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Lumines

Sep 01, 2009 17 years ago
No trailer available
Type Base game 2004 Genres MusicPuzzle Companies Gameloft · Publisher · Bandai · Publisher · WildTangent · Publisher · Q Entertainment · Publisher Follow Log in to follow

Lumines is a block-dropping game, that may seem at first to be similar to Columns and Tetris. A 2 x 2 square (an O tetromino) made of four smaller block pieces is dropped into the playing field, which may appear different as the player advances through levels or skins. The small blocks that comprise the larger blocks will be one of two different colors. The objective is to rotate and align the blocks in such a way as to create 2x2 squares of the same color, which may span multiple blocks and, indeed, share blocks. For example, if one should get a 2x3 area of matching blocks, the middle portion will "share" itself with both the left and right halves and create two 2x2 squares. After the "timeline", which is synchronized to the music, sweeps over the matching blocks, they disappear. When too many unmatched blocks pile up to the point where no more blocks may be dropped in the playing field, the game ends. When part of a falling block hits an obstruction, the unobstructed portion of the block will split off and continue to fall. More points are scored by creating the largest number of squares during one "timeline" sweep. Increasing score multipliers are earned by repeatedly clearing squares on consecutive timeline sweeps. Bonuses are also awarded by reducing all remaining tiles to one single color or for removing all non-active tiles from the screen altogether. Occasionally, a block falls with a special square of one of the two colors with a "jewel" in the center. This square, when cleared as part of a matched 2x2 square, will cause all individual blocks of the same color that are horizontally or vertically adjacent to the matched 2x2 square, or to an adjacent square, to be cleared without score. These can be used for both generating large bonuses, since generally several blocks of the other color will be formed once these are removed, as well as to help the player recover if the field becomes too cluttered.

What it’s like

Lumines transforms the block-dropping genre into a hypnotic audiovisual symphony. Rather than relying on traditional narrative or complex lore, the experience is defined by its seamless integration of music and mechanics. A timeline sweeps across the screen in perfect sync with the soundtrack, clearing matched blocks only when the beat hits, creating a rhythmic flow state that feels less like a puzzle and more like a performance. The visuals are vibrant and psychedelic, evolving to match the intensity of the house, trance, or techno tracks playing. While the core loop is accessible—aligning colored blocks to form 2x2 squares—the depth comes from mastering timing, utilizing special 'jewel' blocks for chain reactions, and managing space under increasing pressure. It is a polished, high-energy test of reflexes and pattern recognition where success feels like dancing with geometry.

Strong in Atmosphere / MoodAudio / MusicGameplay / MechanicsPacingPolish / PerformanceVisuals / ArtCo-op / MultiplayerProgression / ReplayabilitySystems Depth / Build Variety

Keep in mind The lack of a narrative or character-driven motivation may feel hollow to players seeking emotional engagement or story progression. Additionally, the reliance on rhythm synchronization means that if the audio-visual sync feels off or if the player prefers silent concentration, the core appeal diminishes significantly.

AI-generated from catalog data, informed by reviews from honestgamers.com, metacritic.com, digitallydownloaded.net, playstationlifestyle.net, gamespot.com, polygon.com.

Screenshots

Releases

PlatformRegionTypeDate
PlayStation Portable Worldwide Full release Sep 01, 200521 years ago
Legacy Mobile Device Worldwide Full release May 30, 200620 years ago
PC (Microsoft Windows) Worldwide Full release Nov 28, 200719 years ago
iOS Worldwide Full release Sep 01, 200917 years ago

Reviews

85Critics · 5 81Players · 28

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