Joystiq E3 hands-on: flower (PSN)
by Ross Miller 
{ Jul 21st 2008 at 7:00AM }
Like flOw, it's really hard for us to confidently form an opinion on the abstract idea (check out PS3 Fanboy for their praises). We hope Sony decides to release a demo with this game. Videos and previews will not do flower justice; it's a game worth trying for yourself.
Gallery: Flower
According to Chen, the entire game was inspired by finding a balance between urban life and desire of nature, hence the working subtitle "life in balance." If flOw is a haiku, he said, then flower is a poem. The two games share many similarities: simple controls, no tutorials, and an atmosphere best described as "soothing." However, what flower has that its predecessor lacks is structure and Trophies. (Chen explained that Trophies are being mandated by Sony, however the developer is implementing them in "an interesting way.")
Each of the flowers on your apartment windowsill opens a level, considered the flower's dream sequence. In the one we played, we used the Sixaxis the glide the petal around a hilly and tree-less field (newsflash: The petal cannot crash), and any button pressed lets you speed up the trajectory.
As you flow-t around the level, bumping into other flowers will increase your botanical army. Groups of activated flowers unlock more flowers to touch and can turn a yellow patch of earth into a lush growth. Chen said that each level will have different objectives and it is up to you to figure out what they are. There are also secrets in each dream, he said, although we didn't find any in our brief demo.
Chen dubbed the game "intellectually M-rated," but for the ESRB, we're confident it'll be E for Everyone. We can already predict flower's reviews: It's a soothing and interactive piece of art, but it's not a game. And we're perfectly fine with that. Chen said they are contractually obligated to produce one more game for PSN. If the naming and analogy trends continue, we look forward to next year's "short story" flowerpOt.
"We can already predict flower's reviews: It's a soothing and interactive piece of art, but it's not a game. And we're perfectly fine with that." |
Each of the flowers on your apartment windowsill opens a level, considered the flower's dream sequence. In the one we played, we used the Sixaxis the glide the petal around a hilly and tree-less field (newsflash: The petal cannot crash), and any button pressed lets you speed up the trajectory.
As you flow-t around the level, bumping into other flowers will increase your botanical army. Groups of activated flowers unlock more flowers to touch and can turn a yellow patch of earth into a lush growth. Chen said that each level will have different objectives and it is up to you to figure out what they are. There are also secrets in each dream, he said, although we didn't find any in our brief demo.
Chen dubbed the game "intellectually M-rated," but for the ESRB, we're confident it'll be E for Everyone. We can already predict flower's reviews: It's a soothing and interactive piece of art, but it's not a game. And we're perfectly fine with that. Chen said they are contractually obligated to produce one more game for PSN. If the naming and analogy trends continue, we look forward to next year's "short story" flowerpOt.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
j.howlett @ Jul 21st 2008 7:16AM
i would gladly add this interactive art to my collection.
Chase @ Jul 21st 2008 7:19AM
Nintendo is working on their own flower title, Wii Like: Pretty Flower Petter. Instead of being "intellectually M-rated", Pretty Flower Petter will be intellectually EC-rated. And there won't be any points in Pretty Flower Petter, because Nintendo doesn't want to isolate any audience. It will simply be an "experience", like death.
Chilly Willy @ Jul 21st 2008 8:53AM
Q: Why are you ripping on Nintendo in a PSN article?
A: Because you are a loser troll.
The_Punisher @ Jul 21st 2008 10:46AM
I thought he was funny :(
scratch @ Jul 21st 2008 11:03AM
his comment may be lame, but his avatar wins the internet!
"mommy!"
"i've got a dirty thumb!"
best disney EVAR!
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Jul 21st 2008 1:40PM
There better be a fire flower in there.
Brucie B @ Jul 21st 2008 8:05AM
I'll pass on the Corn
Samo @ Jul 21st 2008 8:12AM
Bit of a nick-pick, but shouldn't it be peTal, and not peDal in the article?
I loved flow on the psp, but yeah it was a bit short. The idea is sound and great, though, and heaven knows I need another game for my PS3 (only got 2 atm, GTA4 and MGS4).
Paul (PSN: heypaul) @ Jul 21st 2008 10:14AM
Yeah it's "petal," not "pedal," but it's also "nitpick," not "nick-pick."
T @ Jul 21st 2008 8:54AM
Good article, but I think your prediction's a bit off. The next game is actually "grOw" and will be all about sitting in front of your TV watching grass.
Sounds just about as fun as this.
Evan @ Jul 21st 2008 8:55AM
Samo: Depending on your interests, there are many great games out right now:
Uncharted
Resistanse
MLB08: The Show
GT5: Prologue
Pixel Junk Monsters*
Elefunk*
Super Stardust HD*
Echochrome *
(These are some of my favs)
*PSN quick picker uppers :)
tmacairjordan87 @ Jul 21st 2008 11:21AM
The Show is unbelievably awesome. I've never played a demo for a game as much as I have for that game. I really need to get that game as soon as possible.
kaneda @ Jul 21st 2008 9:16AM
FlowerpOt? Shouldn't it be, Flow, Flower, Flowest?
PunchyMcJunk @ Jul 21st 2008 9:35AM
flOwerEr?
matt247 @ Jul 21st 2008 10:15AM
It looks like they copied "Culture" for XNA
The_Punisher @ Jul 21st 2008 10:48AM
.....or Culture copied this....LMAO
Ethan @ Jul 21st 2008 2:12PM
My fave bits in okami were the bits where flowers rushed everywhere. I think this looks a bit more plain but has the same surging energy to it.