Lumo Reviews
Lumo is a charming throwback to the isometric arcade adventure games of the 1980s, but is held back by its short length and some frustrating platforming sections.
Gareth Noyce's revival of the British isometric puzzle game offers a deep and amiable dungeon filled with eccentric wonder.
A fun, imaginative platformer that’s full of ideas, but prepare to die, a lot.
Lumo is a big, puzzley, dungeon-romping love letter to the history of gaming, filled with references to a huge number of titles but still more than able to carve out its own identity.
Lumo provides a modern isometric platformer, offering (as you'd expect) improved audio-visual presentation over the classics of the genre, whilst still providing the same kind of entertainment. There's fun from spotting the references to old and obscure games (like Jack the Nipper) and other things ("Take your brain to another dimension. Pay close attention"), but it's the gameplay that's the biggest source of entertainment here. Many rooms serve as mini challenges as you attempt to clear obstacles and avoid dangers, flick a switch to activate something somewhere else or perhaps stop for something that requires a bit more thought, such as pushing mirrors about to redirect some laser beams. Occasionally the fixed camera makes progress through a room more difficult than it should be, and there are moments in the ice zone where the game moves from "tough-but-fair" to "ruddy annoying". There's also the old school mode for those seeking a stern challenge, or there's fun to be had replaying the regular mode as you go seeking out more hidden items and bonus games.For retro kicks with a modern feel, or for those curious about this genre and the experience it offers, this is certainly an enjoyable adventure.
A love-letter to games gone past and to games in general, Lumo is a delightful if sometimes frustrating little puzzle platformer.
Lumo could have easily been another retro inspired title that did little other than revel in old-school visuals. It's actually a lovely trip down memory lane.
I like how the game continually adds new challenges and mechanics up through the campaign. Having to retry various parts pads the length of the game, which is actually relatively short. Lumo has some bright moments with interesting puzzles but it doesn’t have much else.
An old school adventures that doesn't manage to adapt to modern times and make the same mistakes that this kind of games made 20 years ago.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
While the score below is very much based on my experience (duh), you can knock this grade up a half point if you love games that revel in challenge and restarts. Lots and lots of restarts. Regardless, this is a well-priced indie with a lengthy, ten-hour campaign. I also suspect that there are players out there who might end up loving the idea of Lumo more than the execution. That said, if the controls could be made less frustrating I would love to see a sequel.
A loving tribute to isometric adventures of the Spectrum era, that does just enough to ensure new fans can enjoy it as well.
Lumo is full of well thought out puzzles, but it lacks certain gameplay touches that could have pushed it into being a great game. My main gripe is that the jumping feels awkward and, coupled with perspective issues, means you can fail a simple puzzle dozens of times. The game does have a certain charm to it, and I would recommend it as a nostalgia trip for players that grew up with similar games, but this will not be for those who aren’t fans of classic titles or puzzles.
Lumo is a game with something for everyone.
Lumo has a heart. It’s filled with a charming aesthetics, classis retro style gameplay, fun references to other franchises, and just offers a solid good time for platforming fans. It has a moody if somewhat chill soundtrack, a simple yet fairly pleasing visual design, and it just makes me smile every time I play it.
Lumo might not be perfect, but in resurrecting a very specific sort of puzzle adventure that the industry has seemingly forgotten, Gareth Noyce’s heartfelt love-letter to the past succeeds in weaving a yarn which manages to feel both fresh and compelling at the same time. This is the isometric platform puzzler you never knew you wanted.
LUMO is a surprisingly fun throwback to a genre of puzzle adventures lost to the winds of time, and also a loving nod to the career of its creator. It's an enjoyable dungeon crawler with some fiendish puzzles and punishing death traps.
Lumo is the Finnish word for ‘enchantment’ and that is exactly what the game is – enchanting.
Lumo brings back the isometric platform genre in an experience that fits right into the Nintendo Switch catalog. Thanks to its well implemented difficulty curve and to the immense amount of references to retrogaming classics, Lumo is certain to gain a place in the heart of many players, even if its fixed camera may occasionally cause some issues but overall, this is a pleasant and praiseworthy game for all.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Lumo is an isometric puzzle game with beautiful 3D graphics and a lot of intriguing enigmas.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Overall Lumo did have its fun moments with some puzzles that were really fun, however they seemed to be not nearly enough of them. Some of the fun seemed to be pulled out of the game due to difficult platforming angles.