Review: Flower is a unique experience that should not be missed

There are many reasons people play games. Some enjoy the challenge, others the competition, while some just like exploring new and different worlds. But for those who enjoy a soothing, relaxing experience, the options are few and far between. But the latest release from Thatgamecompany, the developers behind flOw, is just that: a truly stunning game, that makes up for what it lacks in gameplay with beautiful visuals, an uplifting soundtrack, and a wholly unique experience.

In Flower you control the wind with a single button, using gusts of air to move a flower petal about the environment. The goal is to collect other petals by touching flowers, creating an even larger flock of colorful petals and opening up new areas to explore. The game never actually pushes you towards any particular goal, allowing you to explore at your own pace. This can be somewhat frustrating when you run up against invisible walls, which happens a little too often in earlier stages. But this doesn’t last for long as you soon become accustomed to the concept of collecting flowers and opening up areas to explore.

Aside from using one button to control the wind, the entirety of the game is controlled with the Sixaxis motion controls. By moving the controller around you are able guide your petals through the world, and surprisingly, it works very well. It only requires subtle movements, and since there are few penalties for mistakes, the controls feel very intuitive and not at all frustrating.

By now you may thinking, so what? A game where you control gusts of wind to blow flower petals around doesn’t really sound all that interesting. But Flower is much more than its initial concept leads you to believe. Collecting flowers has all kinds of effects on the world, from turning on wind mills to adding color to a dark, depressing level. With the incredible looking visuals and swelling, soothing soundtrack, these accomplishments are given a lot of impact.

Though the game is short, clocking in at just 6 stages, the pacing is incredible, with the levels all leading up to a wonderful and oddly touching finale. Clearly Flower won’t be for everyone, and its $10 price tag may be a turn off considering the length of the game. But this is an experience like no other, and begs the player to question just what a video game really is. It’s a wonderful example of interactive art, and will leave an indelible stamp on those who choose to venture through its unique world.