... well, it's a revival for me at least. Since I sold my PSP and all my games last year, the only thing I miss on occasion is picking up Lumines and playing a quick round or two (or a loooong round or two). Fortunately for me, Lumines is now on the PS2 in the form of Lumines Plus, a really good port of the original PSP game, plus some extra skins from Lumines II (and supposedly some all new ones).

First, the good. It plays just like Lumines on the PSP. Challenge Mode, Puzzle Mode, Single Skin Mode, VS Mode... it's all here. It's important to mention that the one thing that I do not like about the game is that it takes longer for the songs to load between skins. It was fairly smooth on the PSP, but on the PS2 there are times where the entire game goes silent for a few seconds while the next song loads.

But aside from that one technical hiccup, Lumines Plus is faithful to the original game with a twist in the form of new skins, none of which are crappy American licensed songs (thankfully!). "Shinin'" is still in there, though, but that's fine with me. I never played Lumines II, so I can't comment if any of the skins I've seen that weren't in the first game are from Lumines II or if they're all new skins, but they fit right in with the more wacky side of the compositions; the three I have heard are a piano jam, some Irish pub sounding music and... something really weird with ugly yellow and red tiles.

I wouldn't recommend getting this if you already have the PSP version, but I would recommend it for PS2 owners who want to check out a really great puzzle game. $19.99 is a damn good price for the loads of PUZZLE x MUSIC gameplay on the disc.

Yeah, Lumines I and II are the only things I've REALLY enjoyed on the PSP.
I haven't picked up the PS2 port yet, but probably will at some point.

Wondering of the JAP vesion of Lumines 2 has any different songs from the US version, being I saw an auction on JYA which had a bonus CD included, called "Techriders Exclusive Tracks for Lumines II"...

There are few puzzle games I like (sorry, just not my bag), so I won't be getting it, but in case anyone cares, Lumines Plus is on sale at Circuit City for $14.99 this week.

Apparently the JP version of Lumines 2 has fewer licensed tracks. Weirdly, it doesn't seem to have added any JP exclusives, which I thought it was reported it would. Black Eyed Peas, unfortunately, are still intact.

$15 is tempting...the only problem I have with Lumines (I love the concept, based on the flash games I've played, but I haven't played the original) is that it pretty much requires you listen to it. That may be an odd thing to say in a VGM forum, but once I've heard the music and am doing something that is same old same old (which pretty much defines a puzzle game), I like to turn the volume off and listen to my own music -- not because the music is bad, but because I just have SO much to listen to...

-Joshua

My wife plays Lumines with the sound off and she's way better at it than I am. I think it's criminal to play it without the music but it can be done without any consequences to the gameplay.

In related Q-Entertainment news, I picked up Meteos: Disney Magic the other day.  I tore through the entirety of Easy mode and about half of Normal, and so far, I'm largely unimpressed.  It's just about the same as the original Meteos, but with Disney skins, of course.... and decidedly lackluster 'arrangements' of various Disney pieces.  The music was something I was hoping they'd nail right, and it was one of the main reasons I was looking forward to the game.  But it turns out that they're loose intepretations.... like just the rhythm portions of themes - and gameplay doesn't even affect the way the music plays this time around.  Very dull.

Playing with the DS on its side proves to be more burdensome than advantageous, as the frenetic movement with the stylus makes it uncomfortable to hold after even just a little while.    The book-style positioning is obviously better suited for games like Brain Age and Hotel Dusk, where progress is slower and more steadier. 

The ability to move blocks horizontally does add an extra depth to the gameplay.  It makes it easier to connect combos, but the gameplay itself is still as such that it's all happening so quickly and rush-rush that you almost have no choice but to resort to random block sliding.  Dunno....maybe I'm just weaksauce at the game, but I still say that this is a major design flaw that's carried over from the original Meteos.   

In either case, given the choice between the original and Disney Magic, I'd say stick with the original.  It's about better in every way.

Oddly, most people on the GFaqs forum for that game that actually played it (rather than the idiots who badmouthed it even before we had any info, because "it's Disney") seem to give it a positive impression.

-Joshua

CC wanted $19.99 for it :-(

So I decided to just go and buy from Amazon with Portrait of Ruin ($20.99, free shipping with both together).

-Joshua