The PSP certainly has some showcase titles available for it. WipEout Pure, Ridge Racers and Tiger Woods 2005 are all sterling examples of their genres and easily put their PS2 equivalents to the sword. What a pity then that we can’t say the same about Lumines.

It’s a real shame, as there’s plenty of different game modes to enjoy in QB’s first PSP title. Puzzle mode sees you frantically building specific shapes against a strict time limit; while a hectic Vs mode enables you to face off against the PSP or a human opponent. Add in four different Time Attacks, a Challenge and Skin mode, and Lumines appears to have it all. Sadly, it’s the main Challenge mode which highlights Lumines’ biggest problem – the damn game just goes on and on and on – and thus totally misses the point of what a puzzle game is about.

Puzzlers work best (especially on handhelds) when you can hammer away at them for a good five to ten minutes and then simply forget about them. Get good at Lumines and you can end up playing for hours. Sure it’s got some astounding backdrops, called skins, to enjoy and the music throughout is absolutely fantastic, but it’s all for nothing when it feels like you’re actually being punished for showing a bit of skill at something. It’s shame but Lumines isn’t the Tetris heir that we hoped it would be.