It’s always a bit strange playing an old game for the first time, not that I like calling Project Eden because it only just came out on PlayStation 2, and how can that be old? What – that was 20 years ago? Well that’s Friday in the bin. But what I mean is, experiencing Project Eden for the first time now is a bit like watching a classic film. There’s an air of historical importance to it, even if it is a bit clunky.
The premise is an intriguing one. Project Eden is a game by Tomb Raider creator Core Design, and it puts you in control of a squad of four law enforcement agents investigating the disappearance of various people in a futuristic city. It has that typical early 2000s feel to it: an undefined future that’s clean yet also far from pleasant. There are some wild predictions in it, like synthetic meat companies. Imagine!
It’s got some nice ideas. Towards the beginning, you can interview people, and I wish there was more of this. It’s not award-winning dialogue but it’s interesting, and it breaks up the puzzle solving, which is actually the heart of this game, team-based shooter looks aside.
The puzzles are simultaneously compelling and a bit frustrating, presumably because, in typical double-A style, Project Eden doesn’t quite fire on all cylinders. The key is to use your team of characters together, solving different parts of puzzles individually. But asking them to do even simple things like follow you around is awkward. All too often, you’ll wander off to an objective and realise someone hung back for, seemingly, no good reason.