Flower review
It’s only once in a while that a game comes along that blows you away with originality. Flower does that, and more.
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From the makers of flOw, which is quite noticeable once you know that, Flower is an audiovisual treat.
This downloadable PSN title is a breath of fresh air in a gaming world dominated by themes of war and violence. Give your testosterone a break and become one with nature.
The PS3’s Six-Axis controller is used to maximum effect as you guide a flower petal across a desaturated field, with any of the controller’s buttons giving you the power of wind to float you forward.
As you touch other flowers the trail of petals grows and the landscape slowly fills with colour. Musical notes play as you meander over the landscape and ambient sounds fill the air. It’s all very Zen-like and will instantly have you hooked.
There are seven levels in total, each requiring you to complete a slightly different gameplay objective in order to reach the end. As you progress across fields and hills you move toward a derelict urban landscape, with pylons that have electrical charges which need disabling before you can move on.
The game is so compelling that you’ll find yourself immersed in it until you realise you’ve completed it - which is Flower’s biggest drawback. It’s simply too short.
I understand the limitations of PSN titles and the corresponding budget pricing, but I would have loved for Flower to have been a fully-fledged game and happily handed over my forty notes for the privilege of hours of floating in the breeze.
The inclusion of trophies, some of them secret, does add a certain repeat value, but I’m left wanting more.
9/10