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Flower

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 57 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 52 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: thatgamecompany
Genre(s): Action
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: February 12, 2009
Summary
[Playstation Network] The pioneers that brought you the award-winning PlayStation Network title "flOw" are back with another concept that challenges traditional gaming conventions. Flower expands the team's tradition of delivering simple gameplay, accessible controls and a medium to explore emotional chords uncommon in video games. In Flower, the surrounding environment, most often pushed to the background in games, is pulled to the forefront and becomes the primary "character." The player fades from an external and stressful world in the opening of this fresh and genuine game only for PS3, and journeys through beautifully vivid landscapes, changing the his surroundings and exploring nature along the way. Playing as the wind, the player guides and grows a swarm of pedals by interacting with other flowers and the surrounding environment. The goals and journey in each level vary, but all involve flight, exploration and interaction with the level. Using simple SIXAXIS wireless controls, the player guides the lead petal and accumulates a swarm of flower petals as he moves at his own pace within the environment, causing the on-screen world to change. Flower's gameplay offers different experiences, pacing and rhythm to all players. Along the way, the environment will pose challenges to the player’s progress. Both pastoral and at times chaotic, Flower is a visual, audio and interactive escape on PS3. Simple Gameplay Controls - Accessible controls appeal to both the casual and hardcore gamer and offer simplistic and relaxing gaming. Freely playing as the wind is as easy as titling the SIXAXIS wireless controller. Lush and Interactive Environment on PS3 - In Flower, over 200,000 blades of grass are simulated and animated simultaneously on-screen, creating an verdant environment not possible on any other platform. Dynamically Adjusting Experience - Players with differing skill levels and/or moods can intuitively customize their game experience and enjoy the game at their own pace. [SCEA]
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
1UP
The game's short -- the seven areas only take about two to three hours to finish on the first try (if you don't play it obsessively like I do). But it's a joy to revisit each stage -- the freedom of movement makes the game feel as relaxing as a gently wafting breeze. The challenge is there for those who seek it, but Flower is something everyone can enjoy.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
It's an interesting take on a form of entertainment that often puts destruction over creation, and I definitely think some interesting conversation can come out of the theme presented by this title.
Read Full Review >Giant Bomb
A tiny, beautiful, elegantly designed piece of software that I feel richer for having played.
Read Full Review >TheSixthAxis
If you don’t own this you are doing yourself a disservice. Some may think that £6.29 for two hours of gameplay isn’t good enough value for money. My response is simple; never before has a game moved me so strongly, never before has a game made my day better, never before has a game affected my view on life and never again will I be so content with the spending of a handful of pounds.
Read Full Review >ZTGameDomain
The captivating Flower manages to be both uncomplicated and deep. While many games fail to truly engage the player this highly conceptual title succeeds, and is more immersive than many feature-driven titles dare to dream.
Read Full Review >AceGamez
While the game is only six levels long, equating to about two to three hours of gameplay if you don't rush, Flower is well worth the money and you'll find yourself coming back just to go through the same levels over and over again.
Read Full Review >GamingXP
Even if there is no multiplayer mode in the game, it is a great one! The game offers not many, but excellent features.
Read Full Review >GameCritics
Flower is a shock to the gamer's system because it reminds us that games aren't about fanboy allegiances, media hype, and quarterly earnings. Good games—like good art—can simply be food for the soul. Flower is the kind of soulful nourishment we need more of.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
But, if you don't mind taking some time out of your day to enjoy something completely different, with no real goal or objective, then Flower is definitely worth its $10 purchase price. With stunning visuals, a beautiful soundtrack, and relaxing gameplay, this title is one-of-a-kind and, as such, simply can't be missed!
Read Full Review >Game Chronicles
Flower is the best $10 you can spend on your PS3. It is the most relaxing, soothing, and otherworldly experience any console has ever seen, and only the power of the PS3 can bring something this original and breathtaking into your living room.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
Visually potent and occasionally beautiful, Flower fulfills its premise with enviable grace.
Read Full Review >Gaming Nexus
Another innovate game from Sony that shows a completely different style of game. It's not for everyone but it's worth checking out if you're looking for something different or want a game that lowers your blood pressure instead of raising it.
Read Full Review >GamingTrend
Flower is a mesmerizing game that truly feels unique, and showcases how Six-Axis control can bring the gamer closer to the experience.
Read Full Review >Absolute Games
Static images can't convey the splendour of colors or the intoxicating feeling of flight, they can't thaw icy shards of winter in the heart. Whether you're cynic or romantic, give Flower a try.
Read Full Review >Console Monster
One word can sum up Flower, and that would be tranquil. The classical interactive score is soothing, and the graphical opulence is breathtaking – there are moments of shear beauty in the striking sunsets.
Read Full Review >VideoGamer
Flower is a brilliant little piece of work, gorgeous and moving in equal measures.
Read Full Review >Playstation Official Magazine UK
Just enjoy the intensity: like all great art it leaves you wanting more; leaves you with the feeling that somehow you've connected with the universe. That's right, I said art. [Mar 2009, p.100]
Gameplanet
An interactive experience like no other. Perfect for unwinding after a long day.
Read Full Review >GamePro
A unique, beautiful title that tells a story without uttering a word - Flower is a quality game that deserves your time and attention.
Read Full Review >TotalPlayStation
An absolutely brilliant game, and one that does more to stir the emotions than any AAA epic you've like played in recent memory.
Read Full Review >D+PAD Magazine
Flower is an epiphany moment for the SIXAXIS: a game that outright wouldn't work without the motion controls, and one enhanced tenfold by their perfect execution. Disregard it for its unconventionality and you'll be missing out on one of the finest (and definitely most exquisite) titles to hit PSN so far.
Read Full Review >IGN
If you're interested in something very unique and very powerful, Flower is a must-play. It will especially resonate with people that possess a deep connection with nature and spirituality, as it's the type of game that reaches out to us and whispers about the beauty of life -- without saying anything at all.
Read Full Review >Play.tm
This is easily more than a technology demo - as some accused Flow of being. As with any game like this, it is much easier to understand in the flesh than to explain. And I suggest you do just that. For a minimal investment you will find a gaming experience as elegant and subtle as any novel. And like a good novel, it is one you will want to pass on to all your friends.
Read Full Review >GameDaily
The tilting gameplay is both surprisingly simple yet elegant, letting you achieve goals at your own pace without frustration.
Read Full Review >PSX Extreme
The experience is almost indescribable, and even if you’re not a big fan of motion sensing (and we’re not), you will smile throughout your experience.
Read Full Review >IGN UK
If you succumb to its charms and let it meander its way into the deeper recesses of your consciousness, you’ll find Flower to be full of some of the finest gaming moments known, and your life will be all the richer for playing it.
Read Full Review >LEVEL (Czech Republic)
Most original game you want to play over and over and over. Fl0wer is an experimental game that focused on playability and it works perfectly. An addictive experience for everyone! [Feb 2009]
Gamer 2.0
Flower offers a great experience for $10 that anyone who is open-minded enough to try it out will enjoy a great deal. This game can be as simple as a great game for kids to play and explore without much of any conflict to worry about while technophiles will love the great visuals and audio as a way to show off their home theater set-ups to friends and relatives.
Read Full Review >Level7.nu
Flower can be seen as a statement about society versus nature, to be interpreted by the player as he or she wishes. To be specific it's a game where you fly a leaf from a flower through nature, in the process gathering other leaves. As time goes by your entourage of leaves grow in size and before you know it you've got enough to bring life back to the previously barren fields. Flower is as much of a meditative experience as it is a beautiful piece of art. A subjective experience as this is hard to grade, but a great experience it is if you're susceptible.
Read Full Review >PALGN
Flower is not only a breath of fresh air, but a gust of glorious wind on which your spirit will soar. This is a work of art, a quiet classic, and a game which will be remembered and discussed in reverent tones for years to come.
Read Full Review >Thunderbolt
Flower may not be for everyone but if you go into it with the right mind-set then you’re guaranteed to witness something exceptional.
Read Full Review >NZGamer
Flower is magical. There really isn't another word to describe it. It's fresh, it's new, it's fun and it has a whole lot of heart. Don't pass on the opportunity to pick it up.
Read Full Review >Multiplayer.it
Flower is really one of the best games on Sony's PSN, that truly shows what Ps3 and the dual shock 3 can do. But the most correct word to describe Flower is "beautiful". A simple description for a simple but mesmerizing and touching experience.
Read Full Review >GameZone
This is a beautiful game that is easy to pick up and play and should be accessible to anyone in the family. The game may falter in terms of replayability, but the levels have been designed to bring a true emotional feeling to the game through the use of lighting and music.
Read Full Review >Play UK
It won’t appeal to some PS3 owners, but if you enjoy the smell of grass and have no objection to recycling, however, then Flower is definitely appropriate.
Read Full Review >Meristation
A game only possible thanks to the PSN. Different, unique, completely different from what we are used to seeing in our consoles. A beautiful experience, with a really nice soundtrack, great gameplay and, overall, a pleasure for the users. Main problems: too short, and extremely linear. But it's worth it.
Read Full Review >GameTrailers
If you're looking for high-speed thrills and white-knuckled action, it should come as no great surprise that Flower is not your cup of tea. Yet its atypical approach is precisely what makes it so intriguing for those yearning for something off the beaten path.
Read Full Review >Gaming Target
This unconventional game movement is officially part of a growing trend on the PS3 and could be its key to success instead of a major "killer app" like Metal Gear Solid 4 or Killzone 2 as you'd expect.
Read Full Review >PSM3 Magazine UK
Half art installation, half game, but exquisitely done. [Mar 2009, p.60]
3DJuegos
With a high definition TV and surrounding sound system the player will feel one of the best sensory experiences in these days. There are no words to describe Flower, and its a necessary experience for any city dweller locked up in a world of metal, glass and urban nightmares.
Read Full Review >Boomtown
The delicate grace of the gameplay and the equally elegant music create a rather moving experience unlike any other. It's up to you whether or not it's art or simply a pretentious tech demo, but I'm all for the former. Flower is a very unique game indeed. Put this and Ico next to each other and I'll cry my eyes out.
Read Full Review >Games Master UK
A beautifully simple idea beautifully handled. [Apr 2009, p.82]
games(TM)
The only rewards here are visual, and challenge is virtually non-existent. Yet thanks to elegance and lyricism, Flower made us feel slightly richer after putting down the pad. [Apr 2009, p.123]
DailyGame
Flower delivers on what it promises, and along the way you just might find yourself enjoying the ride again and again.
Read Full Review >Gamer.nl
Flower is a more than welcome addition to the PlayStation Store with a truly unique type of gameplay. This, in combination with a very artistic environment and a easy to learn control scheme, make of Flower almost a magical game. After completing the seven levels the only thing that remains is the need for more.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Flower is a gorgeously crafted fable, and though short, it's genuinely mesmerising.
Read Full Review >Destructoid
The gorgeous visuals, superb motion controls, and refined gameplay elements come together to create a satisfying game.
Read Full Review >DarkStation
Although I would have liked to have seen a longer experience, if your in the market for new and unique experience look no further then Flower.
Read Full Review >PS3bloggen.se
Flower delivers a relaxing and vibrant gaming experience that borders on art. If I was a potted flower, then this is what I'd like to dream about.
Read Full Review >Vandal Online
Flower is really zen gaming, and it can became a memorable experience for the players attracted by this concept. Regardless the tastes, it is a very original experience, with great control, only lacking in durability.
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
It is, simply, a game where you want to see what happens next, because whatever does happen next will be delicate, beautiful and pleasurable, and never so hurried as to overburden the spectacle and sense of immersion.
Read Full Review >SpazioGames
Flower is a great attempt to break the habits of the average videogamer. Many interesting ideas and details make this game unique, supported by great graphics and musical score. The result might disorient the gamer in the first steps, but once you got it right, this experience really delivers. The only real drawback in the poor length, but considered the price, there's no reason to miss Flower.
Read Full Review >Teletext GameCentral
Pretentious and restrictive, but also one of the most spectacular visual and aural experiences on the PS3.
Read Full Review >Edge Magazine
If it is slight, then Flower compensates by being a very rare experience, both in terms of subject matter and the visual splendour with which it has been executed. [Mar 2009, p.94]
Read Full Review >Gamestyle
What you take out of Flower is really your own choice, as an experience it is highly recommended if you have become bored with the majority of releases today. If you prefer your gaming to be a little left of centre than the latest chart topping release then this is for you.
Read Full Review >Playstation Universe
Ultimately, it’s an evening worth of entertainment and you’ll probably be satisfied with the result. Just don’t expect to be talking about Flower or playing it beyond the next couple of weeks.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 9.4 (out of 10) based on 52 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Jonas S gave it a10:
An absolute Masterpiece. Of course, it is short (recent first person shooters anyone?), and it is "restrictive" (in that you don't have absolute 100percent freedom of movement in some areas, but in which game do you have that?), and it may not be the most varied experience in terms of gameplay (you collect stuff, to spawn more stuff, to collect stuff, that surely is really lame compared to running straight for 5 hours while firing at anything that moves) BUT, and here is whats important: It plays awesome. Its simple and yet the thought of "man, this is tedious, i'm gonna do something else" never even crosses your mind. The experience as a whole is just so fantastic from quite a few point of views. Art is simplistic but gorgeous, Sound is simplistic but great, Gameplay is simplistic but .. you get the idea. The ones who wrote its almost a Zen kind of experience have it spot on. Its simply more than the sum of its parts, in that it captivates and fascinates you even as you just fly around the lush and radiant environments. You heard that right, even just flying around and doing basically nothing is fun enough to keep doing it, so imagine how actually playing is. As many have written before, that you actually do something else in a game for a change than you usually do (blow up stuff, kill stuff, build stuff) is an added bonus. And, a word about the controls, because they're that brilliant. You just use one button. Granted, you tilt your controller, but apart from that the whole game is played with only one button, and that, i think, is genius. Especially because it is not only as simple as it gets, but because it _works_. It couldn't be controlled any better, or more intuitive. Oh and not to forget, its 10 dollars. thats about a fifth of most current titles, which is more than a bargain if you ask me. My bottom line is, with flower, you get more than just a brilliant game, you get a work of art, you get an almost dreamlike experience, and you get sort of a meditative interactive screensaver that isn't boring in the slightest. So: Buy it. Support this kind of out-of-the-box thinking and hope that the team will make something like this again. Or maybe once more something just different from about anything but totally awesome. Innovation is after all a rare resource in pc gaming.
Aaron G gave it a10:
This is the first game ever to cause me to tear up. (Not in the way ET: The Extra Terrestrial caused people to cry.) Flower is definitely the best PSN game ever made, and may even be the best game made download ever made. By buying Flower, you get an experience that you never have experienced before. The only way that Flower can be explained is by playing the game itself. So go, buy it!
Shaun C gave it a10:
This is zen gaming at it's finest, not only is it a peaceful journey, it is something which is actually qutie enjoyable at the same time. It is not for everyone, but if you have any interest based off of some of the reviews/the idea, you will not be disappointed
A W gave it a10:
This really is an amazing game, it's true that it's short, but it's stunning all the same, certainly quality not quantity, and the first level in particular is very beautiful. Just like flOw, you'll find yourself coming back to play the levels again when you're done, especially to get all of the hidden flowers. Everyone should buy this game, it needs to experienced, and it's very hard to dislike. It's very hard to actually understand why this game is so good just from watching the videos of it, so cough up your $10 / £6.29 and go see for yourself.
Gassal R gave it a10:
Fantastic. Quite obviously PS Universe and Edge just don't get the concept of a downloadable title. Would they prefer to spend 50 dollars for 6 hours of mind-numbing by the numbers fodder??.. Bravo TGC!! Here's to more content like this.
Sam gave it a10:
Flower is a game that has you controlling a flowerpetal blowing around in the wind. That is it. You cannot die, there are no aliens or steroid pumped army commandos ready to pop your body full of holes. You blow off a flower and fly around in the wind, touching other flowers. Doing that opens them and you'll get a flowerpetal from that flower to follow you. The music is soothing and touching a flower makes a noise, and that's it. Tilt the controller up or down and hold X to blow the wind, and go where you want. The early levels which have you blowing through gorgeous meadows makes you smile, and while the later levels are not as good as the early ones, don't let that fool you into thinking they are bad. They aren't, and the ending is incredible. Its got trophies too for you to unlock, the graphics are incredible for a DL title, and if you are looking for a gentle, soothing experience then buy this game. Its cheap, worth the price, and one of the best games on PSN. I highly recommend this game to anyone who owns a PlayStation 3.
Kyle G gave it a10:
I have to admit that since i finished up with Little Big Planet, my PS3 has basically been another surface i have to dust. But today was different. Today was the day Flower was coming out on PSN and i was excited. I had been looking forward to this "experimental" game since I started reading about the concept late last year. After seeing a few videos of it in motion i was both sold and curious about how the gameplay would flow. After finishing the game this evening i can say that Flower has far exceeded each and every expectation i had. There is just no way i can review this game without gushing endlessly so i apologize in advance. You know that wondrous feeling you have when you wake up at 9am on a Saturday morning in the springtime after leaving the bedroom window open all night? The morning light dancing across the ceiling while a cool breeze blows the scent of fresh cut grass and honeysuckle into the room (all to the sound of birds chirping and trees rustling in wind.) You know how alive you feel when all is right with the world in that one perfect moment? This game gave me approximately 3 consecutive hours of that moment. Flower takes you on a journey so unique and special that you will literally gaze in wonder at what spectacular concept, gameplay mechanic or jaw dropping vista the developers are going to throw at you next. Every time i thought they had hit the absolute pinnacle of what was possible, the next stage would make me completely rethink my own grasp on what a PSN game could be. It Wowed me. Flower is a short game as most games go taking me about 3 hours to complete, but the length felt right to me and i believe i got my 10 dollars worth in the first hour. It tells a story (without words mind you) that will baffle some but resonate with most. The gameplay is hard to describe. You play the wind and control is handled solely with the 6-axis with one button for acceleration. For the first time since the PS3 was released, someone has perfectly implemented the motion control and it works marvelously! The visuals are stunning to say the very least and i have to wonder how long it took to get an engine to render the thousands and thousands of blades of grass without so much as a hiccup. The audio is yet another area where perfect implementation is obvious from the very start. From the tranquil and beautiful soundtrack to the spot on audio cues you get when you open a flower adding another layer of sound to get lost in as you explore the diverse landscapes. My hat is off Thegamecompany for having the cajones to develop a game that obviously fits into no existing category and not compromising their vision during the development process. My hat is also off the Sony for supporting such innovation during a time when their console is in such a slump and the economy is even worse. Let's hope that enough appreciation is shown for this game that this type of forward thinking innovation is something we see a lot of from now on. Some words i would use to describe Flower: Art, flight, nature, poetry, color, emotion, relaxation, joy, exhilaration, wind, transformation and magical.
