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Pixeljunk Eden

I’m in love with this game! £4.99 on the PSN (Playstation Network) its an absolute bargin! You control a Grimp, who navigates a garden “killing” pollen prowlers and using the pollen they drop to open new flowers and plant life. However, these aren’t sweet peas or roses you’re opening but acid inspired bright trippy plants of no discernable shape, structure or origin. As you climb higher you’ve got to collect 5 “Spectra” and throughout the game you’re racing against a clock which can be refilled at any time by collecting crystals….. it may sound confusing but its essentially a bottom to top platform game.

The controls are really very simple allowing to to jump in any direction and swing on a silk strand you release. You can break the silk at any time to jump straight or use it to gain momentum and reach greater heights.

The games trophies really add to the game - its essentially a very simple game and appears somewhat repetitive after a while. Go into garden, collect 5 spectra. 10 gardens, 50 spectra, game over. Except gravity, wind and enemies start appearing which alters the gameplay enough to keep you on your toes, and those trophies really add to the gameplay. Trophies such as ten minute grimp (complete any garden inside ten minutes) add to the replay value of the game greatly and feel like they are pitched just about right. They aren’t impossible like some of Super Stardusts trophies, and they aren’t easy either. I’ve got close to the “No Wasted Pollen” trophy for example a couple of times and I know that its within reach…. I just can’t quite pull it off yet.

There are some nice features tucked away as well - 3 player coop play allows you and two friends to swing around the levels together (and achieve trophies together if you haven’t managed them solo ;)) and the ability to record gameplay and upload it directly to youtube surely means the internet will be awash with videos! In fact I’ll probably record a video myself just to see what all the fuss is about.

Filed by Kieran at August 19th, 2008 under PS3