Lumines: Puzzle Fusion[a] (pronounced as "Loo-min-ess")[1] is a 2004 puzzle game developed by Q Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). During the game, players must strategically arrange falling 2×2 blocks comprising two colors to form single-color 2×2 squares. A vertical "time line" sweeps across the field, erases completed squares, and awards points. Each stage features a unique skin that influences the background, block colors, accompanying music, and the time line's speed.
Lumines: Puzzle Fusion is the work of video game designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi, who had worked at Sega. Katsumi Yokota contributed to the graphic designer and assisted Takayuki Nakamura with music composition. Initially, Mizuguchi envisioned creating a music-heavy game inspired by Tetris. However, due to licensing challenges, he decided to develop a game based on a new concept. Mizuguchi's inspiration for creating a music game on the PSP stemmed from the console's headphone jack—a rare feature among handheld game consoles. Bandai published the game in Japan as a launch title for the PSP on December 12, 2004. It subsequently was published by Ubisoft in North America on March 23, 2005, and Europe on September 1, 2005. The game was ported for mobile phones, Microsoft Windows, and the PlayStation 2 (PS2); a high-definition remaster was made for the PlayStation 4 (PS4), the Nintendo Switch, the Xbox One, Windows, and Amazon Luna.
Lumines: Puzzle Fusion was a commercial success, selling over half a million copies across North America, Europe, and Japan. It was also named "Best Handheld Game of 2005" by the Spike TV Video Game Awards, GameSpot, and Electronic Gaming Monthly. Several publications recognized it as one of the top games of 2005 and one of the best-ever launch titles. Critics praised the game for its innovative combination of music and gameplay, often describing it as addictive, and many favorably compared the game to Tetris. The game's various ports have received mixed reviews. The mobile phone version, for instance, was lauded for introducing new features, but it was criticized for poor sound quality. Similarly, the PS2 port was critiqued for omitting some tracks from the original release. While the remastered version was praised for its enhanced sound and visual quality, some reviewers expressed disappointment over the lack of new features, such as an online multiplayer mode.
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