Lumines Puzzle & Music ($2.99) has been one of the most eagerly anticipated iOS releases in recent memory, and for good reason – the series has such an integral part in the history of portable gaming, and is one of the major highlights of the PSP’s turbulent ten year existence. Of course, this isn’t the first time the series has reached mobile, and while 2009’s disappointing Lumines Touch Fusion is better left forgotten, such a legacy has only raised expectations for Lumines Puzzle & Music to be a true representation of the franchise on iPhone. Thankfully, the wait is now over – Lumines Puzzle & Music has launched worldwide on the App Store, and is an essential purchase if you still harbor nostalgic memories of previous entries in the series, but also for anyone who may have not played a Lumines game before, as the music and puzzle gameplay amalgamation is as ridiculously fun as ever.

While the unusual paid soft launch pattern to Lumines Puzzle & Music‘s launch may have been a testing wait for some of us, it is also a fantastic opportunity for gamers lucky enough to live in regions where it was available early, and so there are extensive impressions for the game online already. Our hands-on article back in July detailed a lot of the aspects of the new Lumines title, and while I would greatly recommend giving it a read for a more specific comparison, the article confirmed that this is the same old essential Lumines gameplay that we know and love, and no corners or compromises have been made on the transition to mobile devices. Early forum impressions have also been similarly positive, with emphasis on the specific PSP classic skin pack that will truly take you all the way back to 2004. We’ll have a more in-depth review up soon, but if you’re looking for the next requisite puzzle game on the App Store, Lumines Puzzle & Music is one not to be missed. Regardless of whether you’re a veteran or a Lumines newcomer, share your impressions on our forum thread.