Back when the PSP launched in 2005, one game stuck out the most amongst a crop of uninspired PS2 ports. From the same crew responsible for cult hits Rez and Space Channel 5, Lumines was a music-based puzzler that had all the right elements: it was extremely easy to learn and extremely addicting once you got going. The game received a straight sequel as well as a version on the Xbox Live Arcade, and is now available on the PS2.

Lumines Plus is essentially a port of the original PSP game, albeit with some new skins and songs. The gameplay and some of the skins have been largely unchanged, meaning that fans of the original PSP game might think twice before reinvesting in this title. However, if you’re new to the game and missed it the first time around, Lumines Plus is a solid puzzle game that’s fun and extremely addicting.

For those unfamiliar with the series, Lumines is a pretty simple puzzler to understand. Squares split into quadrants of four and composed of two different colors fall from the top of the screen one at a time, requiring you to pair up them up to make a solid colored square. You can make a few variations on the color matching, getting combos for adding more same colored blocks to the mix and racking up more points.

The thing that really sets Lumines apart from the rest of the puzzle pack is the music. A line will move across the screen with the tempo of the music. This line is what clears away your matched blocks, sometimes moving really fast and other times moving far too slow (which can be just as sticky). Rotating the blocks will also make reaction sounds in line with the music, adding to the overall fluidness of the presentation.

Unfortunately, when compared to other entries to the Lumines franchise, Plus falls a little short on the feature set. The game has the challenge mode featured in other entries, where the game will string together a series of skins and songs allowing you to unlock them as you stay in the game and play them in the Single Skin Mode. There’s also a time attack mode where you must complete a certain amount of blocks in a set amount of time, and a puzzle mode where you have to create shapes out of blocks. There’s also a split-screen versus mode for two-players to face off on the same system.

However, the game doesn’t offer the huge feature set of Lumines II or the online play of Lumines Live. Compared to more contemporary fare in the series, Lumines Plus feels pretty barebones. With all the progress the series has made since it’s inception, this is particularly disheartening, especially when you realize that this is the only Lumines game in town for PS2 owners.

Graphically, the game looks decent, but doesn’t have the same sense of flair as the other games. It lacks the luster of the PSP version, which made beautiful use of the system’s attractive screen, and while it may be an Xbox Live Arcade game, Lumines Live at least benefited from the boost to high-def. Lumines Plus on the PS2 just seems kind of plain in comparison.

Fortunately, the game’s sound presentation is still tops, which is especially good considering the crucial role that music plays in the gameplay formula. Many of the songs have been recycled from the first game, but some of the new songs added are within the game’s theme and sound great.

Lumines Plus is a solid PS2 puzzler, and while it doesn’t have many of the bells and whistles of other entries in the series, is still worthy if you missed out until now. However, if you’ve been a Lumines fan in the past, you might want to think twice before making the plunge.

Gameplay: 7.5
Simple to learn yet extremely addictive, Lumines Plus offers engaging puzzling and great music elements. The feature set is pretty light, however.

Graphics: 7.0
A decent looking puzzler that gets the job done, but unfortunately one that doesn’t hold up as well as other entries of the series on other systems.

Sound: 8.5
Great music and sound cues that are essential to the gameplay.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 6.5
Little more than a straight port of the first game on the PSP, Lumines Plus may not warrant a second look from players who got their fill of the original.

Multiplayer: 6.5
Versus mode is a fun enough experience, but the lack of online really hurts the replay value.

Overall: 7.5
Lumines Plus is a solid puzzle game for PS2 owners and certainly worth a look if the PS2 is the only viable system that you own. Unfortunately, those with PSPs will likely want to check out Lumines II instead.