Lumines Review

9.0

Format PlayStation Portable

Developer Unknown

Publisher Bandai

Genre Puzzle, Rhythm Action

It has to be a good sign when a game puts your work schedule back by a day because all you've been able to do is stare at the PSP's beautiful screen like some kind of backwards man, dropping blocks onto other blocks and occasionally wiping lines of drool from your comically open mouth.

So why is this apparently unassuming title so damn addictive? Well here comes the science: squares made up of four blocks fall from the sky. You match up their colours to make them disappear. And, well, that's it. Sounds simple huh?

But just like the granddaddy of all puzzlers, Tetris, Lumines is fiendishly fun. Not only does every two toned block offer you a heap of tantalising ways to place it, but massive comboscan be built up if you drop lots of blocks in time. It's all meant to be a bit clubby and music-related but anyone who was expecting something like creator Tetsuya Miziguchi's Rez will be miffed.

Sure, everything's accompanied with trancey club music and your actions will sort of influence the soundtrack. And as you progress you'll unlock more skins which change the look and sounds. But t be honest, Lumines has a much to do with music as we have to do with jousting. Lucky that's not an issue then, for otherwise Lumines is an impeccably presented hour gobbler and we love it all the more for that.

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