The Lumines Classic Pack celebrates four years of music and puzzle goodness by allowing you to purchase 20 skins from the original PSP version of the game for the low price of $4.99 worth of PlayStation real monies. Experience classic stages like the orange and white square stage, the dark green and light green square stage, or the ever popular green and white square stage, all the while wondering why you spent nearly five dollars to relive the experience.

Don't get me wrong, I love some classic Lumines action, but when the classic in question refers to a title that was released less than five years ago, I begin to question our use of the big C word.

The Lumines Supernova More Money Pack will be available on the PlayStation Network tomorrow.

Fortunately, yes. While the color-matching, Tetris-like gameplay is unchanged, a few new modes make Lumines Supernova a worthwhile entry in the series of ports. Like its high-definition predecessor Lumines Live!, Supernova builds upon an already strong gameplay foundation, piling on new modes and features.

Is it worth another trip?

Loved
New Modes: Dig Down mode and the Sequencer add fresh gameplay options to the Lumines experience, thankfully, considering that the core experience is the same one we've been playing for years now. What these two options add are new ways to look at the same gameplay, with the Sequencer simple to use, easy to edit and quick to enjoy. When you're done completing the missions, puzzles and unlocking everything, the stock Challenge Mode still provides a thrill.

Still As Addictive As Ever: Lumines was a great game in 2005 and somehow still remains to feel fresh. It's been hard to pull myself away from the game to write up this review, frankly. The tactics aren't the deepest, but there's still plenty of worthwhile challenge in Lumines Supernova.

Hated
No Online Multiplayer: What happened to the online multiplayer mode present in the Xbox 360 version? There's still plenty to do here, but to have this option taken away stings. Fortunately, the PlayStation Network version at least feel less like a nickel and dime cash grab.

While Lumines superfans may not find much in Supernova to warrant yet another fifteen dollar purchase, for those of us who skipped an entry or two, there's still plenty to like about the PlayStation 3 version. If you've never had the opportunity to try the game out on any platform, it's absolutely worth your time.

Lumines Supernova was developed and published by Q Entertainment, released on Dec. 23 for PlayStation Network. Retails for $14.99 USD. Tested all modes.

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Tuesday, December 23rd sees the release of Lumines Supernova in North America, finally bringing the game that launched Sony's PSP to the PlayStation 3. It features a couple of new modes and some new skins to keep things fresh, including the LittleBigPlanet skin, which you can see in motion below.

Launching alongside Supernova will be a Free Holiday Pack, containing 20 seasonal skins so you can convince your loved ones that you're still in the spirit of things despite being glued to the television for hours on end, making little colored squares.

No access to the new "Dig Down" mode, no access to the enhanced Synthesizer features, and too little time to survey new skins make for a very 2005 experience. The fact sheet notes that Lumines Supernova has offline only play and no Trophy support, so we're thinking what we've played at TGS will be what we'll have played forever.

Is that it, Q Entertainment? No Peggle DS? Guess we'll have to wait until the dust has settled from everyone's TGS keynotes to see if Mizuguchi and crew have anything else up their sleeves.

The ultimate fusion of puzzle, lights and music arrives on the PLAYSTATION®Network this Fall

Indulge in the fusion of puzzle, lights and music! The latest installment to the blockbuster franchise from Tetsuya Mizuguchi and Q Entertainment comes packed with brand new skins and new modes, exclusive to the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Lumines Supernova combines puzzles, block-dropping beats and video entertainment to create an addictively-fun gameplay experience that will keep you playing day after day. The game offers 40 skins in the Challenge Mode alone, with several brand new skins keeping the Lumines experience fresh. Choose from several different single player modes, battle it out with a friend or create your own background music in the all-new Sequencer Mode.

LUMINES SUPERNOVA - GAME FEATURES / MODES:

* Skins, skins and more new skins: Enjoy unlimited gameplay and unlock up to 40 stylish skins in Challenge Mode, including brand new skins

* All-new Dig Down Mode: Using the falling blocks, erase squares from a playfield already filled with blocks as you dig down to the bottom. Show off your digging skills as your completion time is ranked based on clearing 20 consecutive stages

* All-new Sequencer Mode: Create your own background music using the sound loops provided in the "Sound Bank" – drums, bass, synthesizer 1, synthesizer 2 and effects each come with 20 different loops

* Skin Edit Mode: Customize your Lumines experience by creating your own playlist with your favorite skins

* Time Attack Mode: Test your skills and see how many blocks you can erase in a given amount of time and compete with your own record

* Puzzle / Mission Mode: Act quickly with the falling blocks to create shapes/designs and clear the playing field in just a few moves (100 puzzles and 50 missions)

Developer/Publisher: Q Entertainment
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 system (via PLAYSTATION Network)
Genre: Action Puzzle
Release date: Fall 2008
Price: TBA
# of Players: 1 – 2
Rating: RP