While the game remains as entrancing as ever, Lumines Live! is hindered by shortcomings and a poor pricing structure
For those unfamiliar with the PSP version, Lumines is one of those games that is simple to pick up but difficult to master. You have to form two-by-two squares from blocks of four made of two colours, which are then deleted by a timeline that moves at differing speeds depending on the ‘skin’ – the visual and audio accompaniment. To rack up more points you will need to try and build a combo of as many connected squares as possible before the timeline passes. This makes the puzzling quite fast paced a lot of the time and requires swift reflexes, quick thinking and planning in advance. The Challenge Mode is the main draw of the single-player game and features around twelve skins, half of which have been lifted from the PSP version and the rest being new to the 360. Here the player works their way through the skins, trying to get as high a score as possible while unlocking the different tunes during their progress. While the start of the game is slower than its PSP predecessor, with a rather plain and sober skin accompanying a rather forgetful track, it swiftly gets more interesting visually and aurally. The change in the blocks can initially be off-putting and cause you to lose your momentum but there are some tracks in here that both newcomers and fans will enjoy. Nonetheless, there is still nothing that quite matches the heights of the PSP version and the lack of a Mondo Grosso or lyric-based number is a shame. This aside, the Challenge Mode remains gripping and satisfying, and can easily consume several hours of your time.
Unfortunately it is a look around the other options that Lumines Live! presents which reveals a rotten core at the heart of the game. The 1200 points it takes to buy the title – just over ten pounds – gives you the Challenge Mode, Time Attack (where you try to complete as many blocks as you can in a given time limit) and multiplayer options. When one tries, say, ‘vs. CPU’, where you compete against the computer, you are only given one level before you are prompted to buy a ‘vs. CPU’ pack, which at the time of writing is not available on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Similarly, there are only five puzzles and missions before one is asked to purchase the non-existent ‘Puzzle/Mission Pack’. Finally, to play the Advanced Mode the ‘Advanced Pack’, offering 22 new skins, costs 600 Marketplace points.
While one may say the purchase of additional modes is still relatively cheap in comparison to buying the PSP game (but not with other Xbox Live Arcade titles), this dividing up of the game leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Firstly, Microsoft have failed to clearly mention that these need to be purchased on the Marketplace. Indeed, their own press release and promotional material bulletpoints the ‘vs. CPU’ mode as a feature. Moreover, the Trial Version only says you need to buy the ‘Base Pack’ (the 1200 point game) to play these modes and fails to mention the need for additional add-ons. The ‘Advanced Pack’ is clearly referenced, the others are not. What I feel Microsoft have done here is misleading the consumer into buying something and then not delivering the product they expect. To buy the various packs it is going to cost the consumer at least 2500 points, doubling the price of the game. It is difficult to review the game without taking this into account.
Further scrutiny reveals frayed edges around a game that should have been given more polish. The Challenge Mode can be time-consuming – to rack up the biggest scores players will need hours of free time. Whereas the PSP could be put to sleep to suspend a game when needs must, there is no similar option to suspend the Xbox 360 version. The alternative, to leave the machine on with the game paused, is simply unacceptable. Hexic HD could manage this, so why can’t Lumines? It certainly seems a major oversight.
Finally, the ‘Live!’ part of the game is also slightly flat. All the leaderboards are present and correct, though it is somewhat bizarre that the ‘Friends’ table is in alphabetical order instead of being organised by score. Duel Play is where you can compete with others, by creating squares quickly enough to move the dividing line, and this narrows your opponent’s field of play. There are both ranked and player matches to choose from. Lag is, unfortunately, a frequent issue. This can make multiplayer very difficult as it disrupts your own rhythm and can lead to costly mistakes. It is also disappointing that the game is only one versus one and could not accommodate more players.
If this is your first chance to play Lumines, and you are clearly aware of the hidden costs, the need to buy additional packs for more modes and consider it reasonable value, by all means get the game. It remains a thoroughly addictive game. PSP owners may wish to wait for the larger Lumines II on the PSP instead; there are very few skins here, you can see them quickly and none of them are as punchy as what the original offered.