Lumines: Puzzle & Music

Lumines: Puzzle & Music[lower-alpha 1] is a puzzle game for iOS and Android, developed by Mobcast and published by Resonair. It was the second smartphone game in the Lumines series after Lumines: Touch Fusion. The game received a follow up with a freemium version titled, Lumines: Puzzle & Music Neo. The objective of the game is to rotate and drop 2×2 blocks in order to create squares of the same color as a verticle line sweeps across the board to erase completed squares and award points to the player. Tetsuya Mizuguchi decided to work with Mobcast after discovering the previous rights holder, Q Entertainment, had quit the video game business. The game released in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand on July 19, 2016, and later worldwide on September 1, 2016. The game was well-received among critics with critics praising the touch controls, songs, and visuals of the game however with some reviewers also criticizing the number of songs in the initial release of the game. The distribution of the game had ended on March 17, 2020.

Lumines: Puzzle & Music
Developer(s)Mobcast
Resonair
Publisher(s)Mobcast
Director(s)Tetsuya Mizuguchi
SeriesLumines
Platform(s)iOS, Android
Release
  • JP: July 19, 2016
  • WW: September 1, 2016
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay
Gameplay of Lumines: Puzzle & Music

Similar to previous Lumines titles in the series, Puzzle & Music is a tile-matching puzzle game. The player starts in a 12×10 playing field with a series of 2×2 blocks varying between two color blocks falling from the top of the playing field. The player can move the blocks left or right by swiping towards its corresponding direction, tap to rotate, and swipe down to immediately drop them.[1] A vertical line known as a "Time Line" sweeps across the playing field from left to right and erases any 2×2 squares it touches. The goal is to manipulate the blocks to create 2×2 squares of the same color in order for the time line to erase them and grant points.[1] Multiple squares can be combined and share the same blocks.[1] Two special blocks exist in the game: Shuffle, and Chain. Shuffle blocks randomize any group of blocks in the playing field that it touches. Chain blocks link any adjacent blocks of the same color together, allowing them to be erased by the Time Line without needing to create a square.[1] There are two game modes: Album mode where players can play a set of tracks, and Single Skin mode where players can choose a Skin and play it endlessly.[2] Time Attack mode was introduced on March 2, 2017. In Time Attack mode, players attempt to reach the highest possible score within 90 seconds.[3]

Development and release

In January 2015, the rights to both Lumines and Meteos were acquired by Mobcast and announced the development of a new Lumines mobile game.[4][5] The game was originally under the Lumines 2016 but was officially announced as Lumines: Puzzle & Music later on.[6][7] After leaving Q Entertainment, Tetsuya Mizuguchi discovered the company quit the video game business. This led Mizuguchi to approach Mobcast in co-developing a new Lumines title for smartphones alongside Resonair. Eiichiro Ishige of Resonair provided concepts for visuals while Mobcast was responsible for programming the game. When choosing to have the game be played vertically or horizontally, both Mizuguchi and Eiichiro chose vertical to be the best choice for allowing a good balance of time management and reducing the amount of time for extra thinking.[8] Mobcast spent seven months refining the touch controls on the game including swipe speed, angle, distance, and hold times.[9]

Lumines Puzzle & Music released on iOS and Android on July 12, 2016 in Japan, New Zealand, and Australia and on September 1, 2016 worldwide.[7][10] The initial game includes two "albums", one composed of eight new songs and the other of six songs from the original game, including Mondo Grosso's "Shinin'". Another Lumines mobile title, a free-to-play entry titled Lumines Vs. was scheduled to release in the 4th quarter of 2016 but no news came after its announcement.[11] Instead a freemium version of Puzzle & Music subtitled, Lumines: Puzzle & Music Neo[lower-alpha 2], was released on November 21, 2016. The freemium version included the "Rez Pack" playlist made up of six songs from the original Rez video game.[12] A lite version of the game was made available worldwide on Facebook Instant Games on December 26, 2016.[13] Distribution of both the paid and freemium versions of the game ended on March 17, 2020.[14]

Additional playlist packs were released for purchase. On September 9, 2016, Mobcast released the "Ultra Japan Pack" playlist which contained songs that were performed on Ultra Japan of 2016.[15] On November 16, 2016 Mobcast released the "Sekai No Owari Pack" playlist containing five songs from the band Sekai no Owari.[16] On March 30, 2017, Mobcast released the "Retro Game Remix Pack" playlist which contained remix songs from Xevious, Pac-Man and Tower of Druaga as a collaboration with Bandai Namco.[17]

Reception
Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic84/100[18]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Pocket Gamer[19]
TouchArcade[20]
Hardcore Gamer[21]
Gamezebo[22]
DigitallyDownloaded.net[23]

Luminess: Puzzle & Music was received positively among critics. It received an aggregated score of 84 out of 100 based on six reviews.[18] Pocket Gamer praised the game for keeping the same formula of its predecessors, stating, "Lumines still remains one of the best puzzly ideas that modern gaming has come up with. And it's nice to see it remaining so resolutely itself in an era of free to play reinventions of the classics".[19] Hardcore Gamer gave a positive review. Praising the visuals, music, and for its transitioning into smartphones, "Lumines: Puzzle and Music is a glorious return to form for the series. It takes what was previously a gaming device-only franchise and transitions it successfully onto mobile platforms." However, Hardcore Gamer also noted the touch controls on the game still had a delay and would have preferred the ability to connect a controller to play the game.[21] TouchArcade gave some commentary on the lack of modes but ultimately praised the game overall stating, "It’s a little light on gameplay modes and I’m not sure I could ever get enough skins to be satisfied, but Puzzle & Music nails the core gameplay and the exceptional aesthetics of the beloved series, and I’m not sure if we can realistically ask for more than that."[20] DigitallyDownloaded.net praised the gameplay for being able to be played in short sessions.[23] A common criticism in the game among reviewers was the lack of songs. Both Gamezebo and Digitally Downloaded.net were disappointed in the number of songs the game came initially, but remained hopeful for future expansion and DLC.[23]

gollark: !hwdyk msg
gollark: Kamila
gollark: !hwdyk msg
gollark: Autobotrobot
gollark: some.random person

References
Notes
  1. Japanese: LUMINES パズル&ミュージック Hepburn: Ruminesu Pazuru & Myūjikku
  2. LUMINES パズル&ミュージック NEO Ruminesu pazuru & myūjikku Neo
References
  1. "音楽を融合させたパズル『LUMINES パズル&ミュージック』を先行プレイ！". ApplivGames. Archived from the original on November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  2. "ハマりすぎに注意。「LUMINES パズル＆ミュージック」を紹介する「（ほぼ）日刊スマホゲーム通信」第1210回". 4Gamer.net. August 24, 2016. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  3. "Time attack mode is now available!". Lumines.game. March 2, 2017. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  4. "Mobcast acquires Lumines and Meteos IP". Gameindustry.biz. January 27, 2015. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  5. "Lumines Is Coming To Smartphones, Also Tetsuya Mizuguchi Is Making Games Again". Siliconera. January 26, 2015. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  6. "Lumines is back this year on mobile with premium and free to play titles". Pocket Gamer. February 9, 2016. Archived from the original on October 12, 2019.
  7. "水口哲也氏による『ルミネス』最新作が7月19日に配信決定　初代の楽曲、ステージも収録". Famitsu (in Japanese). June 16, 2016. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  8. "スマホ版『ルミネス』配信直前！生みの親水口哲也氏に直撃インタビュー" (in Japanese). Famitsu. July 12, 2016. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  9. "How Lumines creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi is bringing his beloved franchise to mobile". VentureBeat. August 9, 2016. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  10. "Lumines: Puzzle & Music launches September 1 on iOS and Android". VentureBeat. August 23, 2016. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  11. "Paid 'Lumines Puzzle and Music' and Free-to-Play 'Lumines VS' Will Release Globally Later This Year". TouchArcade. May 12, 2016. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  12. "「LUMINES パズル＆ミュージック NEO」で「Rez PACK」を配信開始。"共感覚シューティング"の楽曲をスマホで楽しめる" (in Japanese). 4Gamer.net. November 21, 2016. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  13. "LUMINES パズル＆ミュージック Lite』Facebook「インスタントゲーム」で世界同時リリース！ダウンロード不要で今すぐプレイ可能！". Mobcast (in Japanese). December 26, 2016. Archived from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  14. "Thank you for always playing the『LUMINES Puzzle & Music』". Lumines.game. March 2, 2020. Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  15. "LUMINES でフェスを体験しよう「ULTRA JAPAN PACK」配信開始！ULTRA JAPAN当日ブース出展決定＆豪華賞品が当たるキャンペーン実施" (in Japanese). Mobcast. September 9, 2016. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  16. "SEKAI NO OWARI」×『LUMINES』Android版「SEKAI NO OWARI PACK」配信開始　人気楽曲収録の豪華コラボが実現！" (in Japanese). Mobcast. November 16, 2016. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  17. "「LUMINES パズル＆ミュージック」がバンナムの名作「パックマン」「ゼビウス」「ドルアーガの塔」とコラボ。追加パックが配信開始". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). March 30, 2017. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  18. "Lumines: Puzzle & Music review". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 23, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  19. Harry Slater (September 2, 2016). "Lumines: Puzzle and Magic review - Still one of the best puzzlers". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  20. Shaun Musgrave (September 2, 2016). "'Lumines: Puzzle & Music' Review – Shinin' as Bright as it Can". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  21. Jeremy Peeples (September 4, 2016). "Review: Lumines: Puzzle & Music". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  22. Jin Squires (September 2, 2016). "Lumines Puzzle & Music Review: Block Droppin' Beats". Gamezebo. Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  23. Matt Sainsbury (July 21, 2016). "Review: Lumines Puzzle & Music (Apple iPhone)". DigitallyDownloaded.net. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
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