Ah, Lumines, you PSP launch critical darling, you second game ever added to our PSP database, you endless sinkhole of time and productivity, how we adore you. Lumines, even by anti-PSP folks, stands as a game that seemingly everyone can get into, and it's easy to see why: simple concept, solid tunes and the application of both as only Rez creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi can do.

For the uninitiated, the idea is fairly simple: four-square blocks in a handful of patterns with just two colors fall Tetris-style. Rest four or more blocks of the same color together and they'll clear (again, just like Tetris with all the blocks above falling down), but they won't clear until a line sweeps over them that moves in time with the music. So you have to balance not only lining up same-colored blocks, but making sure you do it before the line sweeps across. It can make for huge chains, and the bonus is that the game's music is dynamic, moving along as you clear more blocks until eventually you progress to the next song, and with it unlock the new colors and menu effects called skins.

It's awesome, and it's insanely addictive, but many give credit to the music as much as the gameplay, which is why fans of the first game might be a little... perplexed by the choices made for the sequel. Normally, we'd just say "oh, this is all Buena Vista Games' fault" (the original was published by Ubisoft, who didn't touch the track listing when bringing the game over from Japan), but Lumines II's creator isn't wor--well here, we'll just let him talk about it:

"In order to showcase my vision for Lumines II, we needed to find music and videos with just the right tone, mix and energy to incorporate into the game," explains Tetsuya Mizuguchi, CCO of Q ENTERTAINMENT. "I couldn't be happier with the result and am excited to get the game into players' hands."

"With some of today's most popular artists involved, Lumines II is an amazing project," added BVG's SVP of Global Production, Michael Ryder. "Combined with an exceptional game design from Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Lumines II delivers an exhilarating experience."

Ready to see that partial lineup that Mizuguchi is pumped about? Nay, satisfied with? Grab a chair...

Beck -- Black Tambourine
Black Eyed Peas -- Pump It
Chemical Brothers -- Star Guitar
Fatboy Slim -- Gangster Trippin'
The Go! Team -- Bottle Rocket
Gwen Stefani -- Hollaback Girl
Hoobastank -- Born to Lead
Junior Senior -- Take My Time
Missy Elliott -- Lose Control
New Order -- TBD
Junkie XL -- Breezer
Stigmato Inc -- Reality Check

Now, before you take to the streets to start tipping cars over and lighting them on fire, know that there are still some Japanese tracks. The game boasts a 60+ strong skin selection this time around, which means you can still get multiple tracks from Shinichi Osawa (aka Mondo Grosso), plus Techriders and Ken Ishii tracks will be included. This is only a partial list, but in an interesting twist, the music videos for the songs you see above will actually play behind the game as a moving background. Kinda cool, if you're into that sort of thing.

We are into that sort of thing when The Chemical Brothers, Junkie XL and New Order are involved. Throw some Hybrid in there, some Ratatat in and maybe a pinch of BT and we'll be willing to suffer through the Hoobastanks and Gwen Stefanis included. Maybe.