Lumines Live!

Lumines Live!
Developer(s)	Q Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Microsoft Studios
Designer(s)	Tetsuya Mizuguchi
Series	Lumines
Platform(s)	Xbox 360
Release	EU: October 18, 2006 NA: January 24, 2007 JP: March 7, 2007
Genre(s)	Puzzle
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer

Lumines Live! (ルミネス ライブ!, Ruminesu Raibu!) is a puzzle game developed by Q Entertainment and is the third entry in the Lumines series. Objective of the games is to survive by rotating and aligning 2x2 blocks varying between to colors to form 2x2 squares of the single color in order for the Time Line to erase them when it passes over them. The game is lost when the blocks reach the top the playing field. All the modes from the previous game return with new modes introduced in Lumines II.

The game was released on October 18, 2006, in Europe and later released on January 24, 2007, for North America and March 7, 2007, for Japan. The game also received several DLC packages between January 24, 2007, to October 17, 2007.

The game received mixed reviews from critics with some critics praising the new features but also had received complaints for the amount of content the base game had and pricing.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Lumines Live! is the same as the original Lumines: Puzzle Fusion with newly added features that were also implemented in Lumines II. The objective of the game is still to rotate and move blocks and form 2x2 of the same color (referred to as a colored square). Once the Time Line sweeps over the colored squares, they will be eliminated and points will be added to the player's overall score. Deleting four or more squares will add a bonus multiplier to the player's overall score. If the blocks reach the top of the board, the player loses the game. All the modes from the original game return: Challenge Mode, Time Attack, Puzzle, VS CPU, 2P VS Mode (renamed Duel Mode). Challenge mode has been modified and expanded to four classes: B, A, S, and Enduro. Class B is for beginners, Class A is for intermediate players, and Class S is for advanced players. These classes can be played up to three full laps. Enduro class uses all the skins and has no time limit. Enduro can only be unlocked after completing at least one lap of the first three classes. Time Attack adds a new feature that allows players to record and save their playthrough to be viewed in the Replay Theater.

Two new modes introduced in Lumines II were also implemented in Lumines Live!: Mission Mode and Skin Edit Mode. In Mission Mode, players are tasked to solve specific missions. In Skin Edit Mode, players can create their own custom playlist using skins previously unlocked in Challenge mode. Skin Edit Mode is divided into two settings: Single Lap and Endless Lap. In Single Lap, players can select up to ten skins and compete for the top score. In Endless Lap, players can select as many skins as they like and can play endlessly without a time limit.

Development and release

Lumines Live! was developed alongside two other titles: Lumines Plus and Lumines II. For Lumines Live!, Mizuguchi developed the game with the concept of customizing music and choosing and downloading new songs. The goal of the game was to use everything that was happening during the time and make it available through DLC. Mizuguchi compared the game to TV channel where they feed what the next thing will be.^[1] Originally development of Lumines: Puzzle Fusion, audio had to be completed before finalizing the skin's design. Yokota decided to do a different approach with Lumines II and Lumines Live!. Instead, skin designs took priority in order to provide more concrete suggestions for the audio. Yokota stated this made greater variation possible for the music tracks.^[2]

A total of six downloadable content packages and two individual skins were released for Lumines Live!. The first three DLC packages were released on January 24, 2007. The first DLC package titled, "Puzzle/Mission Pack" contains 90 additional puzzles and 40 additional missions.^[3] The second DLC package titled, "Advance Challenge Pack" contains 20 additional skins.^[4] The third DLC package titled, "VS CPU Pack" contains 9 additional opponents with their own skin and avatar. If players defeat all 9 opponents, an additional skin is unlocked.^[5] The fourth and fifth DLC packages were released on June 27, 2007. the fourth DLC package titled "Tokyo Club Mix Package" contained skins in collaboration with DJ Sugiurumn, Techriders, DJ Malo, and Genki Rockets.^[6] The fifth DLC package titled "Booster Pack" contains 20 skins with one skin based Takagi Masakatsu's "Bloomy Girl" song.^[7] The sixth DLC package titled, "Rockin' Holiday Pack" was released on September 24, 2007 and contains 20 additional skins based on Rez, Every Extend Extra Extreme, and previous Lumines titles.^[8] Two individual skins were released on October 17, 2007 as DLC. The first is the Heavenly Star skin previously in Lumines II and the second is the Breeze skin. Both skins are named and based on songs from Tetsuya Mizuguchi's band, Genki Rockets^[9][10]

The game was received a physical release by Atari as a compilation alongside Rez HD and Every Extend Extra Extreme, titled Qubed. The Qubed compilation also contains all the DLC with the exception of the Booster Pack and Tokyo Club Mix Pack, however, these can be downloaded separately.^[11] The compilation was released on September 19, 2009.^[12]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score Aggregator Score Metacritic 77/100[13] Review scores Publication Score Eurogamer 7 / 10[14] GameSpot 6.6 / 10[15] GamesRadar+ [16] IGN 7.8 / 10[17] OXM (US) 8.5 / 10[18] OXM (UK) 7 / 10[19]

Lumines Live! was received mix to positive by critics. The game received an aggregated score of 77 out of 100 based on 24 reviews. Critics praised the new features and updated visuals from the original but criticized negatively towards the DLC and the amount of content in the base game.^[13] Eurogamer gave high regard to Skin Edit Mode, which helped previous players who weren't enjoying starting back to the beginning in Challenge Mode.^[14] GameSpot also praised the visuals and audio, stating they are better than the original game.^[15] IGN in particular praised the loading times were smaller from the original game.^[17]

When it came to the amount of content the base game contains and pricing, the majority of critics gave negative thoughts. Eurogamer stated both lack of quality songs and base content was one of the missteps taken with the game.^[14] IGN commented, "We wouldn't be so sore if we knew exactly what we were getting and what extra packs would cost more money." IGN Further emphasized that the base game isn't the full version and labeled it "Lumines Light"^[17] Official Xbox Magazine UK stated, "We'd rather pay a higher price and get the game proper than being told we'll have to shell out for at least two more packs upon purchase."^[19] GameSpot was the most critical and found it offensive due to the base game charging full price.^[15] Official Xbox Magazine US noted similar issues that previous critics have made, but still praised the game despite the DLC and base game content, stating, "You might want to resist, and you might mind coughing up the extra change, but you're bound to be hopelessly and happily addicted to what is truly a great puzzler."^[18]

In response to the criticism, Mizuguchi stated DLC is an unavoidable trend that cannot be stopped from going towards that direction.^[20]

References