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[tetsuoxb]

It seems that some people are starting to get towards high level play on Lumines (150k+), so I wanted to compare strategies for the game. I posted this on Tokyopia as a request, but I think it belongs here as well:

Alright, some ProTips

1) The most obvious way to make a square is not always the best way to make a square. If you are using a 3-1 color block, quickly think about how it would fit into the larger picture at all orientations. Vertical, Horizontal, and even diagonal. Occasionally you can start chaining diagonals along and then have a pretty monster horizontal combo extending across the screen. This is different from the tetris mindset, and one you must grasp.

2) Dont focus too much on one part of the screen. spread it all out.

3) Dont rush, it isnt worth it often times. Ive found songs seem to be getting slower to me. Often times Lumines can be zerosum... your race against the timeline will clear alot of blocks, but the left overs leave you in a similar situation. I try to make it a rule that a block should almost never be used to clear only one square. Contrary to popular belief, thought > speed in lumines.

4) Layering. If you can layer and make sure that each block shares a face side with another block of the same color (ala Go) then your success with the special blocks will be much greater.

5) Never drop a special block before the timeline has reached its position. If you drop it before, and have successfully created a large chain, then you will only get half credit. Another example of when it is a good idea to wait.

6) Try to visualize large areas of color distribution. When placing blocks, think about how the area will open up for new colors after your current clear. If you have properly layered, you will most likely be able to clear large areas very very quickly and get back to a safer position.

hopefully this helps.

 

[tetsuoxb]

Oh. If you want a glimpse at the later levels of the game, here is my save game file:

http://www.technolustomega.net/tetsuoxb/lumines.zip

Remember to back up your own file as well.

Features:

Challenge Mode: 20 skins unlocked
Bonus Skin: Rodent unlocked
Puzzle mode: 4X4 unlocked
VS CPU: 4 skins unlocked

 

[mashoutposse]

My main strategy right now is just to ensure that I 1) avoid "checkboard" patterns, 2) ensure that there are always at least one pair of same-colored adjacent blocks on the top layer (always seems to save my ass).

I've only been playing for about three hours total (only 32k high score), so I expect to subconciously learn and adopt your strategies with more playtime.

Oh. If you want a glimpse at the later levels of the game, here is my save game file:

http://www.technolustomega.net/tetsuoxb/lumines.zip

Remember to back up your own file as well.

Features:

Challenge Mode: 20 skins unlocked
Bonus Skin: Rodent unlocked
Puzzle mode: 4X4 unlocked
VS CPU: 4 skins unlocked

Damn bro, has Lumines ever left your PSP since you got it?

 

[tetsuoxb]

haha.. not really. ive been playing mingol yesterday, because i wanted a break after busting 220k.... but im pretty sure im going to go back to the game soon.

in some of the screenshots the q-entertainment people have posted, there are 350k+ high scores... that is my new goal.

 

[mashoutposse]

haha.. not really. ive been playing mingol yesterday, because i wanted a break after busting 220k...

...Whoa.

Does the game actually become demonstrably more difficult as you go, or is it more being able to remain disciplined for the 90 minutes it takes to put a game like that together?

 

[tetsuoxb]

both.

 

[drohne]

damn. i've gotten stuck at 50-60k. i guess the trick must be to visualize the way blocks come together. i'm not so good at that yet. it's definitely good to put together strings of color, even if you can't immediately clear anything...tends to lead to chains. that you score specifically by putting together concolorous squares, rather than just assembling shapes or just putting together colors, makes it more subtle than most such puzzle games. and of course the music and synaesthetic effects are sublime.

 

[Troidal]

I am stuck at 50-60k as well :-/

 

[chespace]

Man, and I was jumping for joy just breaking 33k today. I must be a real retard.

I'm improving, yes, but not fast enough!

edit: okay, n/m, I just got 66k....

 

[TTP]

wtf. i suck. 41k here.

 

[fugimax]

I didn't even notice you had a score..

Too intense to look anywhere but the playing field.

What exactly IS the point of each stage? I've cleared 4-5, but is it after you score so many points, or after the song's set time is up?

 

[tetsuoxb]

both. if you dont score points the game will loop on a track for some unspecified amount of time (ive never encountered the limit...) but you can also progress faster through a song by scoring high via combos.

 

[fugimax]

Is there a score you need to reach for the song given anywhere? Or is it something static like 15k pts?

 

[fugimax]

45306, yay

 

[Troidal]

Challenge mode pointers:

-Beware of the color change! For example, when changing from "Round About" (Orange/White) to "Slipping" (White/Red), your color perception will feel distorted, you will feel this especially for the first time. Try pausing and adjust to the new colors. There are other moments this happens, beware!

-A different strategy from Tetsuoxb's #2: You can instead concentrate on piling up the blocks either to the left or right edges and eventually work your way to the rest. Also, when blocks are stacked up too high, I focus on just clearing either side and then try to work my way onto the stacked areas. Saved my ass a lot of times just doing this.

-A different strategy from Tetsuoxb's #3: Drop the blocks fast, real FAST. Especially in the earlier songs. The faster you erase - preferrably with combos - the song feels like they pass by much faster. I do this early on and my blocks are still quite low, and I catch on to the 5th-6th song already. Good to do this particularly if you are aiming to go further.

-When your block is getting pretty stacked up: "I Hear The Music In My Soul", is your chance to erase as many blocks as you can since the timeline moves VERY slow. And drop them as fast as you can, but don't be too greedy either or you'd be stacking them too high! "Holiday In The Summer" and "El Paso" are also another good opportunities to do the same.

-When a certain area of blocks are too high: erasing the lower blocks doesn't always work (...of course it depends how you stacked them). My strategy, although risky at times, is to pile up the block to that height but make sure you can erase most of them.

I haven't really touched Puzzle or VS much. They are pretty tough :-/

 

[Atari2600]

What's the gist of the puzzle mode? I'm trying the cross and I just keep failing. I'm doing ok, in challenge mode - I've played about 15 games, and I'm around 35k when I'm doing well.

On a side note, I'm just not digging the music. It's just not my style. I am not slamming anyone that likes it, but I think it's a very acquired taste, and I can't see them keeping it the same for a North American release.

Ok, back to the puzzle mode question.

 

[duckroll]

What's the gist of the puzzle mode? I'm trying the cross and I just keep failing. I'm doing ok, in challenge mode - I've played about 15 games, and I'm around 35k when I'm doing well.

On a side note, I'm just not digging the music. It's just not my style. I am not slamming anyone that likes it, but I think it's a very acquired taste, and I can't see them keeping it the same for a North American release.

Ok, back to the puzzle mode question.

For puzzle mode you have to create the exact shape with either of the 2 colors without any block of the same color you're using to create the shape touching the shape itself. The other color touching the shape is fine, but you can't have any of the same color touching the shape you're creating because that makes it another shape.

As for the music, I guess it's not for everyone but with 44 different tracks, I hope you find something you like in there. Just keep playing.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

One more strategy, when dropping the special block, do it right after (like RIGHT AFTER) the timeline passes the postion where you'll drop the block, it'll cause all the same coloured blocks past the timeline to dissapear (causing the opposite blocks to fall and create more combos). Then the timeline will pass with the special block still intact...so you'll get rid of all the special blocks AND the combos for the opposite colour blocks in one pass.

Also, at the start of the match try real hard to keep same colours together vertically (as much as possible). On many occasions, cause of good placement from the start, I was able to get 20-30,000 point bonusses for having a clear field (10,000 points for each time) plus you get 10,000 points for everything being the same colour. Which isn't that hard if you place the pieces well right at the start. This is the best time to start off with a good base score, it'll help you final score tremendously.

 

[newsguy]

I finally broke 90,000 and I found the secret to getting far. In the other strategy thread someone mentions the 3 block strategy (most of the blocks I get are 3 blocks of 1 color and 1 block of the other). This is very simple, but with practice you can perfect it and keep the blocks very low for long periods of time. Since I'm slow and I can never understand these
xx diagrams, I came up with one of my own.
xo

 

[Jonnyram]

My tip:
If your game plan goes to shit on "Fly into the sky" pause the game every block and work out where you're going to put it before unpausing. It'll help you unlock "Lights"

 

[Pedigree Chum]

I finally broke 90,000 and I found the secret to getting far. In the other strategy thread someone mentions the 3 block strategy (most of the blocks I get are 3 blocks of 1 color and 1 block of the other). This is very simple, but with practice you can perfect it and keep the blocks very low for long periods of time. Since I'm slow and I can never understand these
xx diagrams, I came up with one of my own.
xo

Why are people acting like this is some sort of revalation? Even in the other Lumines thread...I figured it out in my first game, not a big deal!

 

[newsguy]

Why are people acting like this is some sort of revalation? Even in the other Lumines thread...I figured it out in my first game, not a big deal!

It's not a revelation, but what I'm saying is that once you perfect it you can do much bigger things. You can drop it on the edge of a pile of blockas and get 3-4 clumps in one shot. I'm finally "getting it" as people say, but without being able to use this method often it's very hard to progress.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

It's not a revelation, but what I'm saying is that once you perfect it you can do much bigger things. You can drop it on the edge of a pile of blockas and get 3-4 clumps in one shot. I'm finally "getting it" as people say, but without being able to use this method often it's very hard to progress.

I know, my message wan't entirely directed at you. But a lot of people were making a big deal in the other Lumines thread (calling in "the move"), wtf...

 

[XMonkey]

My tip:
If your game plan goes to shit on "Fly into the sky" pause the game every block and work out where you're going to put it before unpausing. It'll help you unlock "Lights"

On some of my games I get into this habit and it's really hard to stop. I feel so cheap everytime I do it =(

 

[Troidal]

It's not being cheap! Your just taking advantage of the game's design specifications!

But really...puzzle game, pause, blank screen...isn't that like a no brainer?
I wonder if the US version will "fix" that ;-)

 

[XMonkey]

It was so bad that it got to the point where I designated 3 different sections of the skin to certain pieces and always had a way to clear them out (so almost any piece I got, I could deal with). I probably could have gone on forever if I didn't feel so cheap...

Anyways, I beat Puzzle mode a few days ago and unlocked both skins. 45 degrees was really cool, but the 2nd one you get for doing it twice is really boring (prime factor). The only redeeming thing with it is the slow scanline and the nice music.