“It’s a game about flowers? Really? How does that even work?”
Available for purchase on the PlayStation Network as a game, it’s truly a difficult task to definitively label Flower as such. It features a wide variety of levels, from beautiful, cascading meadows to a harsh urban landscape, and prompts the user to interact with other flowers, often yielding spectacular results.
Mountains move, steel girders crumble and once-barren fields become lush expanses of flowers and colors. Adding to the overall effect are rolling fields of grass, which react to each and every gust of wind. What’s important to mention here though, is that each blade of grass is individually modeled and reacts in its own way. This really helps to provide a very realistic user experience.
This is merely one of many innovations found within the context of the game. One of the biggest is the unique control scheme. The game utilizes the controller’s motion-sensing ability to direct the petals. This provides a very user-friendly interface that anyone can easily adapt to. In addition, this mandatory range of motion only further integrates the user into the experience. Also, with no clearly defined story, one is allowed to easily progress through the levels, appreciating every little detail presented. However, that’s not to say there isn’t a story to be found here.
Though it’s hard to define a true story, the level progression does give impressions of the harmful effects of industrialization. It’s fairly easy to have this perception though, at one point, the game switches from colorful fields to a rainy, darkened level with many dangerous, electrified towers placed throughout. The game really takes a turn from the norm here, but I feel that it does serve its ultimate purpose in the end, by pulling the user out of their safety and thrusting them into an area where danger awaits with every gust of wind.
In addition to the standard gameplay, there are also 14 trophies to be unlocked, which helps to give the user something to shoot for while traversing the various landscapes. Other than that, there is very little replayability to be found here.
In the end, Flower is a game, but not in the literal sense of the word. It features gameplay, but not in the traditional sense. Instead, this is an experience that prides itself on innovation. From the control scheme to the overall concept, Flower truly is like nothing you have ever seen before. For that, I highly recommend this to any PlayStation3 owner. Sadly, it just seems to be over way too quick. As a whole, this is a fun time and it should not be missed.
Score: 8/10
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