Lumines Arise Review – Lights Will Guide You Home

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Imagine if every movement created music and beautiful designs formed light – what would the world look like? That’s the question studios like Enhance, Monstars Inc., and Tetsuya Mizuguchi constantly explore. Their game, Lumines Arise, much like Tetris Effect, is a stunning experience for all the senses. It’s a gorgeous example of synesthesia, taking the way a puzzle game looks and feels to a whole new level.

It started with two people subtly moving to the music as the stage elements slowly advanced. Then, like skeletal hands, structures began creating a web-like pattern. I recall seeing a snake and prominent spider imagery, alongside figures walking away from newly formed open spaces. The chef-themed stage was particularly memorable, evolving from fruit to vegetables, and I’m pretty sure I even spotted a lizard somewhere in there.

The game is surprisingly immersive, despite feeling like a simple concept. Each level, especially as you progress through Journey Mode and beyond, feels distinct, not just in obvious ways, but in subtle details too. The music adapts to your gameplay, changing as you succeed and even becoming distorted if you push too hard, almost reflecting the increasing pressure. The small touches – like notes following your cursor and the satisfying sound of placing blocks – are incredibly addictive, and you might not even notice how many attempts you’ve made, like when trying to beat Survival on Hard Mode.

Think of the game’s progression not as a long voyage, but as an explosion of content. Each achievement unlocks even more to explore and play. The game is broken down into several distinct areas, and within each area, you’ll advance through levels one after another.

Despite its impressive visuals, Lumines Arises truly highlights what makes the series so great: it’s incredibly fun to play. It offers a fresh and unique take on the Tetris formula, shifting the focus from simply clearing lines to something more flexible and rewarding to master. I haven’t quite mastered it myself, but the satisfaction of subconsciously fitting everything together is undeniable. It’s surprising the series went so long without a new installment, similar to what happened with Tetris before Effect. You almost wonder if this was all part of a larger plan to bring back Mizuguchi’s other brilliant puzzle game, Meteos. Probably!

From the very beginning, Lumines Arise will play a lot like Tetris Effect. You play as a Loomi, and the main goal is to free other Loomis by completing levels. Instead of traveling through space, the game progresses like the Big Bang – each completed ‘Burst’ creates more Loomis who join the action. The game features several areas, each with levels you play one after another. Blocks persist between levels, the speed steadily increases, and if you survive, you earn a high score before moving on to the next area.

Beyond the last few levels, the game consistently follows a central idea, like the concept of ‘Dissonance’. However, longtime Tetris players will be most surprised by how the gameplay works. Instead of the usual pieces, you play on a wider 16×10 grid with only 2×2 blocks, each made of four squares. If these squares are the same color, they combine into a single, larger square that disappears when a timer reaches it. If they’re different colors, you need to match them with others. The game gets really engaging when you start combining these blocks with existing squares, creating even bigger 3×3 squares that give you more points when cleared.

As a huge fan, one of the coolest things about this game is the Burst meter! It’s different from the Zone – instead of slowing down time and letting you rack up tons of combos, it focuses on building up one massive square. The board still slows, but you’re trying to make this single square as big as possible for a huge payoff. And the opposing colors turn into smaller blocks you can chain together for even more points! Like the Zone, a full Burst meter gives you the longest effect, but honestly, even having over 50% filled can be a lifesaver when you’re in a tough spot. It just won’t last quite as long, so timing is key!

The game feels great to play, and it’s so enjoyable that you’ll naturally want to get better, just to keep the momentum going. While the core gameplay is straightforward, it has a surprising amount of hidden depth that’s truly engaging.

During gameplay, special square-shaped blocks can link matching blocks across the entire board, making it easier to clear them. This can be a great strategy even if you’re not consistently creating large combinations like 2x2s or 3x3s, and it can help you clear the board completely. You can also use these blocks to your advantage by creating even bigger chains and quickly filling your Burst meter.

Although it might feel unusual at first, Lumines is still incredibly addictive. It’s easy to learn the basics, but truly mastering the game is a challenge. The satisfying visuals and enjoyable gameplay will motivate you to get better, just to keep the flow going. It’s a simple concept, but it has a surprising amount of depth that keeps you hooked.

After finishing Journey Mode, you unlock the core of Lumines: Survival Mode. This challenges you to play through all the stages consecutively – it’s the true test of skill and the way the game is meant to be played. Luckily, there are other options like Missions. These act as tutorials, teaching you different techniques and then letting you practice them with unique challenges. For instance, one mission involves clearing blocks in the center of the screen to reveal a large egg. This simple exercise teaches you how to strategically place blocks to maximize efficiency and minimize travel distance – which is harder than it sounds! There are many more difficult missions to tackle, making them a fantastic way to learn the game and master its mechanics.

Beyond the main game, you can create custom playlists of stages to play through, or compete against others online. There are also Time Attack modes of varying lengths, and a new mode called Dig Down. In Dig Down, the blocks don’t fall from the top – instead, the entire board rises, and you have to clear blocks quickly to avoid being overwhelmed. Clearing more blocks makes the board larger, giving you more room for error, but the challenge increases over time.

This game is a fantastic new addition to the series, building on everything players enjoyed in Tetris Effect. If you loved that game, you’ll definitely want to check this one out – it’s highly recommended.

You can also customize your character with Loomi-Pon, a system where you use in-game money to unlock new outfits. Compared to Tetris Effect: Connected, Lumines Arise offers fewer features and experimental modes. It also has some visibility issues – in one level, two colors blend together so much that it can be hard to play during Burst sections.

Despite a few minor flaws, Lumines Arise is still a fantastic game. It’s a worthy addition to the series and a great choice for fans of Tetris Effect. The game culminates in a hopeful message about transcendence, and like Tetris Effect, it’s more than just a puzzle game. It’s an experience that rewards you with beautiful visuals and music, even when you’re facing challenging gameplay.

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2025-11-17 22:20