PixelJunk Eden Review

by Tom Hardman - 2008/09/04 3:53am

Gardening is rarely this fun.

PixelJunk has quickly established itself as a reliable series of games on the PlayStation Store for lasting yet affordable fun. Produced by Q-Games, the collection has targeted the casual gamer without differentiating too wildly from crowds. Open to the youngest of gamers, their charm has always resided in the simplicity of the gameplay mechanics and the laid back nature in which they can be played.

PixelJunk Eden is no exception here. From your first start up of the game it does its best to make you at ease with the controls which are as always extremely straight-forward. You’re greeted by a brief tutorial and then delicately handed into the main menu and it’s here that you set your stopwatches because the alarming pace at which you pick up the game is one of the title’s finer points.

After the run around with the ‘playable’ menu, entering your first Garden will introduce you to the concept and goals of the core game. Collecting an increasing number of ‘Spectres’ per round requires the ability to scale towering heights by climbing, swinging and generally showing off your newly discovered acrobatic prowess between plants that grow and sway on the screen. Collecting enough pollen from spores or vanquished enemies will allow nearby seeds to fruit life giving you greater access to the level, and therefore putting you within easier grasp of your goals.

That’s basically it. In any other game that could be construed as flat and uninteresting, developers are charged with providing an ever-increasing amount of functionality into their games that wouldn’t normally have been in demand just a few years ago. Instead the result is a well-polished spectacle of gaming, offering an opportunity to slip into some of the most addictive gameplay available for a respectable fee.

The learning curve is definitely the most enterprising feature, the way in which the ‘missions’ are structured will mean there’s never any set way in which you have to proceed. Simply choosing which areas you think will match your level of expertise, and returning to them at a later date to stretch out that challenge. This fundamental is reflected perfectly in the gameplay structure. There’s little part of it that can be considered really difficult, the focus is on having fun whilst presenting goals to accomplish.

In support with the notion that you should simply be able to pick it up and grow in confidence with the game, setting your playstyle and progression to your own pace, Q-Games have matched the simplicity in the control scheme itself. The jump button is any one of the four main buttons on the controller, and rewinding the silk to reign in those tremendous swings will work just fine on any of the shoulder buttons. A quick look will show that people instantly use whatever feels comfortable for them and this is where the title hits gold, after all, it’s all about that serene sense of swinging, leaping and traversing the vegetation that keeps you playing.

Mood-sedating effects aside though, the game is surprisingly deep. The soundtrack is absorbing and effective at switching gears between accomplishments, whilst not on everyone’s mp3 collection, you’ll certainly find it enjoyable and for those that don’t, let’s just say that there’s a special treat waiting for you at game completion.
Graphically the game is flawless, that’s actually more difficult than it sounds for a series of games yet to venture into the third dimension, but the level of creativity and artistic license used is of the highest quality, different gardens and changing effects showcase their capabilities perfectly. The game could so easily have been sub-standard in this department but the level of care shown is instead pleasing on every account.

The one-two punch is in the games musical score, an entrancing blend of rhythm laden tracks designed to keep the feeling mellow until the urgency to grab that last Spectre overrules. The game follows closely in the footsteps of Flow in this respect, and it certainly does its part to further this new genre of definitively casual gaming.
These cut-price games are becoming the new mainstream fancy of many a gamer, and as such are beginning to deliver much more content with each succession. Eden is no exception, providing well-executed functionality like the ability to record videos and directly host them on Youtube, or the ability to play on the go with a PSP and remote play. Bang for buck shouldn’t be a worry for anyone looking for a lengthy title, the levels are challenging yet fun and the purist of gamers will no doubt find considerable joy in pursuing those tricky Trophies.

Add to all of this a surprisingly fun multiplayer, allowing three players to simply use co-operative abilities to complete the same goals and you’ll soon start wondering when Q-Games will be at your doorstep demanding the rest of their money.
In short, it’s simply sublime, a solid contender for PSN title of the year, providing so much content of such a high calibre for so few of your hard-earned pennies. Do yourselves a favour and pick this gem up to help ease the painful gap between now and the long list of stellar games you’re no doubt waiting for later this year.

9/10

ExcelBeyond: Pretty much agree with everything you said... I love just getting in there and burning like a half hour before I go to sleep. The game is just so relaxing and calming.