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The biggest additions to the game, however, are the new music video background skins. You'd think that having the video "Black Tamborine" by Beck would obstruct your puzzling, but you'd be surprised at how they blend more than distract. Sure, there may be times early on where a sudden move in the background slightly catches your eye, but you'll regain your bearings quickly enough to push on. After a few tries, the backgrounds become less of a nuisance and envelope you into the intense vibes the game emits.



The music that accompanies these skins range from American pop acts Gwen Stefani and the Black Eyed Peas to Japanese techno geniuses Mondo Grosso and Ken Ishii. Few games (much less puzzle games) make music such an instrumental part of the experience, and the tunes included in this game will surely keep you in a groove you won't soon forget.

Along with the skins, the audio and visual presentation has been anted up to astronomical heights. The graphics, while just as simple as before, are more streamlined and slick, while the themes of each level truly create a trance-like experience. Even though you'll most likely be concentrating on the puzzle action at hand, the job Q Entertainment has done with the surroundings is nothing to scoff at; they've truly improved upon every aspect of the first game.



And you thought that was enough? Well, how does a play-history feature, which monitors your performance in the game, sound? Let's not forget a Skin Play edit feature, a replay theater, and over 100 additional icons to unlock. Oh, and what about a demo to Q Entertainment's upcoming music-shooter Every Extend Extra? If you thought the replay value of the original Lumines was high, Lumines II will easily outlast it exponentially.

While the gameplay remains largely intact, the myriad of additives the game possesses will surely debunk any doubts you had of why a sequel was necessary. Few puzzle games have the style, spunk, and addictiveness of Lumines II, and its November 2006 release date is looking much too far away. Until then, take out your own copy of Lumines (or go buy it if you can), and let the game know you won't be spending too much time with it. Lumines II may very well take its place.

Preview by Seleeke Flingai.