Lumines

The Game Boy had Tetris. The Game Gear, Columns. The Nintendo DS boasted Polarium at its launch. No self-respecting new handheld system leaves the house without an amazing new puzzle game for all to hail in wonder as the greatest thing ever. If you've read anything at all about the new PSP games system then you'll have heard of Lumines. The work of Q Entertainment and Bandai, it's to be released in this part of the world by good old Ubisoft. Some deep-seated human instinct allows us to derive enormous satisfaction from bringing order to a chaotic assortment of blocks. It is the manipulation of this mysterious instinct that gives so many puzzle video games their greatness, and Lumines is no different. In this case you are dealt square after square, each containing a permutation of four squares in two colours. Sort them right (you guessed it, like colours must be placed with like), and the troublesome blocks are magicked away. The real genius of Lumines, though, is the graphical and audio rewards when you do get it right. The game uses bursts of light and music that have been specially formulated in a laboratory to push the happy buttons in your brain. The result is waves of satisfaction and happiness washing over your body as you progress in the game. The music becomes more and more intense the longer you keep going. Work your way through 24 levels each with its own sound effects and music. Various gameplay modes are featured ? predictably time attacks, and puzzle challenges. But this wouldn't be a proper PSP game without some wireless functionality and Lumines is equipped with a mulitplayer duel mode. Compete with another Luminicist and push them right off the screen in a shower of light and groovy music. And unlock new skins and avatars as you progress in game, to show off your prowess in multiplayer. Buying a PSP? You'd be a fool not to get Lumines with it.