Luminarium: To the Sea and Back Again!

Price: Free
Rating:
Luminarium
Android App Review by AndroidAppsReview.com

If you’ve been with us long, then you’re likely aware of the fact that we’re gigantic suckers for certain types of Android games. For instance, we really enjoy a good puzzler. However, we enjoy quite a bit more those kinds of games that have us collecting resources, sending out troops on dangerous missions, and generally trading it up to our heart’s content. This is why we’re more than a bit enamored with Luminarium. The game is tremendously entertaining, very well crafted, and a good investment for the free price tag it’s sporting. If you’re looking for our full review, you’ll find it tucked safely below!

Concept and Gameplay

Luminarium for Android

If you have ever played any of the classic Civilization style games, then you’re acres ahead of the curve: Luminarium is an entry into the same genre, offering a lot of the same materials though with some fun twists. For instance, one of the principle interests of the gameplay is the mining of the app’s title element. You’ll use this to purchase items, ships, roads, buildings, and just about anything else you can think of. You’ll use all of these bits and pieces to lovingly craft a commercial hub, buzzing with energy producing architecture, more mines, and buildings that create sellable craft items.

It’s a lot of fun, but it’s not exactly anything new. However, one thing that Luminarium does throw into the mix is the sea voyage. These are predetermined voyages you can send your ships out on—once you’ve purchased them—to return with bounty almighty. We liked this, and we also appreciated a general lack of conflict. The game is very trade and city focused, which we found particularly refreshing after quite too much combat in games like Age of Empires.

Design and Graphics

At first glance, Luminarium seems to be afflicted with that same problem most Android games seem to have. The disparity in hardware tends to create games that are a bit jagged and retro looking, as they need to fit so many spaces. However, the game’s textures progress as your buildings go up, and the end result really is quite pleasing. We disliked the fact that in-game tutorials don’t walk you through every possible step of the building process, but we did like the fact that (if you’re familiar with the genre’s mechanics) you can very speedily get into things. All in all, it’s a solid package, if perhaps not the most stunning we’ve ever seen on Android.

Overall Value

At the end of the day, Luminarium is also a phenomenal bargain. The app will cost you a solid invisible penny—that is to nothing—and for that fair price you’ll get a lot of gameplay. In fact, you’ll get heaps of gameplay. As with most titles in the field, you’ll find yourself spending a bit more time with Luminarium than you planned. All of which is perfectly fine with us.

Android Apps Review Details: Luminarium is FREE. This app requires Android 2.1 and up. A small expedite fee was paid to speed up the publication of this review.