Lumines

"Illuminating Lumines...a puzzler with a twist!"

It's a terrible shame that a lot of people are immediately going to dismiss Lumines as just another Tetris clone. Let's face it, Tetris-style puzzlers have been done to death on just about every game system imaginable. I just hope people will read this or any other review of Lumines before prematurely skipping over this game. Lumines takes the Tetris theme, adds some really exciting musical tracks, and twists it all into one of the most enjoyable and addictive puzzle games you'll ever play. Make no mistake about it. Once you begin playing Lumines, you're not going to want to put it down.

For those of you that have played Tetris, Lumines plays in a similar manner. Blocks made up of 4 smaller cubes of 2 different colors begin falling from the top of the play area. Your job is to rotate and maneuver these falling blocks to form a 4/4 square block with the same color of cubes. In doing this you will eliminate that particular block of like-colored cubes. At random times in the game you will be presented with a special block that will contain a blinking circle inside one of the cubes on the currently falling block. These special cubes are destroyer blocks, that if positioned correctly on the playfield, will eliminate all the blocks of that same color that are directly connected in the field of play. This will come in very handy as you find your blocks beginning to stack up. As in Tetris the game is over if your blocks mount to the top of the play area. Sounds simple enough, right?

**For those importing Lumines, there is no need to worry about the menus in the game as they are all in English. Lumines is very English-friendly considering it is a Japanese release.

GRAPHICS: (8/10) For the most part graphics in a puzzle game are not always a high priority. Someone must have forgotten to tell that to the developers of Lumines because it features some of the coolest backgrounds, or "skins" as they are known in the game, I have seen in a game like this. The skins also don't feel like simply a backdrop for the action, more so they feel at times like they are a part of it. The entire screen is filled with movement and a type of flashiness that you just don't normally see in a standard puzzle game. Couple that with the timeline that is constantly moving across the screen and you have a lot to take in during a session of Lumines. Another nice facet of the game is the way the game boards change during a game giving you a unique and fresh look every couple of minutes as the song changes. It keeps the game from getting stale and makes you want to constantly advance to see what the next level holds. Nice to see a puzzle game with a little graphical flash for a change.

SOUND/MUSIC: (9/10) As nice as the flashy graphics are in Lumines, it's honestly the music that is Lumines' foundation. Featuring the music of famed Japanese composers Mondo Grosso and Eri Nobuchika, Lumines pumps out one amazing tune after another. Most of the tunes feature a very "club" music feel to them that seems to work perfectly with the rhythm of the game itself. You'll also notice that as you eliminate blocks as the timeline is passing by that the music will change somewhat depending on how many blocks you can eliminate at once. This is what tends to make the music in Lumines seem like so much more a part of the gameplay experience itself. Musically one of the best I've heard in a long time, especially considering this is a portable game, not to mention a puzzler.

GAMEPLAY: (9/10) Lumines is exactly what a good puzzle game is supposed to be. Easy to pick up and and start playing, and a game that the more you play it, the better you get at it. Lumines hits that nail right on the head. Not mention all the different gameplay options the game features. Lumines can be played in single or two-player mode and both have their different types of challenges. In single player mode there are basically 5 different games. Challenge Mode is a lot like the classic Tetris, in which you try to advance through as many levels and earn as many points as you can before your blocks stack up to the top of the play area. As you play along, the skins, the blocks, and the music will change every few minutes giving the impression that you are advancing through different levels. You can also choose Single Skin mode where the style of blocks and background skin stay the same throughout. Time Attack mode is where you can select a certain amount of time in which to try to eliminate as many blocks as possible within the set time limit. You can also choose to play a two player-style match against the CPU in which you try to eliminate blocks faster than your opponent in order to gain access to their side of the play area. The first one who's blocks reach the top of the play area loses. Finally, there is the puzzle mode in which the game gives you a shape that you must form out of the falling blocks in order to advance to the next shape. Two-player mode let's you use the wi-fi of the PSP to challenge another player on their PSP. This game plays just like the single-player Vs. CPU mode. As you can see there are many different ways to enjoy Lumines and each one is a blast to play. In fact I almost gave this game a perfect 10 simply because Lumines offers so much gameplay in one small package. Outstanding.

FUN: (10/10) Being that I'm not much of a puzzle game fan, the simple fact that Lumines has commanded so much of my playing time lately is a testament to just how spectacular a game it really is. The challenge mode alone will keep you busy for weeks. Put that mode together with all the others and you have a game that is as hard to put down as it is to master. Lumines fully deserves the 10 rating in this category and offers countless hours of playing enjoyment.

OVERALL: (9/10) The bottom line is whether you are a puzzle game fan or not you owe it to yourself to at least give Lumines a try. I'd be willing to bet you've never played a puzzle game like this before. Very seldom do you see a developer take every aspect of a game and twist them all together to make such a fluid, enjoyable playing experience as you'll find in Lumines. If you don't have this game, you should.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/10/05, Updated 01/11/05