Previews// Lumini

It is thanks to Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons that developers have decided that the right thumb-stick on controllers is not just for 'looking' in first-person shooters.

It is thanks to the dual control of different avatars on the screen that games like Lumini have made their presence felt, as it too sports a similar control system. Thankfully that is where the similarity between these two games ends as Lumini is a very unique addition to what has become a vast pantheon of indie games.

Rather than two young siblings, Lumini has the player manoeuvring a flock of bird-like creatures that inhabit a strange alien world.

They have been dormant for some time and their return comes as their world has undergone a great sea change in terms of balance, with corruption spreading through it. To counter this the Lumini must travel through alien landscapes while bringing balance back to the world.

The swarm of creatures controlled by the player in Lumini can be split into two groups, hence the dual thumb stick controls referred to earlier. This means that Lumini has puzzles that require the player to work simultaneously with two groups of swarming Lumini as they float about the landscape.

The Lumini also have some offensive powers that can stun or even destroy hostile creatures that litter the landscape. Ultimately Lumini only has one life which the player must protect, but this single 'life' is made up of a swarm of Lumini who when attacked become depleted in number.

This does mean that the swarm reduces in bulk, making it easier to navigate the world. However, the Lumini come in three colours, yellow, red and blue. Each colour type has a unique ability that, when a certain colour is placed in the lead of the swarm, enables their power to be triggered.

Each power compliments the other, therefore it is important to keep at least one of every type alive in order to make traversal through the level as easy as possible.

The chunk of Lumini I played was surprisingly long, yet I felt it lasted but moments. It is a very relaxing game to play and I would highly recommend it for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Lumini is out now for Windows PC, Mac and Linux.