WHO SAID VIDEOGAMES COULDN'T BE REPRESENTATIONS OF ART?

Flower is one of those odd games where a review can never really describe it best, it's simply one of those games where you need to experience it yourself to truly appriate what it is trying and achieves to do. Now avaliable for the Playstation 3 via the Playstation Network, Flower is developed and created by Thatgamecompany the folks who bought us the oddly enjoyable flOw. It's obvious almost insantly that the developers wanted to create something that would affect what the player is thinking or feeling rather then what they are doing. Flower is the sort of experience that will potentially greatly differ from gamer to gamer, because despite it's beauty and relaxing gameplay there is no denying that not every videogamer will understand or appriate what Thatgamecompany have created in Flower. What sort of person do you have to be to understand Flower? well I'm not to sure, but it's an experience that some will hate and some will absolutely fall in love with. 

NOT SURE ABOUT VIDEOGAME POETRY, BUT IT SURE IS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!

As I stated previously, Flower is an experience which is tough to truly describe in a written review. Simply because every gamer will get something different out of the few levels that feature in this PSN title. Like flOw, Flower is quite a short experience and it could be debated if it truly is an actual game. I guess that would depend on what you class as a 'Videogame' though there is more to a videogame then shooting someone in the head with a rifle. That's partly one of the issues many gamers will have with Flower, those that spend most of their spare time shooting other gamers in the head might not totally understand it and might even find those that do enjoy the experience a little odd. Maybe I'm being a little unfair on those that do enjoy such gaming activities as I myself like nothing better then playing an online shooter, but what I'm basically saying is that there will be an whole class of gamers who won't ever understand why other gamers enjoy what Flower somehow achieves. So what is Flower? well putting it in simple terms Flower is a videogame experience where you are the wind. Using the Playstation 3's sixaxis motion controls, you travel around stunningly beautiful environments collecting more flower petals and curing each environment of darkness and depression. At first this isn't exactly clear but once you near to the end few flowers (levels) you realise that in a odd sort of way, you control a figure of beauty which is trying to bring beauty back to the darkness of the environments. Of course this is where you could look at this concept in a few different ways, you could say that Flower as a whole is simply telling us that beauty can be found in the ugliest of things. 

So you may be reading this and thinking, What? What the hell is this man on about? and that would be fair enough. I wouldn't be personally offended as that is simply what I got out of my enjoyable time with Flower. It will be a different experience for each and every gamer and for me I found it to be a very peaceful and relaxing one aswell. Speaking of which, you only have to spend a very short time with Flower to realise what a great looking title it is. Especially when you compare it to Thatgamecompany's previous title flOw which though simply and stylish had nothing on Flower. I shall not get into a console debate but Flower is a great example of the power of the Playstation 3 when it's in the right hands. You will never see grass look more beautiful in a virtual environment and it's an absolute blast speeding through the high tall grass as it slowly parts for the wind (you) and the following trail of colourful petals. It's actually worth stating that Flower is not all high green grass and wonderful sun covered lands for within some specific levels the environments can be dark and quite depressing. But on a style point, there is simply no denying that Flower is one of the most beautiful videogame titles avaliable today.

The Playstation 3's much laughed at sixaxis motion controls actually finally make some sense in Flower, that's saying something in itself considering how many games tag the whole motion controls thing to most games on the Playstation 3. But it works well and the experience wouldn't be the same without it, I'd probably say this is the first game that makes Sony's decision to put in the whole sixaxis concept worth it and it controls well even if your wrist might feel a little sore if you miss a flower or two as you flow around the environments. The overall controls are indeed simple, with only the X button being used as that is the specific button to bring power to the wind. Even Flower's main menu is simple and stylish requiring you to aim at each specific flower (level) and holding the X Button to start that flower up. The game uses motion controls throughout but it does make sense and it doesn't feel as if it hasn't been thought out properly or if it's trying to attract the Wii crowd with it. So for that I give Flower great credit, it helps the sixaxis motion control system make sense and that is a huge thing. The experience had by the gamer isn't only through the eyes and mind, it is also through the gamers ears as Flower is a pleasant listening experience that even when being somewhat dramatic isn't painful to listen to. Infact it's an absolute pleasure to game to and here's hoping we might see some sort of official soundtrack appear on PSN sometime in the near future because I could easily see myself listening to some of those beautiful piano driven tunes again, maybe even when I'm relaxing or in the need to chill out a bit. The whole experience is partly driven by sound, which though simple is pleasant and matches the rest of the style of Flower pefectly. 

Most if not all of what Thatgamecompany is trying to achieve with Flower is achieved beautifully, it's just sad that more of a risk wasn't made with certain environments or that there wasn't enough variations in ideas along the way, because despite how much I enjoyed Flower. I couldn't help but think of unique ideas that would potentially work great in a game like this, I couldn't help but think that gameplay mechanics such as water could have been used to help keep the experience varied or that maybe even more risks were taken over what type of environments Flower's levels were set in. But these are my personal small issues with Flower, and that in itself feels wrong as Flower as a concept is a risk that was worth taking by the developers. Plus I don't know what Thatgamecompany were specifically looking to create in Flower, that's for them to know and for me to find out while playing this truly enjoyable PSN title. Flower being as short as it is, there was no doubt that I wondered about the possibility of seeing some downloadable content sometime in the future and I would personally be happy to purchase some if they offered ideas and environments as unique as the ones found in Flower. But we will have to wait and see if that is a future possibility. Though I suspect there will be enough PS3 owners out there that appriate Flower enough for it to at least be considered. But what is on offer in the current game, is indeed special especially the later two levels which truly show what the developers were looking to achieve and send across to the gamer while playing. They don't just look beautiful but they also have an odd sort of message along the way aswell. 

Thatgamecompany's co-founder Jenova Chen described Flower as it being like 'Videogame Poetry' and although I can see what he is saying in a odd sort of way, there is simply no doubt that much of what gamers will get from Flower will be personal to them rather then a whole concept idea first thought up by the developers. There will be those who simply won't ever understand it, but there will be those that get it's beauty and artisitc stylings whenever they play it. It is debatable if it truly can be classed as a videogame rather then art, but is that argument even worth discussing, why can't it be both. Flower is indeed a representation of art in videogame form and if that isn't your cup of tea then I highly recommend you stay away from Flower. But if your the type of person who can see beauty it's almost anything then you will find a lot to enjoy about Flower. It's currently selling on the Playstation Network for £6.29 or $10 I believe for those in the US, should you or shouldn't you purchase Flower will totally depend on your personal gaming tastes and what you look for in your games. But despite those that judge it before even trying Flower out themselves, there is no denying that what Thatgamecompany as achieved in Flower is a beautifully stunning and personal experience that is a fine example of why videogames and the folks who work in the industry are artists that deserve more credit in the artisitic world. As the gamer, well you get to enjoy some of the most impressive representations of videogame art to ever grace this wonderful form of entertainment. 

PROS!
- Stunningly beautiful, with such a unique stylish soundtrack.
- Helps make the Sixaxis motion control make more sense.
- A mind affecting experience that you'll get something personal out of. 
- One of the best titles to hit the Playstation Network yet. 

CONS!
- Might not make total sense to some gamers. 
- Very short, can be completed within an hour or two. 
- More could be done with the concept and level environments. 

SCORE:

5 STARS OUT OF 5.

Reviews by Joseph Bayliss (TrueEnglishGent)