Lumines: Puzzle & Music

Lumines: Puzzle & Music[lower-alpha 1] is a puzzle game for iOS and Android, developed and published by Mobcast with Resonair as co-developer. It was the second smartphone game in the Lumines series after Lumines: Touch Fusion. The objective is to rotate and drop 2×2 blocks to create squares of the same color as a vertical line sweeps across the board to erase completed squares and award points to the player. It was released in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand on July 19, 2016, and later worldwide on September 1, 2016.

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

Creator of the Lumines series, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, decided to work with Mobcast and Resonair after discovering the previous rights holder, Q Entertainment, had quit the video game business. Mobcast was responsible for developing the game and Resonair provided visual concepts. The game received downloadable content in the form of albums, a freemium version titled Lumines: Puzzle & Music Neo, and a lite version for Facebook. It was well-received by critics with praise focused on the touch controls, songs, and visuals while also criticizing the amount of content in the initial release of the game. Distribution of Lumines: Puzzle & Music ended on March 17, 2020.

Gameplay
Gameplay of Lumines: Puzzle & Music featuring Single Skin mode.

Lumines: Puzzle & Music is a tile-matching puzzle game. Stages are composed of 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 game is played using the touchscreen interface of the players' smartphone devices. Players can move the blocks left or right by swiping towards its corresponding direction on the screen, tap it to rotate, and swipe downward to drop the block instantly.[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 March 2014, concept creator of the Lumines series, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, resigned from Q Entertainment.[4][5] After leaving the company, Mizuguchi learned Q Entertainment quit the video game business which led him to approach Mobcast and Resonair in co-developing a new Lumines title for smartphones.[6] In January 2015, the rights to both Lumines and Meteos were acquired by Mobcast, which announced the development of a new Lumines mobile game.[7][8] The rights for Lumines were originally intended to be moved to Enhance Games but was instead transferred to Resonair.[6] The game was originally titled Lumines 2016 but was later officially named Lumines: Puzzle & Music.[9][10] Mizuguchi served as producer and supervisor of the game; Eiichiro Ishige, who also left Q Entertainment, provided concepts for visuals as part of Resonair while Mobcast was responsible for programming the game. Both Mizuguchi and Eiichiro chose to have the game be vertical-oriented instead of horizontal based on feedback from player testers.[11][6] Mobcast spent seven months refining the touch controls on the game including swipe speed, angle, distance, and hold times.[12]

Lumines Puzzle & Music released on iOS and Android on July 12, 2016, in Japan, New Zealand, and Australia and on September 1, 2016, worldwide.[10][13] 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.[14] Instead, a freemium version of Puzzle & Music titled 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.[15] A lite version of the game was made available worldwide on Facebook Instant Games on December 26, 2016.[16] Distribution of both the paid and freemium versions of the game ended on March 17, 2020.[17]

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.[18] On November 16, 2016, Mobcast released the "Sekai No Owari Pack" playlist containing five songs from the band Sekai no Owari.[19] 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.[20]

Reception

Luminess: Puzzle & Music was received positively among critics. It received an aggregated score of 84 out of 100 based on six reviews.[21] Pocket Gamer praised the game for maintaining the experience as its predecessors despite using a free-to-play business model, calling it "solid" and "dependable".[22] Hardcore Gamer complimented the visuals, music, and for its transitioning into smartphones. However, Hardcore Gamer also gave criticism the touch controls on the game still had a delay and would have preferred the ability to use a game controller.[24] TouchArcade compared the game to its predecessor Lumines Touch Fusion, noting that both versions had good music, however, Puzzle & Music had better controls than Touch Fusion.[23] DigitallyDownloaded.net praised the gameplay for being able to be played in short sessions.[26]

A common criticism is the amount of content the game has. TouchArcade criticized the number of game modes but ultimately praised the game stating it would be unrealistic for wanting more.[23] Both Gamezebo and DigitallyDownloaded.net were disappointed in this but remained hopeful for future downloadable content.[26]

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. "Report: Co-Founder Tetsuya Mizuguchi Leaves Q Entertainment". Game Informer. March 17, 2014. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019.
  5. "Lumines, Rez creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi back in games, already musing his next". Polygon. May 8, 2014. Archived from the original on June 12, 2014.
  6. "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.
  7. "Mobcast acquires Lumines and Meteos IP". Gameindustry.biz. January 27, 2015. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  8. "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.
  9. "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.
  10. "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.
  11. "Child of Eden and Lumines Devs release "Kotomon" on iOS Today". MTV. May 14, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  12. "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.
  13. "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.
  14. "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.
  15. "「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.
  16. "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.
  17. "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.
  18. "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.
  19. "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.
  20. "「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.
  21. "Lumines: Puzzle & Music review". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 23, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. Jeremy Peeples (September 4, 2016). "Review: Lumines: Puzzle & Music". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  25. 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.
  26. 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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