Lumines II
SCORE: 70
Lumines was a pretty good puzzle game with a few minor issues. The main action in the Lumines series is two colors of a four positional box. The four small boxes inside the larger box can be different colors. The player must get a two by two section of all the same color to make them go away. The playing field is large, and fits the PSP perfectly. These blocks can be rotated around to add some intriguing play mechanics.
Enter Lumines II taking a strange direction for a puzzle game. Some of the background graphics are very classic Lumines, and others are MTV styled music videos with enticement to lust images, and violence. I am curious why the ESRB did not give this game a ‘T’ rating, since such content is well within the ‘T’ rating. I was not able to turn off these music videos that many will find offensive. The graphics change along with the song. The graphical images that offend are very distracting, and take away from the game. These graphics are very crystal clear.
The sounds in Lumines II depend on your musical tastes. Personally, I did not like the overwhelming majority of the music included. There are issues with the lyrics in some of the songs, that we know will offend many families, especially those who want their children to grow up respectful of their elders, and others. I went around the options and could not find a way to remove specific songs, or a way to add some of my own music. The sounds are all very crisp, and clear though.
Puzzle games can have almost limitless replay in them. I have always enjoyed puzzle games, and most of that has to do with generally how family friendly the genre is. I was honestly shocked at some of the images, and sounds in this game. There really is no need for such things in a puzzle game, and it takes away from what could have been a really good game. There are plenty of modes, and options, but since Lumines II does not allow the player to take out the things that they will find offensive, I can not recommend this game. This game can also be shared with others who have a PSP.
The controls in Lumines II are very quick and responsive. The design of the levels fits the Playstation Portable quite well. This is a pretty easy game to learn, and the included tutorial assists in that even more. The sounds and images that I found shocking made this game no fun to play.
It actually saddens me
that Q Entertainment included material that causes so many families so
many problems. Sexual addiction is a real problem that has shattered way
too many homes. The lyrical content, and violence were also real
problems for me. I honestly do not understand why they felt such
material was appropriate for a puzzle game. I really hope and pray that
the next game in the series can return to a safer environment for
families, or at least customizable.
- Paul
Graphics: 69%
Sound: 71%
Replay/Extras: 69%
Gameplay: 80%
Family Friendly Factor: 63%
System: Playstation Portable
Publisher: Buena Vista Games
ESRB Rating: 'E10+' for Everyone 10+
{Lyrics, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes}
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