Lumines II to use licensed video bait

The latest issue of Game Informer (trust us, or buy/borrow/steal a copy) reports that Lumines II is almost identical to its acclaimed predecessor. The draw will be new unlockable skins, which, this time around, include licensed music videos from artists including Black Eyed Peas, Fatboy Slim, Hoobastank, and Missy Elliot. It's a risky deviation from the standard set in the original, as much of the sequel's soundtrack contains songs that were played out many seasons ago. Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" ... ? No thank you.

With all the technical intricacies of the PSP, one wonders why Lumines II isn't being sold, at least in addition to a full-fledged UMD release, as a downloadable utility (for Lumines), which in turn would give us access to an online store where we could purchase additional skins that include music videos -- or better, bundles that include multiple skins that need to be unlocked through gameplay. But this sounds eerily similar to another future puzzler we've heard of ... Lumines Live, anyone?

Buena Vista Game is pimping the Lumines franchise for all it's worth. Go 'head -- that's the business. It's just a shame that there's not more of a collective effort to exploit the potential of the PSP. Instead, we've got a near-identical sequel being hustled to us on UMD for $40.

... Okay, we're stepping down from the podium now ... here are the soundtrack details you're looking for ...

Music videos:

• 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 (unannounced)
  

Non-video tracks:

• Junkie XL – "Breezer"

• Stigmato Inc – "Reality Check"

• Mondo Grosso (unannounced)

• Ken Ishii (unannounced)

• Techriders (unannounced)