There was a time in the
motion picture industry when the judicious use of lighting could denote emotion,
could bring joy or dread to a scene. But then we got to a place where everything
just became about color and splashing it around without any sense of creative
use.
When next-gen consoles were
introduced, the potential was there for innovative steps forward in terms of
creative gaming trends. Too often, it seems, we are stuck in the miasma of
familiar game mechanics and retread concepts.
And that is what makes a
game like Flower so refreshing. The game is not overly complex and yet
tantalizes with a rich palette of colors that the player controls. Each level is
an environment and the player is the wind. You pick up petals from blossoming
flowers and, using the motion-control of the SIXAXIS controller, push and steer
the petals throughout the environment, over other flowers that have auras around
them (in some levels there are not flowers and you decorate with glowing bits of
light). As you complete the circuits you bring lift to the environments; grasses
will change colors and trees will blossom.
The staging area for the
whole game is a city, that begins as dull and drab and as each level is
completed, it also takes on color.
Flower is from the same team
that was responsible for flOw – thatgamecompany – and published by SCEA. It is a
mixture of three-dimensional environments coupled with simple game mechanics,
filtered through a rich color scheme with a wonderful and appropriate musical
score dancing behind each level. This game borders on a truly Zen-like
experience.
The game is appropriate for
all ages and the difficulty ramps up as you progress through the levels. Shortly
along the path, you will encounter wind mills that create their own push and you
will find yourself redirected easily should you get into that stream.
There is not a whole lot to
the game in terms of options or even different maps for levels you have already
accomplished. In that regard the game may not have much to offer in terms of
replayability. And there is no multiplayer available. This is a very
straightforward game.
Graphically, the game
sparkles and the music is wonderful, with each flower you touch giving off its
own tone and adding it to the symphony of the game. The controls are easy to understand and
use.
There is little doubt that
the game is imaginative and a bit unlike anything else available on the
PlayStation 3 console. It should have a wide demographic but while there is talk
of the ability to customize the experience, the version GameZone received didn’t
really show that. Still, for what it is, Flower is definitely worth a look.
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Gameplay: 8.5
The controls are
easy to use, the load times are minimal, but the game may not have a lot of
replayability outside of the initial run-through. Sure, you can go back at any
time and try to complete the level faster or grab more petals than you did the
first time through, but the levels did not seem to change at all.
Graphics: 9.0
This is a real
visual treat.
Sound: 9.0
Inasmuch as the game
is a feast for the eyes, it is also a delight for the ears
Difficulty: Easy/Med
Concept: 8.8
The dev team did a
fine job of creating a game that blended compelling graphics with simple
gameplay.
Overall: 8.7
This is a beautiful
game that is easy to pick up and play and should be accessible to anyone in the
family. The game may falter in terms of replayability, but the levels have been
designed to bring a true emotional feeling to the game through the use of
lighting and music.
