Puzzle Rhytm game that will keep you hooked for years
Lumines II is the sequel to the highly acclaimed Lumines I. It features double the content, double the songs (including ones from the first game), more modes, multiplayer and more. In fact it is good enough to be a great first entry for anyone who has not played Lumines before.
Lumines II is a puzzle game that is based on falling bricks. On each mode you lumines will fall to the ground and you have to orient them (basically rotating them) until they line up and make a square of 4 of the same color complex. You can keep adding and extending them in the time alloted and rack up points based on how big this is. There is a scanner bar that slides to the right every so often (based on the beat of the song). This will scan any blocks and if they are in that 4 color complex will be cleared away and added to your points. It is pretty fast paced but there is a helpful beginner difficulty that starts out pretty slow, so within twenty minutes or so players will know the basics.
As I said there are multiple modes, such as versus mode where you unlock skins (the term for each "level") and icons (icons for your avatar). There are multiplayer modes, synthesizer mode if you want to create your own beats and skins, the challenge mode (where you unlock the skins), a puzzle mode (clear all the lumines in an allotted amount of time), and a time attack mode (where you score as many points possible in time).
The game also keeps tons of statistics and records for your personal enjoyment and when milestones are reached skins are unlocked.
The skins is the final excellent portion of the game. Each tier in the challenge mode will net you twenty skins. Each skin has its own unique song and there are a wide range of Japanese pop and quirky hits to some licensed songs such as Hollaback Girl, Pump It, etc. Heavenly Star by Genki Rockets is a favorite by just about everyone too and that makes an appearance here. It is perhaps this sole reason that Lumines II has found wide appeal with every--the music variety.
The only CON is the that soundtracks choice of some Licensed tracks may not agree with everyone as not everyone likes Qwen Stefani etc. Fortunately, once you finish the skin it is unlocked though if you are trying to go for completion of a mode you will have to keep playing through that skin.
One minor tidbit: Only the dedicated pros will most likely complete and unlock every single skin in the game, so the game will probably never lose its replay factor.
Ultimately get Lumines II if you enjoy music-rhytm based games and are looking for something memorable and fun. I would also suggest getting Lumines I as well if you love the music too!