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Lumines FAQ
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                                  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 [email protected]. 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.

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