Project Eden is an interesting mix of a genres, where we have a mix of action tpp with puzzles. A team of three people (and one robot) are send to find a missing engineers in Real Meat factory. What seems to be a simple case turns out to be something way bigger. The game is set in the future, with a mega cities build similary like in Fifth Element - growing upwards. As a team you will go in the opposite direction, only down and see the decaying old remnants of once populated areas.
As mentioned, we have four members of the UPA (Urban Protection Agency) - Carter (chief, can open some doors with high security levels), Andre (engineer, will fix machine, computer panels, etc), Minoko (can hack into the computers, plus use turret systems and cameras for your advantage), and last but not least - Amber (real juggernaut robot that has rocket launcher as a personal weapon, plus she can move through toxic/electricity/fire without dying).
The beginning is really easy, and gets you accustomed to the whole story, plus there isn't much to get stuck, when it comes to finding your wait out. But after first level you quickly grab more gear, get new toys that will help you navigate through ( a portable minitank, a drone like camera) will be a life savers for you. The puzzles get more interesting, and sometimes you need to coordinate your moves with each member of the team to successfully move onward. Plus you will face many enemies on your way that won't hesitate to kill you. If you keep them at a distance you shouldn't have a problem. But when they are close, their attacks can be very vicious. Excluding the ones that have pistols/machine guns. You can clearly see how Code Masters team was influenced by the Carpenter's "Thing" during development.
Through the levels we find the regen stations, where are fallen members are being sent once their health is depleted. Similar to System Shock / Bioshock it makes it a lot easier for those who aren't as good with weapons and action sequences. In addition there are power panels, where we can boost our energy. Every weapon and tool uses it, so we won't be searching through the dumpsters for ammo. Battery cells in the beginning will save us some trouble moving back and forth, but later on we will get a special gadget, that can convert the organic matter to them as well. TIP - use it on the most slow enemies with huge hp to have some energy stashed.
Each weapon has two fire modes, which we choose in the hood. We change characters simply by pressing 1,2,3 and 4. There is quick save and normal saving as well. My advice is to use at least 3 normal slots plus one quick. Later on, when the levels get really huge and without knowing it you moved with the wrong character and can't progress, it's a time saver. The quick load is very fast, it works immediately. No loading screen, just pop and you are good to go.
PE really has great level design. At the beginning it's not so perceptible, but the more you venture down, the more you realize how much the puzzles go from fairly simple to really interesting, more nuanced and how you need to use the whole team and not just shoot your way through. The pathfinding is really good and the AI controlled members quickly react, when they see danger in their line sight. I like to play PE with a custom soundtrack with dark ambient tracks. The OST isn't bad, but when you find a proper album, it just intensifies the whole experience to a new level, with all those dark chasms and desolated buildings. The atmosphere, even with a PS 2 era graphics is still there. One of those underrated gems that never got the recognition they've deserved.