I never liked gardening before Eden
This game is beautiful to look at, pleasing to the ears, and addictive as psychotropics. I think that says it all. The game just has that great balance between fun, frustration, and a sense of achievement (trophy?) that keeps you going for one more level.
In PJE, you are a tiny bug-like gimp who can basicly jump around and spin on a silk that you form as you jump from one plant to another. The goal in PJE is basically to grow a number of gardens (10) and you will need to play through each garden 5 times. Each time you must progress a bit further in the level to collect all 5 Spectra. Thats 50 in all and that adds up to a lot of game for your money.
At first blush, you may think its a casual, relaxing game like flow. You would be wrong. Its more like a classic arcade game in that you need to learn and advance in skill as you play each new garden. Also, the game can get down right aggravating when you miss your mark by literally one pixel. But to soothe that agrivation is a great integrated soundtrack and a zen like feeling as you spin around the level and collect pollen to extend you time.
The time bar is really where the game can get frustrating because it forces you to advance at a brisk pace. But where it will really get you is in that it can be punnishing when you make a mistake. Miss a jump higher in the level and you may just fall a few feet, but you are almost as likely to fall all the way to the bottom of the level. Depending on where you are at in the level that can be equilelent of a slow death since you will have little chance of getting all the way back to where you can extent you time. But with good plannig and some skill, you will be able to progress. And that is why the game is so good. Like most good games, its easy to pick up, but difficult to master.
So, if you like you games a bit trippy and also apreciate a decent challange, check out Pixel Junk Eden.
0 Comments