PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Flower
by Jem Alexander 
{ Jan 19th 2009 at 12:00PM }
We blitzed through the three-level preview and there was a sincere feeling of disappointment when, upon trying to access the fourth level, we were greeted with a simple message; "To be continued." Flower is simply a joy to play, which is funny because there isn't even much of a game in there. Not in comparison to a Final Fantasy title or Killzone 2, at least. If you've played ThatGameCompany's first PS3 outing, flOw, you'll be familiar with this sort of ludological whimsy.
Before anyone gets worried, I'll make it clear that Flower definitely has more gameplay than flOw did. The premise is simple. You are a gust of wind inside a flower's dream and you must carry petals to other flowers in order to progress to the end of the level. There's no time limit, no hazards, no points system and, really, no way to fail.
Gallery: Flower
Controls involve little more than tilting the controller. Back and forth to alter the pitch, left and right for the yaw. Pressing any button will speed you up, just like in flOw, allowing you to get from point A to B much faster and allowing you to chain together flowers much more speedily. When you reach a flower it will make a sound, which differs depending on the color, so passing by a number in quick succession will reward you with a short tune. Flower is full of these personal rewards, as opposed to anything that affects gameplay.
Each flower will offer up a petal to you so while you start off carrying a single petal along, by the end of a level you'll have a billowing mass of them, all of differing colors. The aim of the game, in case you're not aware, is to heal the environments by collecting these petals. Some flowers will only appear after others have been gathered, which will in turn spark a "healing burst" animation, which colors in the graying landscapes, similar to healing a Fertile Ground in Prince of Persia. Doing so will allow you to progress further into new areas.
Did we mention Flower looks absolutely stunning? Each individual blade of grass is rendered and animates individually and the landscapes are colorful and seemingly endless. There are invisible walls which you prevent you going outside of the level boundaries by blowing you back the way you came, but there's still a tremendous feeling of freedom as you fly around the environments, ascending into the sky to scope out where the next bunch of flowers are.
Flower is relaxing and soothing. A perfect antidote to the majority of testosterone and adrenaline fueled titles. It's also really fun to play, once you get into the controls. We've played through these three levels more times than we can count, trying to find all the hidden flowers. It's all just really nice. The gentle and melodic soundtrack certainly helps.
We predict that Flower may be a big hit with the indie crowd (and, hopefully, everyone else too). We've no idea if they'll stick some more gameplay elements in, like a points system, before full release, but we sort of hope they don't. Playing Flower is its own reward. Speaking of rewards, we're not sure how they're going to implement trophies but if Linger In Shadows managed it, we're sure they'll find a way.
[UPDATE] Flower's release date has been revealed as February 12th for both the US and Europe.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kavorka @ Jan 19th 2009 12:08PM
"There's no time limit, no hazards, no points system and, really, no way to fail."
Shouldn't that lead to the conclusion that there's really "no fun to be had" or "no point in playing?". I guess I play Animal Crossing, and that game falls under the aforementioned statement, in many ways. We shall see!
Eric E @ Jan 19th 2009 12:19PM
comes out on my (and Abraham Lincolns) brifday. I guess i'll just buy it anyway as a present to myself (if its around $5)
Any chance of a demo? think pre or post release?
The Alex @ Jan 19th 2009 12:23PM
I'd hope that if PS3 Fanboy received a "preview copy" with 3 levels, that this same "demo" will be available to everyone upon it's release.
I also hope that the price is reasonable... from what I've seen, anything more than $5 might be too much.
havoc @ Jan 19th 2009 12:28PM
Youd think that theyd atleast put in some extra modes to enhance the thing. After all the work they must of put into the game you think theyd want to expand it a little. To me flow was really lame because it seemed like it could of been so much more but they just decided not to put any (tacky stickers on their beautiful painting) bad illustration maybe.
Kyle Barrett @ Jan 19th 2009 12:41PM
You are excellent.
Keep the word ludological flowing.
Gonzalo Frasca would be proud to see it in mainstream use, in relation to electronic gaming.
Cigol @ Jan 19th 2009 12:30PM
I suspect there will be similarly cheap addons further down the line.
jondastunna84 @ Jan 19th 2009 12:31PM
So exactly what market is this game for anyways? botanists?
Patrick @ Jan 19th 2009 12:42PM
Will be glad to see the day when most people's ideas of what a game is drastically broadens. Different isn't always a bad thing.
aj @ Jan 20th 2009 10:11AM
I agree with you to a point.
A video game should have a goal in mind, a reason to pay money for it and spend time with it. If a video game is no better than the sorts of games you can play by yourself with an active imagination, then you should go save yourself some money and play imaginary games with yourself.
(I am not, for the record, saying this negatively. We were all children once, and we all had a lot of fun playing make believe. Why do we need to pay for our make believe as adults? Better question - why are video games becoming more popular as the graphics become more realistic? Isn't photo-realism in games actually killing what little imagination we have left?)
I think a video game should have a point, victory conditions and failure conditions. Otherwise why are you paying for the thing?
Fane @ Jan 21st 2009 3:48AM
I think games are becoming more popular as they become less game-y (points, bosses, etc.) and more like other entertainment media.
nakedatthecomp @ Jan 19th 2009 12:50PM
I still don't understand what you're actually supposed to do in this game
Daniel @ Jan 19th 2009 12:53PM
me neither lol
luis2101 @ Jan 19th 2009 1:01PM
The game is about flying around and saving the environment, while showing off some stunning visuals. Forget what it's about, listen to the guy in the preview, it sounds like these guys had a blast playing it, and that's good enough for me. I can't wait to play this game.
Keine @ Jan 19th 2009 1:05PM
You collect petals, or not. Do you really need a goal to have fun? I don't.
Jerses @ Jan 19th 2009 1:28PM
So this is like a interactive screensaver? locoroco chocorreta anyone? Mmmmm
Im not happy with this, it better not be more than $5 for 3 levels.
Keine
I disagree...even pacman or pong had score. Its not that you dont have fun with it...but we need to die, to have highscore, to have lives so that it add a little more of a challenge if not then its a screensaver... Maybe fun for the first our but if there is no goal in the game then the fun last only a few hours
Axe99 @ Jan 19th 2009 3:25PM
Jerses - I'm not sure I agree on the need for a score - the goal of gaming is interactivity, rather than high score setting or threat of death (I've read although haven't played that Prince of Persia has no deaths, and I suspect other than trophies also doesn't have a High Score, but I'd be surprised if anyone could argue convincingly that it was an interactive screensaver). I think the difference between screensaver and full-fledged game is the depth of the interaction and, while it's not deep in a way we're used to, if the PS3Fanboy crowd are replaying levels to find extra flowers, then I suspect there's more than a dash of depth to it. If you _really_ need high scores, you can time yourself on each level, or give yourself points for every flower you collect, or something like that. If you really need to die, set yourself challenges that if you don't meet, you force yourself to restart the game! The option is there if that's the only way you can deal with interactive entertainment! Don't forget that many FPS games don't have high scores either (there's no high score for Half-life , but I don't see anyone questioning whether that's a game!) and many other games don't have death and lives (indeed, Call of Duty has checkpoints but no 'lives' per se)
Peter @ Jan 19th 2009 4:50PM
You die in Prince of Persia quite frequently, they just replaced the game over / death screen with a quicker graphical flourish that puts you at the last checkpoint.
xenorevlis @ Jan 19th 2009 1:00PM
"There's no time limit, no hazards, no points system and, really, no way to fail."
This is actually false, because as you progress through the game you become closer to the environmental damage sources (us) and our technology / architecture. These include windmills which you can activate or which are already "flowing" and affect your gameplay, as well as electrical towers and other environmental hazards which can deplete your petal count.
Other sections further along may or may not release with time limits for specific areas, although those are more related to an occurrence within the environment which is forcing you to keep going through specific areas if you want to avoid the oncoming hazard.
ScottishPrik @ Jan 19th 2009 1:14PM
Just another pointless mediocre title that no-one would have taking any interest in if it hadn't past the 2 PS3 fanboy laws.
1. I's exclusive
2. It has good graphics.
This wouldn't have even been on anyones richter scale if it weren't for these two commandments. Everything about it just screams "borefest". No thank you. I'll stick with actual games.
xenorevlis @ Jan 19th 2009 1:22PM
You can pass judgment all you want but if this was on Wii, 360, or PC I'd still have a vested interest in it. Granted, I've played a larger portion of the game than PS3fanboy seemingly has, but this allows me to explain to you that is IS an actual game, and definitely not "boring" for anyone who wants to play a relaxing game.
It's not unlike a game of Wii bowling or free-form snowboarding, where the enjoyment comes from the interactivity but there are still environmental hazards and objectives to complete but they don't necessarily result in ongoing frustration. If there is a demo when it launches, you should try :)
dip @ Jan 19th 2009 1:26PM
Tell me, is ignorance truly, as they say, "bliss"?
Personally, I had no interest in the game months ago when we first saw little bits of it. (I didn't even bother reading about it because I thought like you... yawn...) However, after reading a bunch of impressions and watching a bunch of videos I can't wait to get my hands on this game. It's gorgeous and it looks very fun while at the same time relaxing. The game has been getting praise from everyone who gets their hands on it. Perhaps it's not your cup of tea but different strokes for different folks. I can only pray that developers continue to make interesting games like this and thank God that not all gamers are close minded tools like yourself.
Evan @ Jan 19th 2009 1:32PM
It's attitudes like yours that prevents video games from growing beyond popcorn violence for adolescent boys and man-children.
Tyler @ Jan 19th 2009 1:32PM
OK.
You don't like it. Got it.
You don't like PS3. Got it.
But maybe, JUST MAYBE, "actual games" do not need to cost $60. MAYBE an "actual game" can be downloaded. MAYBE people actually like this GAME. It just got a great review right here!
But you are on Xbox, they have few to no "actual games" worth downloading. I feel for you.
ScottishPrik @ Jan 19th 2009 1:36PM
Please, don't ever bother trying to use words like close- mindedness and ignorance if you're going to put them in the same sentence as praying and a belief in a magical being. The hypocrisy is overwhelming. Next time you want to insult someone for ignorance please, please leave god out of it. It makes you look like an idiot.
ScottishPrik @ Jan 19th 2009 1:38PM
And just in case you didn't understand me the 2nd time.
Please, don't ever bother trying to use words like close- mindedness and ignorance if you're going to put them in the same sentence as praying and a belief in a magical being. The hypocrisy is overwhelming. Next time you want to insult someone for ignorance please, please leave god out of it. It makes you look like an imbecile.
ScottishPrik @ Jan 19th 2009 1:40PM
Bunch of cheesy poofs
dip @ Jan 19th 2009 1:54PM
Nice strawman. "Oh my God", "Thank God", "What the hell", "God dammit!", etc. are all commonly used interjections in the English language. But of course you knew that and I'm sure your dumb ass uses them all the time regardless of your beliefs.
Alas, you've only managed to further prove what a mindless twit you are. Try harder next time, eh chap?
ScottishPrik @ Jan 19th 2009 2:10PM
Lol, "chap". All I heard was "I'm an ignorant xenophobic American here to further support the stereotype". Good Job. I'm sure true Americans are real proud of you. Final note: This isn't a game by any standards. It's just an interactive screensaver that costs as much as a real game. So have a good un y'all. I'm off to f**k ma sister yeehaa.
kavorka @ Jan 19th 2009 7:10PM
Thank you! Its funny, the only comments that speak the truth and are worth reading get voted down. I consider myself a fanboy just as much as anybody, but come on... a little contrary opinion is good for these forums. Otherwise, we're all just participating in one big circle jerk. Heathens.
Tyler @ Jan 19th 2009 1:28PM
I really do not need my video games telling me to help the environment... EVERYTHING else already does that. Not my games, I go to them for escape from crap like that. It also sounds very boring.
Sorry, no buy for me.
Bring on Fat Princess which has NO meaningful message what-so-ever.
Axe99 @ Jan 19th 2009 3:31PM
Only reason everyone's mentioning that the environment needs helping is because the planet is well and truly screwed - but as far as I know, Flower's message is more of a peaceful pro-colour one, and far from in your face - it's not as if you're playing as the Captain of a Greenpeacce ship trying to shut down whalers! Enjoy the nature of the interactive entertainment - you might even have a little fun ;).
4thcage @ Jan 19th 2009 1:58PM
For watever reason, flOw doesn't get into me at all, I really find it super boring and felt asleep when playing it, I think I will skip on this one too, but who know, my wife may love it, she finds flOw super amazing...
willxcore @ Jan 19th 2009 2:07PM
everyone who is bitching about this game is going to have no point and is not going to be fun, please just shut the fuck up and ignore this entry altogether. Killzone 2 is coming out soon, too. That will be an amazing game and it'll have all the high scores, multiplayer and blood you can handle, I'm sure.
Yes I did just go from improper spelling to proper.
Michael Gustie @ Jan 19th 2009 2:27PM
Wow, a flame war. About FLOWER, for the love of pete. Sounds like the three of you need to sit down and play Flower for three hours. Maybe take some deep breaths.
Burn some nag champa?
JaffaBoy @ Jan 20th 2009 10:36AM
PMSL!!!! so funny.... "you guys need to chill out.... hey, I know, go play this game called Flower"
:-)
bigred @ Jan 19th 2009 3:05PM
Looking forward to this game. Finally something that doesn't involve mindless violence. I'd expect a $14.99 pricetag... you guys are nuts (and completely unrealistic) if you think it'll be $5. Doubt we'll see a demo either - which is fine by me.
The NewHampshire Database @ Jan 19th 2009 4:06PM
What would be the quickest way of getting ScottishPrik banned?
You can state your opinion, there's nothing wrong with that. Just don't go about demeaning everyone else because they disagree.
Starting to think he's just a troll account...
El Stefio @ Jan 19th 2009 7:34PM
or a ScottishPrik...
oldmanpip @ Jan 19th 2009 6:39PM
To be honest - it seems like a good game for a lot of reasons. Trophies would be around challenges that would actually be challenging, but for the people who just want to play, they can just play as well. Everyone wins.
Games don't always have to be FPS crap or long complicated things, sometimes simple things simply work the best. Pixeljunk eden for example. :)
John @ Jan 19th 2009 8:47PM
If you can't win or loose this game's point is kinda like seeing the beautiful landscape right? i mean i think is funny controlling the wind =)
Dan Rabot @ Jan 20th 2009 7:55AM
Play for the fun of it, not for the trophies. I think Flow and Flower show just how little a game needs to be fun, and how it can even be fun without being a challenge.
I think the PS3 is blazing a trail for fun, arty, beautiful, innovative games.
jolly good show.
nes @ Jan 20th 2009 8:19PM
i swear to god this game is amazing.
steve777 @ Feb 19th 2009 5:56PM
This is a game where you have to play it to know what its like, the title name is gay and sounds like a load of rubish but when you play it you will love it. Everyone who has seen in it and played it loves it, and i dont mean a certain age groups. Ive shown it to young and old and every one loves it. This has what the wii has a universal appeal and a real magic to it. I just wish there where more levels, bring on flower 2. Also the trailers and making offs do not do this game justice u have to play it.