Flower unsurprisingly focuses on plants, but this is no Beechgrove Garden themed experience. The game places you in control of a lead petal, which you can direct and as you fly across other flowers a type of pollination occurs. More petals will join your ever-expanding trail and performing this harvesting act will trigger events and hopefully the way forward to the next area.The game rarely shies away from this charming foundation. Environments will change as you slowly move from the plentiful farming environment, towards the city. The movement is directed by the sixaxis controller, which relies on your hand motions to direct the petals. The only button that you need to concern yourself with is one to activate a gust of wind that can be used to inject some velocity into what is a relaxing experience. The motion control has been effectively implemented and feels a perfect match for the overall feeling that the game is trying to transmit.The debate over whether Flower just like flOw, is interactive art, or an enhanced screensaver, but not a game rages on. While it is easy to pigeonhole the actual playing experience as lacking many of the identifiable characteristics of games today, it does however possess basic gaming principles. Each area offers sadly a linear path of progression to the next level, with a certain goal required to unlock the final sequence. You can for instance scour the landscape for hidden flowers or attempt to complete the necessities required for those PS3 trophies. These are qualities that we've come to associate with games nowadays but the execution here is certainly different. Options and menus are non-existent; the presentation is stripped back so nothing can interfere with your ability to immediately immerse yourself in the experience. The only recognisable inclusion is the end credits and even these are displayed in a fashion to allow a bonus level of sorts.That's what makes Flower so enjoyable. You can whiz through the game in no time at all, but that's actually missing the point. This is not a game about high scores or beating bosses, it's really just about enjoyment pure and simple. Taking you to a place where few games actually dare to tread and we're thankful it doesn't involve weaponry or statistics.Visually as you can see Flower is very distinctive and quite impressive for a download title. The audio and soundtrack add to the final impression. Just take a moment to fly across the fields, seeing the ripple effect your movement has on the plant life. The overall design and vibrant colour schemes add to overall effect of 'what is that?' Just start playing Flower and others will stop and ask what's onscreen. Graphically it is distinctive and mesmerising to onlookers whether they are gaming enthusiasts or not.The final level is the pinnacle of the experience: the only place where a sense of urgency is felt. Here you just feel compelled to reach the top of the tower and take out any industrial obstacles in your way. The temptation is to rush through this stage to reach the end, rather than bringing colour to the stagnant black and white landscape. Flower possesses an addictive quality that is hard to pinpoint and identify. There is no need for high scores or multiplayer events here, and none of the associated frustrations or demands. You'll want to return for a taste of that Flower experience and the liberation that it brings.Gamestyle would argue that Flower is still overpriced for what it represents. Releases on via the PlayStation Store seem to be increasing in price and this title will not be to everyones liking. Five dollars would have been more justifiable for a release such as this, with only one mode, as good as it is.Is there an overall theme here about our impact on nature in the world today? How we must bring back nature into our lives? What you take out of Flower is really your own choice, as an experience it is highly recommended if you have become bored with the majority of releases today. If you prefer your gaming to be a little left of centre than the latest chart topping release then this is for you.
Flower is not so much a game as it is an experience, few titles have managed to move me quite like this, in fact i believe ICO was the last game that gave me this feeling, another game case of less is more.This seems to ... Read Full Review
If there's one thing that can be said of Flower, it's that it supports the long standing argument that video games are an art form. More of an "interactive dream" than a true video game, Flower capitalizes on this argum... Read Full Review
