A nice, relaxing game
There's been a little bit of hype for Eden, but from screenshots and trailers, it's been quite difficult to see what you're actually supposed to do.
Basically, as a little leaf man, you jump around colourful gardens using your 'silk', and also do a lot of spinning around, whacking 'pollen prowlers', and then collecting the pollen that they drop. This pollen is used to open up seeds, which open up into flowers and other such things, allowing you to climb higher into the level. The goal of the game is to climb throughout levels using Pollen and Seeds to collect Spectra's; weird jellyfish like objects. You're also on a time limit whilst doing this, and can collect crystals to extend your time.
The game design is in fact one of Eden's only major flaws. The way you progress through levels makes the game repetitive for no need. You need to go through each garden (of which there are 10), 5 times, each time collecting more spectra. So, the first time you go in you'll be collecting one of the Spectra, the 5th time, you'll be collecting all 5 Spectra that are hidden throughout the level. It feels that the game would have benefited from allowing you to collect all 5 Spectra on your first attempt through a level, as opposed to making you repeat the level 5 times.
Despite this however, Eden is still a thoroughly enjoyable game.
It's presented wonderfully, with a simple, original art style. Whilst the lack of any details can sometimes make things a bit bland, there are enough original panoramas and bright colours to keep you interested. Also, when you string up a large pollen prowler combo, the explosion of pollen makes it look and feel all the more satisfying.
Although Eden's graphical presentation is original, it wouldn't be half of what it was without the music.
There are very few prominent sound effects, and nothing especially interesting, but the music, created by award winning Baiyon, fits brilliantly with the visuals and gameplay. Each garden has it's own music track, each as suiting as the last, and I feel it's these pieces of music that give the game it's addictive nature; once the music has started, it flows endlessly throughout the level, making what could be a simplistic platforming task into an elegant and obsessive one.
Also, the trophies make this a must download, as it's one of the few titles you can earn your trophies with at the minute… though for some reason there are no gold trophies (?).
So, in conclusion, if you want a brake from the endless stream of generic first/ third person shooters that are cluttering the playstation catalogue, download yourself a copy of PJE, and you shall enjoy.
8.0