Lumines Game by Ubisoft Reviewed by Mikaa robbin12388@bellsouth.net Size: UMD Save: approx. 160K on your Memory Stick; Multiple Saves can be accomplished via the USB-to-PC link. Released: 2005 Works with: PSP **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Puzzle games. I'd be lying if I said I was a big fan of puzzlers, and, to be brutally honest, I was about to write off Lumines as yet another puzzle game for the portable systems. Had my opinion to purchase it been based on the UMD Sample Disk I that came with my PSP, I would not even look at it. But it's a funny thing; usually I hear both praises and negatives on a game, either from the net or my local game retailer. Funny that I heard no negative slamming of the game, even from magazines like Game Informer and EGM. The latter's lowest score was a 7.5, one of their higher scores for the newer games. And given the lack of overal negative feedback, I had to buy the game. Yes, it was high at US$40, but hey, if it had not generated any negative talk, how bad could it be? **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: To describe the exact reason why Lumines is so fun is to explain why the Universe came to be after the Big Bang; it's next to impossible to guess the right answer, and about twenty million people will give you their thoughts. But, I will give it a try. Remember Tetris? Puyo Pop (or any of it's licenced clones)? Recall, if you will, the falling blocks, and you have a basis for the game. Now imagine a 2X2 cube composed of four blocks. This is the standard falling object. One, two, three, or even all four blocks can be one color, or of another, mixing into a checkerboard or half/half mix, and, yes, three of a color and the one lonely opposing shade. Now, to give you an idea of what the game is like as well as how it works, I'm going to illustrate what it was like when I first started, bearing in mind I did NOT read the manual, as I don't like games where I can't simply pick up and play without reading a massive guide book. I mean, who would want to memorize a complex control that you have to study each and every time you turn the sys- Er, where was I? Going into the Challenge Mode, I watched as a 2X2 block of orange blocks fell onto the bottom of the screen. Never minding the massive space to place it, I allowed it to fall strait down. The blocks changed colors, and a second later, they vanished. I watched as my next set of blocks fell, split evenly down the center. I had the orange blocks on the bottom, with the white ones facing up, as the side bar on the left showed that I had a complete white block next. I move the block upon the existing blocks, and notice that the entire portion of white becomes highlighted. I wonder why it did not vanish right away; soon I notice the line in the background, sweeping the playing field. Soon, it erases the highlighted blocks. Now having done that, I return my gaze to the next set. To sum that big chunk of wording, you control the rotation of the blocks, with each rotation making a noise that mimicks the music at the time. A line (called a "Timeline") moves across the playing field, erasing your highlited blocks. The requirements for removal are a 2X2 arrangement of four blocks of one color, and any matching 2X2 next to it (or formed) will be highlited and erased. This allows you to set up limited combos, as you can set up one color for removal, and then watch as the other color falls down, and giggle like a school girl when you see the massive highlited blocks vanish. But returning to my first playthrough, I am quite content to experiment, trying out differient strategies to eliminate the blocks. An odd block forms part of a 2X2: it is a normal white block, but it has a green center. As the square is highlited, all of the boardering white blocks in direct contact with any other white blocks touching the highlited square with the green are set up for removal. As I realize this, a voice speaks a few words, and the whole background changes. No longer orange and white, now simple green and white blocks appear, and the music changes. You have just heard me describe a "skin" change. This is where you obtain enough points for the background, music, and blocks to change to a new setting. These "skins" range from simple blocks and music, to wacky electronics, to a wierd rendition of "Shake yo' Body," to an oriental pattern, to checkers, and on. These skins are half of the reason for playing, as they are quite a trip to themselves. There are other modes than the Challenge Mode; Single Player allows you to play a normal mode with a single skin that you have unlocked. VS 2P allows you to compete against an opponent with another copy of the game on his/her own PSP. VS CPU allows you to take on the CPU and unlock skins. Puzzle Mode gives you patterns to make out of your blocks in a set time limit. Time Trial forces you to eliminate as many blocks as you can before it's too late. There are many modes to play, and the challenge only gets harder as you progress. Of course, the longer you play, the better you get, and the more reflexive you are. Liked: Absurdly simple, easy to pick up and play. Hated: The fact that people will ignore it because it's a puzzler. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: Sweet Elements, beautiful. A bit simple at times, but the whole package was designed to make the pieces, sounds, and backgrounds feel and flow smooth through the game. It is easy to make out each part of the game, and sometimes you'll get a nasty shock from the background. I wonder how many others jumped when they suddenly saw a massive pair of woman's lips singing to the music while they were thinking of their next move like I did? Liked: Think Wario Ware simple-yet-functional, then add in VERY good particle effects and backgrounds. Hated: My parents when I yelped in shock after the lips appeared... **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: This game may be a puzzler, but the music and sounds sound like they were designed with another game in mind. Let me explain: each and every move you make, be it moving a piece, dashing around by double tapping a direction, or simply rotating a falling piece, you hear a sound. Depending on the skin, it could be a simple beep, or it could be part of the lyrics to the words. Sometimes the sounds are so simmilar to the music you barely notice that they are made. This is not bad; the fact that the background music is so GOOD, and so addictive, it's amazing. Someone told me that there would be a soundtrack to this title released, and, if so, I would buy it in a heart beat. Keep in mind that the only other game I bought the official soundtrack to was Metroid Prime... Liked: Unrealistically good for a puzzler. Hated: That you can't get a sound test... ::cries:: **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Very simple gameplay at heart, and very simple controls. Any puzzle fan will tell you that great controls mean less goof ups, and Lumines is short on errors. Double tapping left or right will dash your piece, pressing a button will rotate one way, another button another way. Best of all, you can map these options to any of the four PSP action buttons, or you can put them on the L and R shoulder buttons. Very nice. Liked: L and R controls. Hated: The fact that very few games control this well? **************************************************************************** Improve: More skins, more music, a sound test, and...hmm... So little to improve because so much is so good... RIYL: Super Puzzle Fighter II (GBA), Tetris (any of a thousand systems) **************************************************************************** Final Words: There is no reason for a PSP owner to NOT have this. This puzzle game will eat your life. Of course, being as I don't have one, I am fine... Seriously, probably the best PSP launch game, and one of the best out right now. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: ***** Graphics: ***** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: ***** Personal Opinion: ***** Total: *****X5 = 25*s Final Score: 100% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: Keep playing. That's how you get one skin... The others, well... Play on, pal. Play on... ^_^;;