Back in the 80s, computers like the Sinclair ZX Spectrum were popular for playing games in Europe, and especially the UK.  One type of game seen often on these computers were 3-D isometric viewed puzzle platformers.  Even well-known game developers like Rare made a few of these.  As a US gamer, that’s all I can tell you about that, but some of those types of games made it over to America.  Like Solstice on the NES and its SNES sequel Equinox.  I never played the sequel, but I did rent the first game a couple of times (mainly because the music was really good).  The only other game I can remember like that was Monster Max on the Game Boy.  Anyway, if you like those kinds of games, you’re in luck because a new game done in that style is out now and it’s called Lumo.  It’s available for most modern consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS Vita here.

So in the game you play as a kid who walks into a building where a bunch of people are playing games on computers and arcade cabinets.  In the back, one of the computers sucks you in, and now you must figure out how to escape.  Yeah this game really knows its roots.  Even the developer logo screen at the beginning comes in like how an old computer would load.  So inside the computer, you are transformed into a squatty little critter wearing a floppy witch’s hat.  Now you must go through hundreds of rooms, one room at a time, solving puzzles and avoiding obstacles to get out of the maze.

You view the action in a 3-D isometric perspective in each room.  Sometimes you may have to do a bit of platform jumping, other times you may have to push blocks and solve puzzles.  Collect items like keys to unlock doors, or other goodies like the ability to jump higher.  Avoid dangerous spikes and roving enemies or you’ll have to start the room over again.  You can collect pages in a book to view a map, but it’s not as handy as you may think.

These types of games have always had a few of the same problems.  The 3-D isometric perspective makes it hard to judge distances when jumping, and play control can be a bit confusing as well.  Goals are sometimes unclear and the game doesn’t tell you what some of the items you collect do and why they are important.  Plus the game is a bit buggy, and froze up on me a couple of times and forced me to reset my Vita.  Luckily the game autosaves in every room, but that makes it no less annoying.  Hopefully they’ll release a patch to fix that.  If you really liked games such as Solstice, you may still like this one anyway.  You can even choose to play the game in a super tough Classic Mode!

Kid Factor:

Lumo is rated E-10 with ESRB descriptors of Violent References and Comic Mischief.  When you get hit, you’ll just disappear in a puff of light and reappear again at the last door you used.  There is a small bit of toilet humor, too.  Reading skill is helpful for some of the text, and younger games may get frustrated or bored with the lack of clear goals, fuzzy controls, and old-school gameplay.

Tags: Game Reviews