a video game.

Gameplay: 10

Gameplay is simple to pick up, yet difficult to master. Like Tetris, I can see myself picking up Lumines ten years down the road and still enjoying it. Endless replay value.

Value: Depends

If you already own a copy of Lumines or Lumines 2 for the PSP, I can't imagine needing this one. However, if you are like me, then the budget price of $20 is well worth it.

Overall: 9

The gameplay in Lumines more than makes up for its simple presentation. At budget price, this is a must have for anyone who never purchased the PSP version.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/30/07