Right. I'm going to just throw my cards on the table from the off and state for the record that I found
Flower to be an incredible experience which is as relaxing and peaceful as it is joyfully exhilarating. This is great game which I totally recommend to all PS3 owners. Phew. I had to get that out of the way. You see, since being absorbed into ThatGameCompany's beautiful dreamscape, every single person who I've described it to has responded along the lines of, "Hmmm, that sounds crap." Well it's not.
Playing Flower involves controlling the wind using the motion-sensitive aspect of the of the Sixaxis pad to blow a petal through an initially bleak-looking landscape. By guiding the petal towards other flowers scattered through the fields, more petals will be added to the trail you blow through the air and colour will begin to explode throughout the environment. There are no bad guys to kill, there's no
obviously discernable plot to speak of and it's not until the penultimate level that anything resembling danger appears. Instead there is the breathtaking sense of freedom felt from swooping, diving and
spiraling through the open grassy plains and rocky valleys; the feeling of satisfaction as you glide gently and effortlessly across a moonlit meadow, creating swirling patterns of light as you go while the landscape evolves around you, opening up new areas to explore, influence and enjoy.
It's Flower's ability to send a tingling feeling down your spine, as the world around you becomes a more beautiful place because of your actions, that makes it so compelling. The slow build-up of colour and music, which come together in a stunning crescendo, warming your heart and offering such a different style and pace to just about every other title I've played.
.
"sends
a tingling feeling
down your spine" |
For all of it's brilliance and individuality, however, there is one glaring downside: it's all over far too quickly. Replay value is high simply due to the relaxing, freedom-inducing nature of the title, but with only six or so levels to play through, it only really offers three or four hours of gameplay before you find yourself re-treading old territory. Under any normal circumstances that would make this game appalling value for money, except this game is a download from the PlayStation Network and only costs £6. Bargain.
This is another wonderful example of game developers being given the freedom to create a truly unique experience due to the title being a download, avoiding the usual costs of physical distribution. Given the affordable price, even the most sceptical, action-obsessed PS3 owner should give
Flower the chance it deserves.
For if Flower is given a chance, it'll give back to the player so much more than the entrance fee required. Even as you reach the final level, ThatGameCompany continues to raise the stakes as you begin raising an entire city from the ground in glorious technicolour while your vast trail of petals continue their journey, flowing through the air as if part of some enormous symphony of light and sound, following a path of inevitability yet remaining in full control and possessing total freedom.
For such a small price, this is a title that everyone should experience. If your mind is open to the possibilities of what a game
can be instead of what it's perceived that games
should be, then you'll discover an immensely rewarding experience that will make your life feel that little bit better. If, on the other hand, you prefer your gaming to be action-packed gun-fights with explosions by the bucket-load, then you might want to head towards
Killzone 2 instead. But when you're tired of all the destruction, and headshots no longer satisfy, give
Flower a chance. If nothing else, it'll provide you with the best post-deathmatch relaxation time you could ever imagine.
87%
A
blissful, blossoming bargain.
About
our scores...
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