Lumines Supernova
Fourth Lumines entry adds DigDown mode and Sequencer.
Lumines Supernova is a puzzle video game and the fourth main entry in the Lumines series, developed and published by Q Entertainment with series creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi as designer and Katsumi Yokota as director. Released on the PlayStation Network in December 2008 for Japan and North America, it was received positively by reviewers and appeared on several top-rated lists.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Q Entertainment
- Director
- Katsumi Yokota
- Designer
- Tetsuya Mizuguchi
- Series
- Lumines
- Released
- December 18, 2008 (JP)
- December 23, 2008 (NA)
- February 5, 2009 (PAL)
- Genre
- Puzzle
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Lumines Supernova's gameplay remains largely the same as earlier Lumines titles with new features. Players rotate and move 2×2 blocks of two colors onto a 16×10 playing field to form same-colored squares of 2×2 or larger. A vertical "Time Line" sweeps left to right, erasing completed squares and awarding points; the game ends when blocks reach the top. Core modes return: Challenge mode, where players unlock skins by progressing through levels; Time Attack mode, which tasks players with clearing as many squares as possible within a time limit; and Puzzle mode, requiring specific shapes to be built. Features from Lumines Live! and Lumines II return, including Skin Edit mode, which lets players create a playlist of unlocked skins, and Mission mode, which sets specific tasks. The Sequencer from Lumines II, absent in Lumines Live!, returns, allowing players to create original background music and sound effects from four base music types, saving up to 20 sequences per base. Up to four skins can be ported into Skin Edit mode, including Sackboys and Sackgirls from LittleBigPlanet. New to Supernova is DigDown Mode, a timed mode where the field is pre-filled with blocks and the player must dig to the bottom by forming colored squares. A stage clears when two adjacent columns are emptied, then a new stage begins with fresh blocks; block speed and field density increase after each cleared stage.
Development and release
Lumines Supernova was developed by Q Entertainment, directed by Katsumi Yokota and produced by Tetsuya Mizuguchi. Yokota focused on development between May and September 2008. As with Lumines II and Lumines Live!, skin graphics were produced before the songs. During development, Nakamura added more female vocal samples and samples of his own voice. The game was announced on September 4, 2008, and released on PlayStation Network in Japan on December 18, 2008, and in North America five days later. Promotional hat and shirt items were released in PlayStation Home. Two DLC packages followed: the "Classic Pack" (20 skins from previous Lumines titles) released in North America in February 2009 and Japan in March 2009; and the "Winter Holiday Pack", originally limited-time, later bundled with the Classic Pack in Japan on October 15, 2009, and standalone in North America on October 22, 2009.
Reception
Lumines Supernova received "favorable" reviews according to Metacritic. Reviewers commonly praised the DigDown mode and Sequencer. Greg Miller of IGN commended DigDown mode for its challenge; PlayStation Official Magazine – UK's Jonti Davies also praised it but noted the 20 levels were short. Michael McWhertor of Kotaku appreciated both additions for offering new perspectives on the gameplay. GameSpot's Mitch Dyer found DigDown mode a nice change of pace though not as enjoyable as the main game. Christian Donlan of Eurogamer enjoyed it for about an hour but felt it lacked replay value after completion. The absence of online multiplayer and new features drew criticism. Miller criticized recycled content and wished for more originality; while acknowledging online leaderboards and stat tracking, he preferred online multiplayer. Dyer found the lack of online multiplayer disappointing though not vital. Jeff Gerstmann of Giant Bomb did not consider the loss significant, as he had not enjoyed it in Lumines Live!. IGN listed the game in its Top 25 PlayStation Games and Top 10 PlayStation Network Exclusive Games, and it was runner-up for Game of the Month for December 2008. Playmania ranked it fourth on its seven most favorite puzzle games. Game Informer recommended it, noting it compiled the best features from its predecessor and added a new mode.
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