Game Reviews

Luminous

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iOS
| Luminous
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Luminous
|
iOS
| Luminous

Collect the black blocks and the yellow blocks, avoid the blue blocks.

That's all you need to know in order to play Luminous, which is so simple it doesn't even offer so much as a help screen.

Block pattern

The way in which you do the collecting is equally instinctive. Touch the one static black block and move it around with a single finger. Simple.

Each black block you collide with adds 10 to your score. Contact with one of the blue blocks spells game over, while yellow blocks imbue you with temporary power-ups or status changes.

There's one that slows everything down for a spell; one that destroys all blocks on screen; one that makes you indestructible; one that messes with your mind by switching the colour palette.

The visual style is suitably minimalist, with a blank white playing field and your rapidly increasing score printed in a large funky font in the background. It reminds me a bit of Hundreds, albeit not as expertly executed.

Lights out

Other than the power-up effects, there's just the one visual trick or gimmick here - the screen gets progressively darker the longer you go without scoring points.

You could say that this serves to prompt you to keep up a steady rate of collecting, stopping you from overly cautious play. But in truth, the simple setup of the game ensures a steady stream of black blocks to gobble wherever you are on the screen.

More problematic is the age-old fingers-in-the-way problem. Here more than most other iOS games, you'll find yourself cursing your own hands for obstructing your view as a green block sneaks in under cover.

Suffice to say, Luminous is a game that's best played on a full-size iPad.

And that really is all there is to say about Luminous. Like a piece of Ikea furniture, it's simple, stylish in its own sparse way, and economical in the way it doles out its pleasures. But it's unlikely to set your heart racing.

Luminous

One of the simplest games you're ever likely to play, Luminous strips casual iOS gaming back to its bare bones, but is tough to truly love as a result
Score
Jon Mundy
Jon Mundy
Jon is a consummate expert in adventure, action, and sports games. Which is just as well, as in real life he's timid, lazy, and unfit. It's amazing how these things even themselves out.