1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789 Lumines FAQ 8MMMM MMMM :MMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM 7MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM0 MMMM MMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM @XX7r: iMMMMMM0 82XX7; iMMMM2B MMMM MMMM .............. 8MMMM8 WMMM MMMM MMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM X 0MMMMMMMMMM0 MMMMMMMM MMMM MMMM MMMM rMMMMMMSMMMMWMMMMMMS MMMMM8MMMMM MMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMi MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM S. MMMMr i08M. MMMMM MMMMM MMMMMM MMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMB aMMMMX MMMMM L U M I N E S P U Z Z L E X M U S I C By Tighting AKA John Harvey Copyright 2005 John Harvey and Vincent Bell. This FAQ may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site othen than www.gamefaqs.com or otherwise distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. **Contents** 1 Introduction 1.1 The idea of the game 1.2 Controls 1.3 Game modes 1.4 Skins 1.5 Hints and Tips 2 Detailed description of game modes, including strategies 2.1 Challenge mode 2.2 Single skin mode 2.3 Time attack mode 2.4 Puzzle mode 2.5 Vs mode 3 Extra stuff 3.1 Version history 3.2 Contact 3.3 Thanks ----- 1 Introduction ----- This is a FAQ for the game Lumines, available for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). --- 1.1 The idea of the game --- Lumines is essentially a very simple game. The aim is to place blocks onto the playing field in such a way that 4 of the same colour form a square. There are always two and only two colours in play. Since you can rotate the blocks, there are 4 possible combinations of block that may come into play. These are: (Key: # - Colour 1) ( 6 - Colour 2) 1. 2. 3. 4. ## | ## ## | 66 66 | 66 66 | ## ## | ## ## | 66 66 | 66 66 | ## ------- ------- ------- ------- ## | ## ## | ## ## | ## ## | 66 ## | ## ## | ## ## | ## ## | 66 The number above each block will be used in the puzzles section. They will be referred to as 'Block type 1/2/3/4' The postions shown above will be used as the starting positions (the positions each block has as it appears above the arena). A square is a single grid square, and will obviously consist of only one colour . A block is 4 squares, arranged in a 2x2 fashion. Note that the colours may vary depending on the skin that is in use. You will notice a line that passes accross the screen during the game. This is the Music Bar, and it is this bar that deletes the blocks. Form a square, and you will see that the bar will delete these blocks on the next pass. Once a square has been formed, but before it is deleted, other blocks of the same colour can be added (and deleted) as long as the blocks form a square. For example: ## | ## | 66 ## | ## | 66 ------------ ## | ## | ## | 66 ## | ## | ## | 66 ----------------- ## | ## | 66 | 66 ## | ## | 66 | 66 This arrangement will clear all of the # blocks. Even though 2 completely separate blocks are not formed (requiring 8 squares), it is possible to form 2 complete blocks out of the 7 # squares provided. Sometimes, you may see a square that has a dot in the middle of it. This is called an Over block. This square, when formed in a block of its colour, will cause all touching squares of the same colour to be deleted along with it. This means that you can have a long snake of single squares all linked together, and get rid of them all at once with an Over block. There is a bonus of 1000 points for only having one colour of square on the screen (the Unicolour bonus). You lose the game either when you cannot place a new block without it being off the top of the playing area, or if you run out of time. --- 1.2 Controls --- The PSP has 17 buttons, and an analogue slider. 4 d-pad directions. 4 gameplay buttons. 2 shoulder buttons. Home - opens the option of returning to the PSP's home screen. Start - pauses the game. Select - no effect. Volume +\- - alters the volume. Screen - alters the brightness of the PSP's screen. The d-pad is used to navigate menus, the circle button is used to select the currently highlightes option, and the cross button is used to go back. There are 3 control set up configurations in Lumines: -*-Configuration 1-*- D-pad: Up - No effect. Left - Move the current block to the left. Right - Move the current block to the right. Down - Accelerates the block downwards. Gameplay buttons: Triangle - Rotate the current block anti-clockwise. Square - Rotate the current block anti-clockwise. Circle - Rotate the current block clockwise. Cross - Rotate the current block clockwise. Shoulder buttons: Left - No effect. Right - No effect. -*-Configuration 2-*- D-pad: Up - No effect. Left - Move the current block to the left. Right - Move the current block to the right. Down - Accelerates the block downwards. Gameplay buttons: Triangle - Rotate the current block anti-clockwise. Square - Rotate the current block clockwise. Circle - Rotate the current block clockwise. Cross - Rotate the current block anti-clockwise. Shoulder buttons: Left - No effect. Right - No effect. -*-Configuration 3-*- D-pad: Up - No effect. Left - Move the current block to the left. Right - Move the current block to the right. Down - Accelerates the block downwards. Gameplay buttons: Triangle - No effect. Square - No effect. Circle - No effect. Cross - No effect. Shoulder buttons: Left - Rotate the current block anti-clockwise. Right - Rotate the current block clockwise. --- 1.3 Game Modes --- There are 6 different game modes in Lumines: Challenge - Aim to get a high score by passing through a number of skins. Single skin - Aim to get a high score on a single skin. Time attack - Aim to delete as many blocks as possible in a fixed time limit. Puzzle - Create certain patters out of the blocks. Vs human - Play a battle against another Human. Vs CPU - Play a battle against the computer. --- 1.4 Skins --- A skin is a combination of the music that is playing, the colour of the squares, the sound effects and the the backgorund image. Skins obtained through Challenge mode: *Shinin' (already unlocked) *Urbanization *Round about *Slipping *Shake ya Body *Square Dance *Talk 2 You *Just... *I Hear the Music in my Soul *Dark Side Beneath the River *Aback *Working in the Hole *Sister Walk *Da-Di-Do *Strangers *Holiday in Summer *Take a Dog Out a Walk *Big Elpaso *My Generation *Meguro *Spirits *Get Up and Go *Fly into the Sky *Lights Skins obtained through Puzzle mode: *45 Degrees *Prime Factor Skins obtained through Vs CPU mode: *Japanese Form *Auto Mobile Industry *Please Return my CD *The Bird Singing in the Night *Mekong *Whoop-De-Do *The Spy Loves Me * * * A character is also unlocked for each skin that you beat in Vs CPU mode. A character is obtained for beating each time in Time attack mode. Skins obtained based on game time played: *Rodent *Morning Beats --- 1.5 Hints and Tips --- (Thanks to Stan64 for this tip) A really easy way to clear blocks is to work down to a single square of either colour. If you manage to get a single square on the entire playing field, you can pretty much keep clearing blocks without worry: 1 #6 This arrangement will delete all # squares and leave you with a ## single 6 sqaure. || VV # ===== 2 #6 This arrangement will layer the squares. This can then be followed 6# up with a block as shown in figure 1. || VV # ===== 3 ## This arrangement will clear all the square, though it will take two 66 passes of the timeline to do so. || ## These blocks can also be placed in this manner. VV ## **Always drop these forms of blocks onto a level surface** 66 ## ===== ----- 2 Detailed description of game modes, including strategies ----- --- 2.1 Challenge mode --- In challenge mode you play through a skin until you have accumulated enough levels to move onto the next skin. Once you have played a skin in challenge mode, the skin will be unlocked for single skin play. The skin will be unlocked whether you pass that particular skin or not (you don't have to have beaten a skin to unlock it). Skin 1 - Shinin' Music - Shinin' by Mondo Grosso feat. Kj Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Indented Square Bar speed - 3 seconds (( Change to Skin 2 at level 4 )) Skin 2 - Urbanization Music - Urbanization Block colours - Green and white Block pattern - Indented Square Bar speed - 4 seconds (( Change to Skin 3 at level 8 )) Skin 3 - Round About Music - Round About Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Solid Square (matt) Bar speed - 4.5 seconds (( Change to Skin 4 at level 12 )) Skin 4 - Slipping Music - Slipping Block colours - White and Red Block pattern - Solid Square (matt) Bar speed - 4 seconds (( Change to Skin 5 at level 16 )) Skin 5 - Shake ya Body Music - Shake ya Body by Mondo Grosso Block colours - White and orange Block pattern - Indented square Bar speed - 4 seconds (( Change to Skin 6 at level 20 )) Skin 6 - Square Dance Music - Square Dance Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Solid square (matt) Bar speed - 4 seconds (( Change to Skin 7 at level 24 )) Skin 7 - Talk 2 You Music - Talk 2 You Block colours - White and blue Block pattern - Solid square (gemstone) Bar speed - 4 seconds (( Change to Skin 8 at level 28 )) Skin 8 - Just... Music - Just... Block colours - Red and white Block pattern - Circles (gemstone) Bar speed - 3.5 seconds (( Change to Skin 9 at level 32 )) Skin 9 - I Hear the Music in my Soul Music - I Hear the Music in my Soul by Eri Nobuchika Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Solid (matt) Bar speed - 7 seconds (( Change to Skin 10 at level 36 )) Skin 10 - Dark Side Beneath the River Music - Dark Side Beneath the River Block colours - Turquoise and white Block pattern - Solid (matt) Bar speed - 5 seconds (( Change to Skin 11 at level 40 )) Skin 11 - Aback Music - Aback Block colours - Brown and white Block pattern - Circular (gemstone) Bar speed - 5 seconds (( Change to Skin 12 at level 44 )) Skin 12 - Working in the Hole Music - Working in the Hole Block colours - Red and white Block pattern - Indented square Bar speed - 4 seconds (( Change to Skin 13 at level 48 )) Skin 13 - Sister Walk Music - Sister Walk Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Indented square Bar speed - 4.5 seconds (( Change to Skin 14 at level 52 )) Skin 14 - Da-Di-Do Music - Da-Di-Do Block colours - Red and white Block pattern - Solid (matt) Bar speed - 3.5 seconds (( Change to Skin 15 at level 56 )) Skin 15 - Strangers Music - Strangers Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Solid (matt) Bar speed - 3 seconds (( Change to Skin 16 at level 60 )) Skin 16 - Holiday in Summer Music - Holiday in Summer Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Solid bordered (matt) Bar speed - 6.5 seconds (( Change to Skin 17 at level 65 )) Skin 17 - Take a Dog Out a Walk Music - Take a Dog Out a Walk Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Solid (matt) Bar speed - 5 seconds (( Change to Skin 18 at level 70 )) Skin 18 - Big Elpaso Music - Big Elpaso Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Indented square Bar speed - 7 seconds (( Change to Skin 19 at level 75 )) Skin 19 - My Generation Music - My Generation Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Solid (matt) Bar speed - 3.5 seconds (( Change to Skin 20 at level 80 )) Skin 20 - Meguro Music - Meguro Block colours - Brown and cyan Block pattern - Circles within squares Bar speed - 6 seconds (( Change to Skin 21 at level 85 )) Skin 21 - Spirits Music - Spirits Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Solid (matt) Bar speed - 4 seconds (( Change to Skin 22 at level 90 )) Skin 22 - Get Up and Go Music - Get Up and Go Block colours - Green and white Block pattern - Indented square Bar speed - 4 seconds (( Change to Skin 23 at level 95 )) Skin 23 - Fly into the Sky Music - Fly into the Sky Block colours - Blue and white Block pattern - Indented square Bar speed - 4 seconds (( Change to Skin 24 at level 100 )) Skin 24 - Lights Music - Lights by Eri Nobuchika Block colours - Orange and white Block pattern - Indented Square Bar speed - 8 seconds --- 2.2 Single skin mode --- In single skin mode, you select a skin from the available skins, then play this skin until you cannot place a new block without it being off the top of the playing area. The strategy of single skin mod is essentially the same as for challenge mode, with the difference that you start each skin with a free playing area. --- 2.3 Time attack mode --- In time attack, you have a fixed amout of time to delete as many squares as possible. It is possible to unlock new character by getting a certian amount of deletions in each time frame. To ulock new characters in Time attack mode, 50 deletions must be made per minute. This means that the following number of deletions must me made in each time frame: 60 seconds - 50 deletions 180 seconds - 150 deletions 300 seconds - 250 deletions 600 seconds - 500 deletions --- 2.4 Puzzle mode --- Most of the puzzles have a random block pattern, but a couple (namely the Clear Alls) have a set pattern. For puzzles with a set patern, the precise order will be documented. For the others, simple solutions will be given. For each new block, follow instructions from the point it appears above the grid. All rotations are clockwise. ****Puzzle #1 : Small Cross**** http://img218.exs.cx/img218/6339/puzzle16mw.jpg ****Puzzle #2 : Small Square**** http://img218.exs.cx/img218/9250/puzzle24vf.jpg ****Puzzle #3 : Small Checker**** http://img218.exs.cx/img218/1269/puzzle36cj.jpg ****Puzzle #4 : Dog**** http://img218.exs.cx/img218/893/puzzle43zf.jpg ****Puzzle #5 : A**** http://img218.exs.cx/img218/5763/puzzle59rd.jpg ****Puzzle #6 : Giraffe**** http://img88.exs.cx/img88/562/puzzle64me.jpg ****Puzzle #7 : Alligator**** http://img151.exs.cx/img151/1020/puzzle72iv.jpg ****Puzzle #8 : Create 4x4**** http://img178.exs.cx/img178/1340/puzzle89tw.jpg ****Puzzle #9 : Smile**** http://img194.exs.cx/img194/9104/puzzle94ys.jpg ****Puzzle #10 : Horse**** http://img63.exs.cx/img63/1981/puzzle105nz.jpg ****Puzzle #16: Clear All**** (This puzzle does not have a random block pattern) Method: Block 1 > Drop. Block 2 > Rotate 3 times, move 2 squares left, drop. Block 3 > Move 1 square right, drop. Block 4 > Rotate 2 times, move 2 squares left, drop. Block 5 > Drop. Block 6 > (Wait for current blocks to clear) Move 1 square left, drop Remeber not to drop the next block before the All Clear has happened. //Lowest possible time: 8 seconds.\\ ****Puzzle #42: Clear All x2**** (This puzzle does not have a random block pattern) Method: Block 1 > Drop. Block 2 > Rotate 3 times, move 2 squares left, drop. Block 3 > Move 1 square right, drop. Block 4 > Rotate 2 times, move 2 squares left, drop. Block 5 > Drop. Block 6 > (Wait for current blocks to clear) Move 1 square left, drop Remeber not to drop the next block before the All Clear has happened. Block 7 > Drop. Block 8 > Move 1 square right, drop. Block 9 > Rotate once, move 2 square right, drop. Block 10 > (Wait for current blocks to clear) Move 1 square right, drop. Block 11 > Rotate 3 times, move 1 square right, drop. Block 12 > (Wait for current blocks to clear) Block 13 > Move 2 squares right, drop. //Lowest possible time: 22 seconds.\\ --- 2.5 Vs mode --- There are 2 types of Vs mode available: Vs CPU - Play against computer-controlled characters. By beating a character, you will unlock their skin and character portrait. Vs human - Play against another human over the PSP's wireless link. When playing in versus mode, both characters play in the same area. There is a bar that splits the arena in two, and this bar moves back and forth across the screen, depending on who is winning the match. The bar will move in your favour (towards the opposing player) if you have more deletions that the other player for that single pass of the music bar. Should the number of deletions be the same, the bar will not move. There are 10 skins / characters availabe from Vs CPU mode: Skin 1 - Japanese Form Music - Japanese From Block colour - Red and white Block pattern - Solid (matt) Bar speed - 6 seconds Notes - This should be a fairly easy battle. The computer isn't very fast at placing blocks, and the relatively slow bar speed should give you enough time to create a large enough combo to win the pass. Skin 2 - Auto Mobile Industry Music - Auto Mobile Industry Block colour - Orange and blue Block pattern - Striped square Bar speed - 4.5 seconds Notes - The pace is picked up slightly here, and the computer is more aggressive. It will tend to place blocks faster, and get more deltions. Skin 3 - Please Return my CD Music - Please Return my CD Block colour - Black and white Block pattern - Square with dotted border. Bar speed - 4 seconds Notes - This battle seems to cause a lot of problems, because of the block colours. People report having difficulty seeing the white blocks against the white background. My only advice is to look carefully. Once you get the hang of this skin, it's not really too hard. Skin 4 - The Bird Singing in the Night Music - The Bird Singing in the Night Block colour - Yelow and blue Block pattern - Cheese square Bar speed - 4.5 seconds Notes - This CPU player is very quick at placing blocks, and therefore moves the bar very quickly. YOu have to stay on your toes and rack up decent combos to beat this character. Skin 5 - Mekong Music - Mekong Block colour - Yellow and Blue Block pattern - Squates (with little bats) Bar speed - Notes - Skin 6 - Whoop-De-Do Music - Whoop-De-Do Block colour - Black and yellow Block pattern - Little leaves?? Bar speed - Notes - Skin 7 - The Sky Loves Me Music - The Sky Loves Me Block colour - Orange and white Block pattern - Solid (matt) Bar speed - Notes - ----- 3 Extra stuff ----- --- 3.1 Version history --- Version 0.25, 17/02/2005 - Started writing FAQ, have mane sections outlined, and have begun writing a comprehensive guide for Puzzle Mode. Version 0.5, 23/02/2005 - Complete skin listing for Challenge mode, information on all challenge mode skins. Begun work on Vs CPU mode. Version 0.6, 24/03/2005 - Added Hints and Tips section, corrected minor mistakes. --- 3.2 Contact --- If you have any questions, suggestions or impressions, please feel free to email me at tightning@gmail.com. Please give the email the subject of 'Lumines' however, otherwise it may be overlooked. --- 3.3 Thanks --- Vince, for being arsed to play this when I couldn't . Actually, Vince contributed to this FAQ at least as much, if not more than me. JustChillin, for pointing out that characters are obtained from Time attack mode, rather than skins. VismundCygnus, for helping out. Stan64, for loads of stuff including his strategy, without which I wouldn't be half as far through the game as I am now. GameFAQs, for hosting this FAQ.