The PSP has seen a few notable puzzle games, the biggest of these being Lumines, which was hailed by many to be the next Tetris. Q Entertainment, the studio behind Lumines, has rolled out Every Extend Extra, a puzzle game that might not see the same acclaim as Lumines, but gives puzzle players a challenge.

Every Extend Extra looks like a Geometry teacher’s acid trip. During the game, you are being inundated with flashy explosions, moving shapes and trippy backgrounds. At any given time, there are thousands of flashes going on, which at first may sound like a really cool thing, but turns out to be more of an unneeded distraction. It is rare that graphics hurt gameplay, but Every Extend Extra comes really close to doing just that. I can stand the occasional explosion, but there comes a point when there’s just too much going on to the point that it is hard to tell what is going on during the game.

Like the game’s visuals, Every Extend Extra’s soundtrack is unique and fits with the style that Q Entertainment is known for in its games. Unlike other games though, music isn’t the center of attention, instead it is just something in the background.

Explaining Every Extend Extra is about as easy as mastering it. The easiest way would be to say it takes the strategic action of Geometry Wars and combines it with the stylization of Rez, but even then you would still be short in description.

You control a little blip of a ship on the screen that you move around with the analog nub. At the same time, various shapes begin pouring onto the screen from all directions. Your goal is to get close to the shapes and detonate your ship, destroying the shapes. The catch is that you want to set off a chain reaction with your initial explosion. Your explosion destroys one set of shapes, whose detonation sets off another and so on. You are also limited to ten ships… so each detonation has to count. As is the case with most puzzle games, what at first sounds like an easy task is actually quite challenging. In fact, it is easy to get frustrated with the game – so if patience isn’t your strong suit, you might want to pass on Every Extend Extra.

The game’s main challenge mode spans 9 levels, each with a requisite score you must gain before passing on to the next. Each stage also includes a mini-boss as well as a boss, both of which require you to detonate specific chain reactions in order to defeat them. Again, if you’re not patient, the game can easily become an exercise in frustration.

In additon to the main mode, Every Extend Extra also features Caravan mode, which lets you go back and play through levels you’ve unlocked, and Boss Rush, where you hit all of the game’s bosses one after the other. The original version of the game, Every Extend, is also included. I actually had more fun playing the original game than the “Extra” version because of the lack of flashy visuals. However, this isn’t enough to warrant a purchase, especially since you can download the original for free.

Every Extend Extra isn’t a game anyone can pick up and play – at least not without an explanation. If you’re not the type to read manuals, plan on spending some with this one. Even if you get the basics down, this is still a hard game. The learning curve starts really high and quickly elevates not only between levels, but also over the course of each level. Boss battles are equally as hard. The combo requirements grow exponentially and they even shoot at you. If you are hit, you lose a ship and a chance to create another chain combo.

Levels are also timed, adding to the challenge. Learning how to manage your time is another layer of strategy that can either make Every Extend Extra the best puzzle game you’ve ever played, or have you ejecting the UMD out of your PSP at top speeds.

There isn’t a whole lot to say about Every Extend Extra’s controls or mechanics. The analog stick is used to move your ship around while pressing ‘X’ causes it to detonate. The overall response is great and the only thing that really makes it hard to control is that you can easily lose sight of your ship once the screen begins to fill up with objects.

There’s no reason Every Extend Extra couldn’t be a must-play puzzle game like Lumines. It is challenging at first, but once you get the hang of things, it can become addictive. The only things holding the game back are the overly flashy visuals and the fact that an easier to see version is available for free on the net. Still, if you’re a hardcore puzzle fan that is constantly on the go, Every Extend Extra might be worth a look.