Review: Flower (PSN) (PS3)

Flower is the latest PSN (Playstation Network) release for TGC (That Game Company). Flow, their previous game, was a cult hit with its simple game play and art style. Flow used the PS3’s six axis motion control system as standard. This system is also used in Flower.

Flower isn’t much of a game. It is more of an interactive experience. There is a curious simplicity to the game play that really does make it feel like something more; than just a game. PSN and TGCs decision to use the six axis control system once again, has proved to be the right choice.

The player plays as “the wind” blowing petals from flower to flower. Each flower(or group of flowers) will add more colour to the landscape in the level and open up new paths. Colour seems to be the emphasis of the whole experience. The main screen puts you in a drab and dark urban setting with only one potted flower on the window sill. With progression more flowers are added to the window sill and when selecting a flower the game cuts away to an urban scene before dropping you into a field to begin returning colour to the land.

Its this contrast that brings Flower into the “Are games art?” debate. It is a near impossible question to answer. However, Flower certainly puts up a case for being artsy and stylish whilst remaining a generally fun game to play. The music adds to the whole experience: rising throughout a level and with each different flower adding a chime or two the musical score feels almost magical.

The visuals on the other hand are to be expected for a game called flower: really colourful and pretty. The level of contrast certainly makes the colour much more vivid. Even if the colour emerging from the darkness is purple for example. With all of the above in mind it definately makes Flower an interesting art like project.

A further investigation of the game reveals there is no written narrative in Flower leaving the player to interpret the game through the visuals . Arguably leaving much more open to the imagination. For me it felt like TGC were trying to say “Hey look at your urban lifestyle, think how dark and drab it really is and now think how colourful the countryside is” Is it a play on the continuing urbanisation of the world? Maybe. Though again thats just my pennies worth of thought. Much like how the game Braid made players around the world think of the narrative and what it actually meant . Flower continues this trend and really it nails it well. The lack of written narrative and the use of subtle narrative adds a whole new level to the game.

On the technical side of things the six axis controls don’t always work as best they could. It isnt really a fault of the game, more a fault with Sony haphazardly throwing in motion control at the last minute for the PS3. It will take a good 10ish minutes to get a full grip on the controls and even then they aren’t perfect.

All in all, Flower is an excellent addition to the PSN family and with a low price point too it makes it a perfect purchase. All PS3 owners should give it a try and see what all the fuss is about.

Score: 5/5