Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this game is an intense, far-out puzzle game that can easily suck up several hours of a player's time in a single session. There are versions of the game for the PlayStation Portable (PSP), PlayStation 2, Xbox Live Arcade, and PC. The Xbox Live Arcade and PC versions, although called Lumines, actually contain much of the music and art from the PSP game Lumines II.
Families can talk about what factors make certain games more compelling or addictive than others. Do they like games that they can play for hours on end, or do they prefer to break the gameplay up into manageable, self-contained chunks? How does the music in this game respond to the action on-screen? Did you notice that the music and graphics work together to create a certain atmosphere or vibe in the game?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Erin Bell
LUMINES is falling block-style puzzle game with gameplay that's so well balanced and compelling that it's easy to lose track of time.
Originally released on Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) with versions for PlayStation 2 and Xbox Live Arcade as well, the game recently made its PC debut through the online gaming portal WildTangent.
Lumines shares some elements in common with Tetris, one of the all-time puzzle game classics. Blocks fall from the top of the screen, and players manipulate them into patterns to clear them off the playing field and score points. But where Tetris challenges players to fit random geometric shapes into ordered rows, in Lumines the goal is to arrange 2x2 bi-colored squares into larger blocks of the same color. A line sweeps across the screen at regular intervals, clearing any color blocks from the screen as it passes by. If the screen fills up and blocks touch the top, the game is over.
It's a simple enough concept, but one that offers an incredibly deep and satisfying gaming experience. This is thanks in large part to the game's superb balance. Unlike Tetris, the blocks in Lumines don't just keep falling faster and faster until it's impossible to continue. Each new level in Lumines has a different speed -- sometimes super slow, and sometimes quick.
As a result of this unique ebb-and-flow pacing, don't be surprised if you find yourself entering a kind of Zen-like state of concentration where you play the game for hours at a time. Amazingly, unlike other arcade-style puzzlers, you probably won't feel tense or frazzled.
Bold colors and a soundtrack of funky techno-infused music give Lumines a slick vibe. Plus, the music in Lumines is actually much more than just background noise. Your in-game actions are accompanied by musical embellishments, like a piano flourish or vocalization when you drop a square to form a color block. As you get on a roll clearing blocks and earning bonus multipliers, the soundtrack will change dynamically to become more energetic.
In addition to the main Challenge mode, Lumines offers a Puzzle Mode where you must recreate a given shape, such as an "A" or a 4x4 square, by arranging falling blocks to match the pattern. Additional modes include: Mission mode, which includes challenges like clearing all blocks on the screen in one move; Time Attack mode, where you must erase as many squares as possible in a given time limit; and a Skin Edit mode, where you can arrange levels you've unlocked in Challenge mode in any order to create your own custom "playlist."
While the game might seem a little intense at first, those who stick with Lumines will discover a truly classic puzzle game that is well-deserving of a ranking on anyone's "Best Of" list.
If you're looking for other puzzle games, try Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure, Elebits, TouchMaster, or Pokemon Trozei.
Platform Notes
PSP
Lumines II for the PSP is very similar to the content found in Lumines for Windows PC.
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