By now, when a new version of Lumines comes out, you know what to expect. Two-toned squares will fall from the sky and it is your job to match them up while a steadily increasing time line scrolls across the screen to erase the matched blocks. This is all set to crazy tunes and eye-popping visuals, par for the course from Q Entertainment. The details are what matter here, they are what make this version stand out.
Before we dive into Supernova, it bears mentioning that while Xbox 360 owners were treated to price gouging a year ago with Lumines Live, that is not the case here. No extra money needed for the Advance pack, full Puzzle and Mission Mode, etc. Heck, even the Holiday Pack is a freebie on the PS3.
The PSP really got a killer puzzle game when it launched, and the same formula stays as addicting as ever in this latest port. There are lots of skins to unlock, including a LittleBigPlanet skin. Brand new to the lineup of game modes is Dig Down Mode, where the field is already partially filled with blocks. This is set to a timer like in Time Attack, although you make your way through successive waves in this mode. Dig Down changes things up and gives something new where it comes to game play.
The other new attraction is Sequencer Mode, which has close to 100 loops in Drums, Bass, Pads, Others, and Effects. The interface to create your own beat is streamlined. You select a loop and put it into Memory. You then switch to the Editor tab and place it in the corresponding track. You then can layer many loops and create the sequence you want. Finally you can change the tempo and save and/or play Lumines with your newly created masterpiece. Credit is due for the simplicity of the Sequencer interface, as many other games with similar features have fallen flat due to an overwhelmingly difficult learning curve.
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