Initial release date: 2024
Developer:Â Aeternum Game Studio S.L.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S
Genres: Platform game, Adventure
Engine:Â Unity
Publisher:Â Aeternum Game Studio S.L.
These days, cyberpunk games are abundant. This subgenre, which presents a dystopian world drenched in neon that looks great, has struck a chord with gamers of the 2010s and 2020s because it embodies the idea that “the future is now” but also that “the future sucks.” Even if a lot of games with a cyberpunk theme are really entertaining and thought-provoking, their popularity also brings in a lot of quick money.
It’s acceptable to appreciate aesthetics. Games with surreal and realistic art styles have the power to captivate me. The gameplay and the extent to which the narrative uses the art direction to evoke strong emotions in players are what really count. It makes sense that the clichéd cyberpunk aesthetic has persisted for so long since it is undoubtedly a cool one.
Is there a genre that has been used more than cyberpunk? Most likely not, but that won’t stop the creative geniuses of Aeterna Noctis from entering the fray. This time around, it’s not quite as violent as the last, but it’s still an intense action platformer that tests players to the breaking point. Is there anything beyond clichés in this cyberpunk action game? Read our review of Eden Genesis to find out!
Eden Genesis so loudly and proudly displays its influences that it gets annoying. Once upon a time, cyberpunk was a relatively uncommon subgenre in video games; today, it’s one of the most popular in sci-fi literature. I can only take so many wet neon towns reminiscent of Kowloon before the idea becomes overwhelming.
The tale of Eden Genesis attempts to defend its derivative setting by putting the cyborg protagonist Leah through trials in a virtual amalgamation. One of the adverse effects of cybernetic augmentations is that the mechanical parts corrupt the brain in some way. At first, the plot frames it somewhat like HIV, but as it progresses, it becomes clear that it has more in common with a tumor than anything else.
Leah embodies the classic cyberpunk ideal of a tomboyish hacker lady. She is just what you would get if a Westerner had designed Major Kusanagi. Thankfully, she lacks girlbossiness, and her voice actor does a good job with what she has to work with.
Major cutscenes are fully animated, potentially TV-quality pieces that are remarkably cinematic. The absence of animation in the character’s mouths was one jarring stylistic decision. It appears cheap, especially considering how much more sophisticated everything else in these sequences appears to be than simply animating mouths.
One can deduce the exact plot point of Leah’s story from Eden Genesis if they can identify even half of the incessant allusions the game makes. The narrative seems like a justification for all of the overly sentimental behavior. Almost all cyberpunk media is so heavily referenced in the game that it doesn’t add anything new to the narrative.
Some cameos seem like they might be in violation of copyright, while some are so subtle and mischievous that it makes me smirk and gesture at the screen. At times, the appearances seem illogical, and Eden Genesis resembles a parody of Ready Player One, which is also mentioned in the game.
Cyberpunk media did not include Sea of Stars, Back to the Future, or Trigun. The frequency of inappropriate allusions made me doubt the authenticity of the narrative, and Leah’s concerns became completely meaningless. It would have been better with a little more inventiveness and restraint.
Comparable to Aeterna Noctis, Eden Genesis is an extremely difficult 2D action platformer game. Like in a Kirby game, it has a big, expansive city hub that gradually opens up as Leah finishes levels. There is extremely little margin for error because the player receives nothing if their performance is rated worse than an A at any level. Only the top three finishers will receive tickets, which may be redeemed at gates akin to Super Mario 64’s where players use stars to unlock doors.
Even though Leah has the most ridiculous running animation in any video game, her controls are incredibly responsive and crisp, making the framework a solid base upon which to expand. As long as players know which way to push the analog stick, she can run up walls and even ceilings with ease. It feels amazing to air dive, double or triple jump, catch shards, and use her laser sword to defeat enemies.
Preventing the depletion of a combination gauge is the key to Leah’s abilities. She can’t take too many hits, players are under continual time pressure, and the level design is quite harsh and merciless, so this is harder than you might expect. It is crucial to have speed, accuracy, and grace, and it is simple to spend more than an hour on a single stage attempting to improve your score and obtain an additional ticket.
The platforms are far enough apart and the obstacles are deviously positioned to make platforming extremely tight. Leah can also be launched by butt-slamming down a variety of slopes to gain the necessary speed boost and momentum. It’s a precision-based experience, similar to hitting your marks in a Meatboy game. You will need to jump higher in the air to overcome large distances, so kill enemies to gain an extra jump.
In order to pass some stages, players must eliminate every enemy in the room quickly enough. There is a little more leeway for error in these assault challenges, but you still need to be quick and lethal. To reach wandering sentries and mechs, you still need to do difficult platforming and gravity-defying parkour.
The relentless pace of difficult platforming and harsh requirements to obtain tickets in order to advance the plot gets tiresome after a while. The only solace is exploring the town and attempting to move the plot along. There is occasionally a minigame called “hacking,” although it is incredibly trivial compared to how much difficult the rest of the game is.
Eden Genesis is a difficult game to suggest unless you like being punished all the time. The relentless gameplay becomes monotonous because there isn’t enough variation to go around. The ridiculous quantity of retries makes this game, which is also rather long, longer.
Fortunately, Eden Genesis is open-ended, allowing players to freely explore most stages at their own time and out of chronological order. It is truly cathartic and satisfying to hit a wall on some stages, return to them later, and receive a higher grade. Unless you become an Eden Genesis master, you won’t feel as though you’ve experienced everything the game has to offer. You won’t need to collect all the tickets to reach the finish.
Review Overview
Gameplay – 68%
Story – 65%
Aesthetics – 72%
Content – 70%
Accessibility – 65%
Value – 68%
Overall Rating – 68%
Fair
Summary: A specific type of player that craves a substantial challenge and a high skill ceiling is drawn to this style of game. It’s unfortunate that despite Eden Genesis’ best efforts, players looking for a gripping narrative with likable characters won’t get what they’re looking for. You will feel completely at home if you enjoy pointing at objects on the screen that you are familiar with.