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| Release date: | 12 February 2009 |
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| Developer: | thatgamecompany |
| Publisher: | SCEE |
| Genre: | Simulation |
| Players: | 1 |
Overview
PlayStation Network welcomes another concept that challenges traditional game conventions.
thatgamecompany, the company responsible for the genre defying flOw, is back with Flower, a game that expands on the team's tradition of delivering simple gameplay, accessible controls and a medium to explore emotions uncommon in videogames.
In Flower, the surrounding environment, often pushed to the background in many games, is pulled to the forefront and becomes the primary character. The player fades from an external and stressful world and journeys through beautifully vivid landscapes, changing the surroundings and exploring nature along the way.
Playing as the wind, the player guides and grows a swarm of petals by interacting with other flowers and the surrounding environment. The goals and journey in each level vary, but all involve flight, exploration and interaction with the level. Using simple SIXAXIS wireless controls, the player guides the lead petal and accumulates a swarm of flower petals while moving serenely through the environment, causing the on-screen world to change.
Flower's gameplay offers different experiences, pacing and rhythm to all players. Both pastoral and at times chaotic, Flower is a visual, audio and interactive escape on PS3.
- Accessible controls appeal to both the casual and seasoned gamer and offer a simplistic and relaxing experience
- Over 200,000 blades of grass are simulated and animated simultaneously on-screen, creating a verdant environment not possible on any other format
- Players with differing skill levels and/or moods can intuitively customise their game experience and enjoy the game at their own pace
Preview
Flower offers a bouquet of joy
Live the dreams of a potted plant in a dreary world.
After the success of its underwater evolution simulator, fl0w, thatgamecompany is back with another sensory massage on PlayStation Store.
In Flower, you control the most unusual of protagonists - a gust of wind. The game begins on the window sill of a dull room on a rainy day. As you focus on a single potted flower, wilting from the boredom, you are transported into its dream - a wide open field of lush grass and blossoming flora.
Tilting the Wireless Controller directs your breeze, which begins with a single petal floating on it, and pressing any button blows it in the direction you are facing. From there, you are free to explore the gorgeous world and interact with it. Blowing past flowers releases their petals and adds them to the colourful collection that follows you, snaking around your movements like a ribbon while you soar across the landscape.
Certain flowers give off an aura and collecting these provokes reactions in the environment. Sometimes this opens a new path, while at other times it triggers an explosion of colour and fertility in an area previously consigned to darkness.
Graphically, Flower is stunning and the stylised visuals, combined with an ethereal soundtrack of strings and delicate chimes whenever you collect a flower, create a hypnotic experience. Up to 200,000 blades of grass are simulated on-screen at any given time, and soaring through them at great speed, seeing them sway and part realistically, is a joy to behold.
Flower's instructions are simple: tilt the controller to soar, press any button to blow wind... relax, enjoy. It's the antithesis to a high octane shooting or racing game and, like fl0w, the central idea is for the player to enjoy their own experience, at their own pace.
Soothing, intriguing and gorgeous on the eyes and ears, Flower is one of the most original titles available from PlayStation Store.
