Lumines is a modern, fast moving puzzle game that becomes an addiction straight away...
Challenge mode is all about unlocking new skins. As you advance to a new skin, you unlock that skin for Single skin mode where you can select the skin to play on. Challenge mode is exactly what it says on the tin. You advance through levels and they get harder as you do so. Single skin mode is where you can choose from any of your unlocked skins to play the game. However, you'll always stay on that skin until the game ends. Puzzle mode is where you have a time limit to create a certain image from your squares. These include a giraffe, a cross and a dog!
There are also time limit modes where you have to delete and clear as many squares as you possibly can. This also can unlock new skins. The most challenging gameplay however would be the Versus mode. You can choose online play to battle with an online opponent or choose the computer to battle with and again unlock new skins and character logos. This is challenging because there's a line in the middle of the screen which moves towards the losing opponent. If you are clearing more squares than your opponent, the line will move towards your opponents side to give them less space. This is very cleverly done!
The controls of Lumines are extremely easy and you grasp them within 15 minutes of gameplay - at maximum. The game also may look complicated at first (I have to admit I thought it was a little confusing) but once you start the game you get used to the rules and how the game works. While playing Lumines, the screen is set out really well to give you level statistics and even upcoming blocks. The loading times of Lumines are also extremely fast, only lasting a few mear seconds. All the skins are different and have unique styles which are truely amazing to look at as well as soundtracks which are awesome to listen to. Sound effects are also thrown in, making the game exceptionally entertaining.
All in all Lumines is one of the most modern but genius puzzles ever released. You'll be continuely gripped by it's circumstance and definetely find yourself coming back to it, over and over and over again. Lumines is officially the PSP puzzle king, and will remain with that title for many years to come... many years...