Flower Review

Many debate whether video games can be art, and every once in a while a game comes along that says "yes, they can." Flower is one of those such games, as its one of the most artistic, and unique gaming experiences in recent memory.

The graphics in Flower are absolutely gorgeous, the many different colors almost jump off the screen, and watching a large patch of brown grass turn into a beautiful sea of green is one of the most visually impressive things I've ever seen. Allowing the game to reminisce which shows many different areas of the level close up by pressing the select button is highly recommended, as it shows the beauty this game has in a whole new light. Flower's most impressive technical feat however is the fact that it throws around thousands of individually modeled blades of grass. But its the artistic quality that really impresses, as each level has it's own unique visual style.

Beautiful.

The music is also very beautiful, setting the relaxing tone of the game just perfectly. The audio design is perhaps Flower's greatest achievement. Each flower has its own distinct audio cue, be it a stringed instrument or chorus song. Its especially cool when you bloom different flowers in quick succession, creating beautiful waves of sound, providing perhaps the greatest incentive for perfecting your path through each level.

Obviously, the gameplay mainly revolves around blooming flowers, which in turn restores the color and beauty back to the specific area. Not all levels are confined to just blooming flowers however. One level has you illuminating patches of grass and other objects, showcasing some wonderful bloom effects. The game takes on a much darker tone after that, which really doesn't fit with the whole concept behind Flower. Thankfully, it gets back on track very quickly.

Wind is your best friend.

The controls are delightfully simple, hold one button, any button to blow the wind, and the sixaxis to control the direction. Again, this fits the relaxed tone of the game very well, as the controls are very responsive, and some of the best use of the PS3's motion controller to date. It takes a little getting used to at first, but you get a feel for it very quickly.

If I could summarize Flower with one word, that word would undoubtedly be beautiful. Flower is a beautiful game in many ways, from its graphics, its music, control, and art direction. It may not last long, but cleverly designed trophies will have you coming back for more. Its worth the ten dollar asking price to be sure, as its one of the most beautiful, serene, and relaxing gaming experiences you'll ever have, and it will have you rethinking your definition of art. And amidst all of the negative talk against DLC as of late, Flower is a refreshing reminder why its one of the greatest things to come out of this generation, because otherwise, smaller developers would never be able to share their creative and artistic masterpieces such as this with the world. If your a gamer with an open mind and can appreciate games such as this, you definitely should give Flower a try.

8.75/10

*Originally written March 23, 2009*