An Eden for E3
Known in the 90s as the mastermind behind the breakthrough technology that made SNES classic Starfox possible, Q-Games founder Dylan Cuthbert looks likely to achieve a similar celebrity status before the year is out – albeit this time as an indie developer. Although the brand got off to an iffy start with Racers, the PS3-exclusive Pixeljunk series of downloadable games have gone from strength to strength. This past Summer’s second instalment, Monsters, was a uniquely addictive and deceptively deep take on the fledgling desktop tower-defence genre swaddled in a cutesy aesthetic, and the third Pixeljunk, set to be released later in 2008, could well turn out to be a surprise favourite at E3 next month.
Take a look for yourself:
Take a look for yourself:
With most of the major pre-show events done and dusted, game journalists the world over are largely unenthused – after the overwhelming disappointment of last year’s expo, the coming E3 looks ready to lower the bar even further. There’s a dearth of genuinely fresh new concepts; Gears of War 2 might be bigger, better and more alliterative, but from the footage released so far it’s simply more of the same. The same good thing – don’t get me wrong, I’m looking forward to the further adventures of Marcus Fenix as much as the next guy – but by and large, E3 2008 looks to be a showcase for re-iterations of tired old ideas. Return to the trenches in Call of Duty 5. Experience postmodern combat again in Tom Clancy’s latest sure thing, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 3. Gouge out your own eyes in anticipation of the underwhelming breadcrumb trail Fable 2 hopes other developers will follow. I can wait – honestly, I can.
But not for Pixeljunk Eden. Genuinely innovative and utterly bewitching, Q-Games’ latest will rock your boxer shorts. Platform your way through a series of alien gardens, hunting pollen to help you grow plants which will grant improved access to those stray collectibles that tower above your grimp - which is to say, a creature whose purpose, and name, is but to grip and jump. It doesn't sound like a revolution in game design, but Eden offers a pared-down experience that is pure, puzzling fun. Consider for a moment the integration of three-player co-op. And at full HD resolution it is just beautiful... breathtaking even.
The demands of short-sighted readerships and calculated PR companies on the various outlets of our enthusiast press are sure to result in the naming of a motley selection of sequels as the games of the show. But of all the previews I’ve read and seen so far, the third entry in Cuthbert’s almost-episodic model of diversity beats them one and all to the proverbial punch - Pixeljunk Eden is game of the pre-show!
But not for Pixeljunk Eden. Genuinely innovative and utterly bewitching, Q-Games’ latest will rock your boxer shorts. Platform your way through a series of alien gardens, hunting pollen to help you grow plants which will grant improved access to those stray collectibles that tower above your grimp - which is to say, a creature whose purpose, and name, is but to grip and jump. It doesn't sound like a revolution in game design, but Eden offers a pared-down experience that is pure, puzzling fun. Consider for a moment the integration of three-player co-op. And at full HD resolution it is just beautiful... breathtaking even.
The demands of short-sighted readerships and calculated PR companies on the various outlets of our enthusiast press are sure to result in the naming of a motley selection of sequels as the games of the show. But of all the previews I’ve read and seen so far, the third entry in Cuthbert’s almost-episodic model of diversity beats them one and all to the proverbial punch - Pixeljunk Eden is game of the pre-show!
posted by Niall Rough at Monday, May 19, 2008
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