Luxor 2

[Polycount Productions]

From http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/news/?id=14061

MumboJumbo today announced the launch of Luxor 2, sequel to the hit puzzle title Luxor. The game is looking to set a new high water mark for casual games, with its "3D-like visuals, realistic reflections and shadowing, and stunning visual details throughout." The game will be available for digital download from MumboJumbo.com and other sites starting today.

Paul Jensen, President of MumboJumbo says, "Luxor 2 offers the same addictive and easy-to-learn, yet difficult-to-master game play which made the award- winning Luxor franchise such a smash hit, but now takes the game to a completely new level, setting a new standard for action-puzzle casual games."

Mumbo Jumbo: http://www.mumbojumbo.com/game/game/44

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I bet it sells like a beast. I even saw Luxor 1 mobile game shown in some TV ad here in Finland... so the game must be popular (you won't see many casual games in Finnish TV :)) - Luxor 2 probably does even better.

[LilGames]

Same game - Better graphics. The formula for success!

:D

[JoKa]

"3D-like visuals, realistic reflections and shadowing, and stunning visual details throughout."


With so much focus on graphics it sounds like an announcement of a fullprice mainstream game :)

[Sharpfish]

I tried this the other day, polished as usual... I was annoyed by the backgrounds. They looked great in static shots and are great quality, but when I played it I was put off by how the 3D looks like it's blocking your line of fire but you can fire straight over things (like walls etc). So it feels wrong when you are firing balls for them to not be blocked by what the 2D rendered 3D scene would suggest.

Not that it matters what I think as i'm sure this will be number #1 everywhere before the week is out. :)

[joe]

@Sharpfish: I had the same feeling when I tried it this morning. I'm wondering if casual players are confused of the 3D graphics (but I'm also sure it will hit the Top-10s everywhere).

[tewe76]

Me too for Sharpfish and joe opinions :)
I liked more Luxor 1... Graphics were more simple, maybe, but more "clean" for me...

[Escapee]

I have yet to see a game as polished as Luxor 2, it's so polished that forget there is a game to play. I prefer the original luxor since it's the game that brought me real excitement and the "i want more feel". After tons of similar games rolled out you know how it felt to play the same thing (game mechanism) over and over again with different art style and polish. :o

[zoombapup]

Hmm, I dont like how there arent any "lanes" for the balls.. it feels like the whole gameplay it tacked on to the nice rendered background, rather than feeling embedded in it.

But meh, who cares.

[Dyno Kid]

I agree with the above posts it looks too good for the game play and yes the backgrounds are very confusing.

But....clones sell:)

Darren.

[Jamie W]

Is it just me who feels the game-play is samey, monotonous, and a little on the mind-numbingly boring side? I had to uninstall the demo before my hour was up, it was that bad, it just didn't engage me and make me want to play.

IMHO, it's little more than superficially attractive eye-candy with no real depth.

So it should sell very well ...

[Sharpfish]

the game-play is samey, monotonous, and a little on the mind-numbingly boring side

That is typical of medititive gameplay in casual games, it lets the player relax/zone out and just pass time. That is why they are so successful!

They really are different beasts to the things we called games from the days of yore!

Having said this, zuma style games in general are more to the action end of the casual spectrum so for a casual player, stuff like this is probably quite an adrenalin rush. I have certainly seen better games of this type though (gameplay wise). When you study casual games for long enough you realise that the very repetitive nature of them are what defines them and makes them popular amongst non core gamers.

The problem is as a hardcore player, if I want to play a core game I will not really go for indie stuff I will go for the stuff that really blows me away on PC or Consoles. If I want to chill out for a bit, even as a hardcore player, I am more likely to play chuzzle, bejewelled 2 or tumblebugs (to give some examples) than I am to play an indie "core" game.

It may just be me but the AAA core games and the high production value casual titles are clearely defined for their markets and can be enjoyed as such. The grey area games (typically indie games using old gameplay ideas or remakes but without the polish of the top casual games) just don't grab me as I played them all in my youth on the Spectrum or the Amiga.

And I think this is typically reflected in the sales for these different types of indie games.

I know it's hard to get our heads around, "why would people pay to basically manipulate bitmaps with mouse clicks over and over again?" in a typical match 3, but they do and it's because of the simplicity and short learning curves (and lack of overbearing challenge).

I suppose all of what I just said is for another thread though. ;)

Concerning this game, as I said (and I agree with you) it's got a lot of gloss but little soul to it, and some flaws that detract from the fun in my opinion.