Review by Mike

Game by
thatgamecompany

Gameplay: 9
Graphics: 9.5
Sound: 10
Appeal: 5

Final: 93%

Grade: A

Flower is the newest game from thatgamecompany and follows their debut PSN title: flow.  The company was founded by Jenova Chen and Kellee Santiago, whose first game collaboration, Cloud, was back in 2006 as students at USC.  You can download Cloud for Free online.  thatgamecompany is a truly innovative, experimental, and unique 7 person studio whose goal of making  video games that communicate different emotional experiences is definitely reached with flower. 

Gameplay: 9/10
Flower is a fantastic experience.  Each of the 7 levels in the game represent a  different flower’s dream (or nightmare).   The objective of each level is different, but the basic mechanic of the game is that you control a trail of flower petals as you attempt to race around and bloom other flowers.  As your petals touch a flower, the flower will bloom and add to your flower trail.  You control your trail of petals by tilting the SIXAXIS controller.  While pressing  the X-button gives you a speed boost.  The controls are very reminiscent of flOw except that flower features a 3D space to move around in rather than a 2D one.  The gameplay in flower is simple, but the emotional and relaxing mechanics make it a joy to play.  One of the highlights of the game is how this simple gameplay mechanic evolves as you continue through the game.

Graphics: 9.5/10
The graphics for flower are breathtaking and look right out of a panoramic landscape painting.  The art direction, watercolor painting style cut scenes, and graphics are all very impressive for a downloadable title and among the best seen in a strictly download-only game.  I guess this should all be expected since the founders of the studio graduated with an MFA in interactive art.

Sound: 10/10
Even more impressive than the graphics is the sound which mixes atmospheric and ambient natural sounds with orchestral music to complement the mood onscreen.  As you bloom flowers the chimes of the orchestra will poignantly emphasize the joys of nature and the excitement and pleasure that this game brings.

Lasting Appeal: 5/10
Flower is incredibly short.  It only has a few levels and the whole thing can be completed within 2-3 hours if you play nonstop.  While it’s true that there’s the added challenge of finding the 3 hidden green flowers in each level and going for all the game’s trophies, this doesn’t change the fact that the game is one of the shortest experiences on the market, even if it’s also one of the most unique.

Average: 83.75%
Tilt: +9.25%

Flower’s experience may be short, but it is exceptional.  The game is beautiful and moving despite never saying a word.  It is a game about creation rather than destruction, nature over development,  and beauty over darkness.  flower is a piece of art that resonates with a whisper rather than the revving of a chainsaw bayonet.

Verdict: 93%