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TGS 2008: Flower Updated Hands-On

By Brian Ekberg, GameSpotPosted Oct 8, 2008 9:56 pm PT

If a flower could dream, it might be something like this beautiful PSN adventure game.

TOKYO--If a flower could dream, it might look something like the upcoming PlayStation Network game Flower from developer thatgamecompany (who also made another strong game statement with 2007's flOw on the PSN. We first saw the game back at E3 2008 and have been impressed with its lovely imagery and simple aesthetic ever since. Today, on the floor of TGS, we had a chance to check out Flower for ourselves and try our hands at playing the petal-pushing wind.

Flower's plot is minimal but nonetheless effective. The game's evocative imagery begins with a single, bent flower, wilting in the windowsill of a drab-looking apartment. The next scene has the camera pull back from a equally dour painting of a city, as if the flower is dreaming of leaving its urban confines for another land. You're then transported to that land--a flowing landscape of gentle hills where we return to that single flower. Holding any button will begin the level, as a single petal breaks off the flower and begins its exploration.

Control in Flower is as simple as can be. You hold any button to add wind to the petal and steer it around the level using the motion sensors in the PS3 controller. Angling the controller left or right will turn the camera (and the petals) in that direction, and you can adjust the elevation of your flowers by pitching the controller up or down. It's a bit like a flight simulator, only far more pleasant to control and with no fear of crashing.

The goal in Flower? To search out the other flowers in a level, make contact with them, and restore life back to dead areas of the levels you will explore. As you zip through the levels, all you need to do is touch a planted flower to restore it to life; doing so will add petals to your ever-growing collection until you have a veritable storm of flower petals following your every whim. To clear a level, you simply have to activate all of the flowers in an area then move on to the next. In a particularly nice touch, the game's elegant musical score is punctuated with soft musical touches each time you activate a flower--the result is a unique musical accompaniment that truly adds to the game's already pleasant atmosphere.

While we were mesmerized by its lilting soundtrack and gorgeous visuals, it remains to be seen if that simple aesthetic is enough to keep someone engaged with Flower for a long time. Still, there's no denying that it's a beautiful attempt at marrying games and art and we look forward to exploring its melancholy approach in the near future. Flower is set for release in 2009.

37 Comments

  • Karrotjuce

    Posted Jan 18, 2009 3:30 pm PT

    its a cool idea, and i a agree with Zidaneski, that it will show that video games are more than poeple give them credit for being.

  • sirkel28

    Posted Dec 27, 2008 12:30 pm PT

    Definitely something different. It doesn't seem like much of a game as more of just a mellow out tool, but we will see. Looks nice.

  • hot_shot_9

    Posted Dec 24, 2008 4:07 pm PT

    I dont know what to do with this game ae..... It looks like a cool as game ae but some of the other people are right, like how long could u actually just keep on playing a game where u control a flower....... XD

    Oh well, ill probably get it ae.... Use it to chill out..... Or just play when dont feel liking shooting the sh*t outtah bad guys in games like resistance........

  • Zidaneski

    Posted Oct 21, 2008 10:12 pm PT

    I like how there seem to be more and more of this interactive game stuff because it will hopefully diminish the generalization that video games are all about collecting coins and headshots.

  • melante

    Posted Oct 20, 2008 10:05 pm PT

    This is going to be a delightful game but I guess it'd "resonate" much strongly amongst Wii casual players than with PS3 action-thirst user base, as the previous comments seem to indicate
    No worries guys, just different tastes!

  • BobRea

    Posted Oct 19, 2008 9:19 pm PT

    I agree with kvbrock 100%.

  • PS3man2893

    Posted Oct 18, 2008 7:45 am PT

    It looks decent. Not for me though.

  • theshredmaestro

    Posted Oct 17, 2008 10:50 am PT

    @teabag champion: LOL I can already taste the major suckage of this POS.

  • TeabagChampion

    Posted Oct 16, 2008 6:13 am PT

    I agree with kvbrock. The whole time that you are flying around... you dont see any kind of wildlife or humans. This game looks great.... for me to poop on!

  • kvbrock

    Posted Oct 14, 2008 12:41 am PT

    Great if you are on acid.

  • SaintAjora

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 10:44 pm PT

    When I'm stressed out I play a bit of flOw. It's the most relaxing game I have ever played. I'm very much looking forward to flOwer, it's gonna be beutiful.

  • gamerjerome posted Oct 10, 2008 6:51 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    gamerjerome

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 6:51 pm PT (hide)

    Yawn..

  • Echo2222

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 6:50 pm PT

    lol. I guese it does kinda being out the sensitive side. I dont know if I would play this game when The guys come over.

    "Alright lets play halo."

    "Hey I got this new game, check it."

    "whats it called"

    "flowers."

    "FLowers, thats not."

    "OW look at the preaty flowers,"

    *emotional music starts*

    YOu get what I mean, but Im sure its going to be fun but I hope they somehow add variations to it.

  • Wired-Mind

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 12:59 pm PT

    Incredibly nice (See gameplay movies)
    But how for how long will it be fun
    and will it attract much players,

    But still a very nice concept
    cheers for the out-the-box designers

  • gonzalezj1

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 9:17 am PT

    I like that a few gamemakers still think "outside the box", but I'm just not sure that this game will be able to hold many people's attention for very long.

  • airboygt

    Posted Oct 10, 2008 5:39 am PT

    I'm normally not in to "touchy-feely" games like this, but something about "Flower" just tugs at my sensitive side. I suppose it’s the lush imagery or the manner in which it’s presented makes it seem like flying in a dream.

  • buckizard posted Oct 9, 2008 11:00 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    buckizard

    Posted Oct 9, 2008 11:00 pm PT (hide)

    This is a game?! Maybe a screensaver. Who the heck wants to float around as a flower petal?

  • sabitrulz posted Oct 9, 2008 7:47 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    sabitrulz

    Posted Oct 9, 2008 7:47 pm PT (hide)

    Ohh look at da grafix,Dis is da most impressive looking ingame grafix have i ever seen...................................just can't wait for dis beauty.

  • HolteEnder4Life

    Posted Oct 9, 2008 5:40 pm PT

    looks weird, im optimistic about it, seems like it will be nice to chill out with

  • Stealth-S-117

    Posted Oct 9, 2008 11:30 am PT

    I think their next game should be a 360 with the RRoD, dreaming of it's return to Microsoft for repairs.

    Yeah, like my one. Game looks pretty cool actually. Not something hardcore like Gears or ghost recon, but just something you can use to chill out with.

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