PixelJunk Eden patch on Jan. 15, 'Encore' expansion announced

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 13th 2009 at 4:26PM }

A PixelJunk Eden patch will be ready to pollinate PSN this Thursday, January 15th, according to PlayStation Blog. The patch will add a number of user-requested tweaks, including a new (optional) control scheme, an improved multiplayer camera, a continue system, more time on the clock -- and, if that's not enough, the game's large crystals will now replenish a full one-half of the oscillator meter instead of just a third, Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert recently confirmed. Essentially, the patch fixes the major qualms frustrated Grimps had with the game. The developer also took the opportunity to announce an "Encore" expansion for Eden, but details will be forthcoming over "the next couple of months."

Despite Eden's charm and "casual" appearance, much like PixelJunk Monsters, the difficulty ramped up like a sheer cliff in later levels (yeah, looking at you Garden 7) -- especially when playing with a non-gamer partner. The patch should make the game friendlier (read: easier), and, personally, we're most curious to try out the new control system. We've asked Sony if the new scheme alters having to shake the controller to "insta-drop," because that could definitely be a blessing.

Tags: patch, pixeljunk, pixeljunk-eden, psn, q-games

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Strategy_Panda (The Sandwich Poisoning Crew) @ Jan 13th 2009 4:30PM

sweet. Hopefully I can get those seed achievements on the last few levels

soviet chick @ Jan 13th 2009 4:38PM

Love Eden (and Monsters for that matter), but sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who loves Racers. Where's my PJR Encore?

Good news though.

Lee @ Jan 13th 2009 4:48PM

I love racers! But my save data got deleted when my PS3 HD failed. Gamefaqs and the usual suspects don't seem to have a PJR save data, and I can't be arsed to unlock everything again, could you possibly host yours? :D

And I hope that you can still choose the normal "hard" mode, a friend and I finished the game in the summer, and in the recent drought of games have opted to delete our data and do it again whenever we're bored, so hopefully the easiness is optional too.

343 Guilty Fart @ Jan 13th 2009 5:25PM

Wow, this sounds great! I'm really hoping that they map the insta-drop to a button press. I wonder how they would work a continue system in though?

Wonderwes @ Jan 13th 2009 5:40PM

Pixel Junk Eden is a fantastic game. If you have not played it, certainly download the free demo. The game is quite hard and you can spend easily 30-40min just trying to complete one level. Very simple concept game but very tricky, inventive and overall enjoyable gameplay.

Lee @ Jan 13th 2009 5:45PM

Insta-drop as a button is an unnecessary addition. It's so rarely needed, is hardly a chore and never requires split-second timing.

Levi @ Jan 13th 2009 6:34PM

Actually, I got a lot better with the game once I discovered it. It releases more pollen from the spore thingies than when you hit them during a normal jump or spin. Plus, there are quite a bit of instances where it shaves some time off, which i the current version, can be very helpful.

Courtney @ Jan 13th 2009 5:47PM

Awesome! I'll definitely be firing this back up once the patch is live. I was digging it multiplayer, but my fiance got frustrated with some of the issues this patch is supposed to fix.

Gambrinus @ Jan 13th 2009 5:48PM

I dunno, I may just suck, but I gave up on the game when I hit the level where the normal enemies started breaking your string. I'm not quite sure how you're supposed to be able to get big enough combos to stay alive without being able to kill them with string.

Haggard @ Jan 13th 2009 5:57PM

I played the demo and thought "what am I actually doing in this game?"

Strategy_Panda (The Sandwich Poisoning Crew) @ Jan 13th 2009 6:15PM

you can still "roll" into them.

You just need to have good aim, and timing to link together the combos. The spike prowlers come fairly early in the game (and disappear towards the end... i think).

You definitely need to get used to changing up strategies when you get to later levels because they throw a lot of game changing elements at you.

Levi @ Jan 13th 2009 6:39PM

Gambrinus: Spin on a thread to grab the first one or two, then release to grab a couple more on your way up. On your way down, try to aim an insta-drop (just whip the controller downward quickly) to hit a couple more - that will gain you more pollen.

Haggard: Out of myself + the people I know in person who have played it, about half "get it" and the other half don't. I think it's fun trying to get everything, and it's just kind of a relaxing game to play casually. It starts to get challenging about halfway through, when you have to start figuring out new mechanics that aren't explained, via exploration. Like the flowers that you land on, which are like triggers that open new paths, the booster flowers, and the little warps.

I love the game. You can't play it for more than like an hour or so. Still, you're not the only one who doesn't get it. :)

Lee @ Jan 14th 2009 1:25PM

Just use the L2 or R2 buttons to reel in your string, that will let you build up combos on later levels.

Insta-drop is still not really worthwhile, they don't actually drop more pollen, and it's better to stay in the air so that a partner can extend your combo (they're shared across multiplayer). It's only good to try to prevent people going off screen and losing you pollen.

Levi, what working out do the rock switches/teleporters/boosters require? Surely you use them once and you see how they work?

I only really noticed the time constraint until the fourth/fifth spectra on the last few levels, and I thought it was reasonable, the time is the only thing actually adding difficulty to the game...

I know a couple that 'don't get it', and I can appreciate that, but it's my favourite game of '08, not just DLC.

The patch should mostly be good for fixing the multiplayer camera before the expansion, which isn't soon enough!

PSN: Erdie @ Jan 13th 2009 5:49PM

I wish all my games got updates that fixed everything I dislike about them. Yeah, yeah, completely unrealistic. Still, these guys rock.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jan 13th 2009 6:22PM

i bought and beat about half of this game (also bought PJM when it was $5, but haven't really played it). this game was fun but i remember getting stuck at a level. it's just a very relaxing time killer. these tweaks should help to keep that enjoyment level from rushing to frustration level so quickly.

Levi @ Jan 13th 2009 6:42PM

Dude, I bought Monsters like a month ago and thought it was a so-so purchase at first... Thought, "ehh, it's just a pretty version of what I can play on the internet for free." I was wrong though - Monsters is a fantastic game that offers a level of strategy and originality in the gameplay unsurpassed by any other tower defense game. Even on the normal difficulty, you have to do each stage nearly perfectly just to pass it without losing all your little monster critters. The fact that the game makes you get so many "perfects" just adds to the difficulty and replayability. It's a great game once you get through the first few levels.

j.howlett @ Jan 13th 2009 7:37PM

now i'll try to get deeper into the game. it's cool to play the first couple levels over again since i kinda know my way around but i still run out of time