A 'Tetris' and trance cocktail

"Tetris" on acid.\nThat's really the only way to describe "Lumines Live!" Like in a lot of other "Tetris"-inspired puzzle games, blocks of four squares drop down from the top of the screen to be matched with like colors and form ever larger squares of the same color, while another line moves from left to right to clear the new super blocks.\nIt's a simple concept that gets turned up to 11 with constantly changing thumping electronic beats and crazy pulsating background graphics called "skins."\nThe goal of "Lumines Live!" is not only to get the high score, but to become one with the game. Let go of any strategy, start moving your head to the music and get in touch with your amateur DJ as every time you do anything on screen, it mixes the music up a bit. Even if you can't get a basic combo going, you're guaranteed to have fun.\nWarning, though: If you despise electronic music, you will more than likely hate this game as well, but as a pretty big fan of the genre, I can vouch that the soundtrack is solid. Tetsuya Mizuguchi, who has served as producer for the "Lumines" games as well as other music-heavy games such as "Space Channel 5" and "REZ" again proves that he is the master of choosing the perfect songs to go with a game.\nWhile the game itself will keep you entertained for weeks, the pricing strategy flat out sucks.\nFor $15 (1200 Microsoft Points) you get a game with only a dozen skins in challenge mode. If you want the 22 more on Xbox Live that's another $6.50. Other modes are incomplete as well. Puzzle Mode has only five stages. The additional 35 won't be available until early 2007 for an additional fee. The vs. CPU mode is an even bigger rip off. There's one stage available at the start and the other nine won't be available until, you guessed it, early 2007 for more cash. A music/video pack featuring Madonna and other artists will also be up at some point in the future.\nIt's pretty shady that a company has tried to pass off a glorified demo as the full version of the game. The dark side of digital distribution has definitely arrived.\nBut like the junkie who needs his fix, the basic game is so addicting, it's going to be hard to turn away from the additional content, regardless of the price. (Yeah, I already downloaded the advance pack. Yeah, it's totally worth it.)\nStill, for shame for taking advantage of us poor addicted gamers! Good game, though.