The members of the Shacknews team enjoy discussing a variety of topics amongst themselves. Occasionally, they’ll discuss Enhance and their remarkable productivity. Be it Tetris Effect (now known as Tetris Effect: Connected), Humanity, or even reaching back to Rez Infinite, there seems to be general agreement that this team rarely disappoints. This appears to hold true once more, as suggested by Lumines Arise‘s showing at Summer Game Fest. Over the past weekend, Shacknews had a chance to examine Enhance’s latest offering.
In terms of appearance, Lumines Arise draws inspiration from its forerunner, Tetris Effect. The visual aesthetic is captivating and the transitions are so smooth they evoke a sense of comfort. The skins on the blocks are consistently easy on the eyes, even when they’re not quite what you’d expect. For instance, I found myself placing bubbles or glowing blocks one moment, and PC fans the next – it was an unusual touch, but surprisingly enjoyable.
In simple terms, I found it easy to unwind playing this game, even though I wasn’t fully familiar with its mechanics. I’m quite skilled at Tetris, but Lumines is a different story for me. However, the tutorial made it a breeze to grasp the basics in just a few minutes. The goal, for those who haven’t played Enhance’s classic on PSP, is to form 2×2 squares of identical blocks and wait for a vertical line to pass through and erase them, freeing up space on the grid. In the new version, Arise, there’s a Burst effect that lets players stack their blocks together to create large cubes, which can reach into the twenties, thirties, and beyond.
One key distinction between Lumines Arise and Tetris Effect might lie in their soundtracks. Although a recent PlayStation State of Play trailer doesn’t immediately suggest this difference, I was informed during a short demo that the developers are aiming for a more meditative and reflective approach with Tetris Effect’s music, while Lumines Arise’s soundtrack aspires to be more intense. This contrast became apparent during the demo’s final stage, where the rhythmic house/EDM tunes had me nodding my head vigorously. The ambiance was heightened by the appearance of stoic chameleons on the screen, who seemed to dance along with the beat by bobbing their heads and flicking their tongues. To enhance the pulsating experience even more, the stage would respond dynamically to block drops and successful square clears.
To fully appreciate the distinct musical styles between Lumines Arise and Tetris Effect, I’ll need to delve deeper into both games. However, I’m confident that the soundtrack of this new game will be another masterpiece, given Enhance’s talented in-house music team at Hydelic. If there is a noticeable difference, it will be particularly noteworthy since Hydelic has been responsible for both soundtracks. To enhance the musical aspect of Lumines Arise, a Playlist feature will be included after its release, allowing players to customize their favorite stages and tracks.
Although I personally enjoyed Lumines Arise in its traditional format during my demo time, it’s worth considering this game as a strong contender for virtual reality platforms. Despite my susceptibility to VR motion sickness, I recall playing Tetris Effect at E3 2018 and feeling like Enhance had addressed many of those issues effectively enough that I left the event eager to get a VR headset. With advancements in VR hardware and development over the past seven years, Lumines Arise could represent a groundbreaking achievement for PlayStation VR2.
Regardless of whether it’s the conventional version or a virtual reality experience, it appears that Enhance is yet again hitting the mark. Lumines Arise will be released this fall on both PC and PlayStation 5, offering optional compatibility with PlayStation VR2 and Steam VR.
Play Days. Keep in mind that the finished product may still undergo changes.
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2025-06-11 23:27