Image stolen from Y0j1mb0 because this image says it all

After playing this game one would be tempted to post a fail blog with just the above picture. I wont do that though. I will give a short review on what has quickly become one of my most memorable experiences in gaming. I blame me buying this game on Dtoider thefil. In his short blog he makes comparisons to Braid. Braid was an amazing experience for me that moved me in so many ways. I may only get the most basic concept of Braid's story, thank's to it being perhaps overly complex, but it still moved me in a way that blew my senses away. The extremely creative puzzle mechanics, the visual art, and the amazing music(which led me to a new favorite artist) were simply astounding. With this comparison to Braid, I became even more curious, yet at the same time even more skeptical.

I had to try it.

So I spent 10 bucks on what would be a fucking incredible experience. It was a short experience but it was a phenomenal experience. I can't wait for my wife to get home so I can tell her about it and then shortly sit her down in front of the television so that she may experience it. Flower is an experience. You forget that it is a video game, and you become the wind.

In flower you control the wind. You do this by manuvering the sixaxis controller in the direction you want to blow. Blowing is done by pressing any button on the controller. That's it. It is one of the most simple, yet elegant games I have played in a while. I suggest using the analog stick as your one button. With the power of the wind you start each level by blowing on the first flower on the screen. A pedal will fly from that flower and float in the wind. You take this pedal and move to the next flower, causing it to bloom and also gaining another pedal to your soon to be myriad of flower pedals.

As you progress through the levels you bring life to the enviroment around you. If I had to name this games theme, I guess I would simply say: Life. This game is full of it. It is a celebration of it. If you played the first level and said "Oh, wow. This is neat." You have no idea what is in store for you. Play the game all the way through. It is extremely short, but gains it's legs by being a product you will show to everybody you know. It will be like that movie you continue to distribute to friends because it is something you feel everyone should experience. The final level is one of the most emotionally powered experiences in gaming. It is gorgeous visually and the music arrives at such an emotional climax. This pacing that leads you to said level is also masterfully accomplished.

Playing the first level made me begin doubting Sony's sixaxis technology once again. After playing it more and more though, I realized it was just me. After some practice it feels much more smoother to control until you become a master at it. There are no time limits so you don't feel rushed. The music is wonderfully integrated into the gameplay as well. For each flower you bloom a note is played along with the soundtrack. As for goals in the game, I am not sure if there are any other than just playing it. The game is so graceful though, you don't care about stats and interfaces. You probably wouldn't even welcome them. As a matter of fact, I never once pressed pause during the game. I honestly have no clue if there is a pause menu.

This game is not big budget AAA title, no. Does that mean I would review it differently because? No. For what this game is, and what it does, it's near perfect. The price is low enough that you get what you pay for. Using the Dtoid review scale I give this game:

Score: 10 -- Flawless Victory (10s are as close to perfect as you will get in a genre or on a platform. Pure, untarnished videogame ecstasy.)

If you own a PS3. BUY THIS!