Every now and then a game comes along that is truly different from anything that came before it, completely unique in its design and execution; thatgamecompany's flower is one of those games. It abandons many common conventions of the modern day game such as dying, checkpoints, boss battles, and even combat itself; instead, it embraces themes of rebirth, beauty, and hope. In fact, there is not really a playable "character," so to speak... the main character of this game is the wind.
The game controls are very unique for the PS3. Instead of navigating through the world with the Dualshock's joysticks or directional pad (D-pad), movement is dictated by merely tilting the controller in the desired direction; pressing any button on the controller increases the speed with which the wind coasts over the fields. Thatgamecompany did a wonderful job utilizing the Sixaxis technology; the relay between the controller's movements and its subsequent onscreen execution is nearly simultaneous. It really is a game that anyone can pick up, play, and immediately get the hang of it.
This is aided by the unconventional aspects of flower. The goal is not to defeat an alien race or terrorist organization. It is simply to course through the world, awakening sleeping flowers and reinvigorating the beauty and well-being of nature. There is no narrative; at least, not in the form of words. Flower's story is told through simplistic visual vignettes before each stage (I will not spoil it for you, though). There is also no heads-up display to show how many lives are left or where to go. Thatgamecompany simply creates a vision so striking that one could mistake it at times for a photograph.
If there are any complaints to make about this game, it is that it is too short. After finishing it, I found myself wishing I had twenty more levels I could explore and enjoy. It is also what I would term a "narrow" experience, meaning that thatgamecompany created a very specific path for the player to travel. Oftentimes the player is presented with an area where they can open certain groups of flowers in whatever order they wish, but it is not possible to explore or move on to other areas until the current one is completed. However, that is not necessarily a critique, but more an observation.
Thatgamecompany's flower, to quote a friend of mine, "is a love letter to gamers," meaning that thatgamecompany cared enough about the industry to give it a game such as flower. It is an incredibly romantic game; not in the traditional sense, but in that it is engrossing, hypnotizing, and simply gorgeous. Every individual blade of grass is animated; a pluck of strings or a smattering of bells dances across the ear when the wind blows a flower open. Some might decry the game as too short (which it is), repetitive (while enough small wrinkles are thrown in to maintain interest and enthrall the player, the core dynamic of play overall does not change), or too structured, but these all miss the purpose of the game. Flower is simply an exercise in appreciating beauty for beauty's sake; it is a truly beautiful and unique display of what the medium can achieve. In short, while it falls short in one or two areas, it is still a must play game for any self-proclaimed gamer.
Grade: 9 out of 10.
Flower is rated "E" and is available to purchase on the Playstation® Network for $9.99.
I struggled for several days over which rating system to implement in writing reviews of games, and the one I eventually settled on was a ten-point scale. To me, it is less complex than the system that IGN uses, which is also a ten-point scale, but allows for splitting hairs because of decimal uses. For example, IGN rated Killzone 2 as a 9.4 and Gears of War 2 as a 9.5. What difference between these two games possibly constitutes one as being one-tenth of a point superior to the other game?! It seems to me that it would be impossible to, over a long period of time, consistently rate games along the same guidelines.
1UP.com's rating system of a letter scale (from "A+" all the way to an "F") is closer to what I see as an efficient rating scale, but even theirs does not quite measure up for me. With each letter grade having a "+," "average," and "-" rating, that produces a total of 12 differing letter grades. When you tack on the "F," that makes it 13. If I told you a game was an 8 out of 13 (which is what 1UP's grade of "B" for the game Wheelman would translate to) what would you say?
"Dude, that's a weird number."
Bingo. A ten-point grading scale in my mind keeps it simple and relatable. I know it doesn't quite allow for differentiation between games that don't quite seem to be on the same level (for example, I would rate Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Madden NFL 09 as 8/10, but I feel that Madden is the superior game because of replayability factor, length, and overall depth of gameplay) but it provides an easy-classifiable status upon a game.
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10- A shining example of gaming at its absolute best .
9- An excellent game that must be bought. It has a shortcoming or two that prevent it from receiving a "10," but it does not detract from the overall experience.
8- A great game that definitely should be played, and possibly bought. It has some shortcomings that can be overlooked.
7- An enjoyable gaming experience, but there are better games out there. Rent this.
6- A game with definite flaws. Maybe rent it, or if possible, borrow it from a friend.
5- An average game. It does not bring anything new to the table and has several issues that detract from the overall experience.
4- Sub-par. You know plenty of games that are better than this. Why would you want to waste your time on this one?
3- Bad. How did the publisher get tricked into thinking this game was a good idea?
2- Miserable. You feel bad for the people in the credits because you know they are going to have their names associated with this piece of garbage for the rest of their lives.
1- Embarrassing. You want to hunt down the developer and hit them in the face for making this game. Burn it, and then burn those resulting ashes again.
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Also, here are the videogame ratings the Enteractive Software Rating Board provide, as well as examples of games that have recieved this rating. I provide this listing as a reference guide for parents and also because I will be including the ESRB rating of each game I review at the end of its review.
EC- Early Childhood - Dora The Explorer: Journey to the Purple Planet (PS2, Gamecube); Wonder Pets! Save The Animals! (DS) E- Everyone - Smash Cars (PS3); Summer Athletics 2009 (Wii) E10+- Everyone (ages 10+) - Real Heroes: Firefighter (Wii); LEGO Batman: The Videogame (multiple platforms) T- Teen (13+) - UFC 2009 Undisputed (360, PS3); Sam and Max Save the World (360); Uncharted (PS3) M- Mature (17+) - Killzone 2 (PS3); Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3); Halo 3 (360); Bioshock (360) AO- Adults Only* - Thrill Kill (PSX); Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2, XBox)
*According to the ESRB's website, only twenty three games have ever recieved an "AO" rating.
I mentioned in my first article here on RMG that my mission with this blog is to create "an everyman's destination for views on videogaming." How do I intend to do that?
BY INVITING EVERY MAN IN THE WORLD TO WRITE FOR ME.
*crickets*
Okay, so maybe that "every man in the world" part is a tad unreasonable. That being said, I aim to accomplish the goal of RMG in the following ways: (1) By posting reviews of games not only for consoles (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii), but also for PCs, as well as flash games. (2) By incorporating a diverse group of writers who have grown up playing games; a group that has played the great games as well as some horrible ones (I'm looking at you, Battletoads, you money-stealing prick) can recognize what works and what does not. (3) By discussing relevant issues that confront the industry today, including (but not limited to): retailers failing to adhere to the rating system established by the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board); videogames and addictive behavior; violence in videogames; and whether videogames can be classified as "art." (4) And finally, I hope to insure this site will not be all intellectual discussions and views. We'll have some fun articles every now and then too.
This post would fall under number two. Captain Marvel is someone I would consider a great friend of mine, and we have had many hours-long conversations about the nature of games and the industry. So, without further adieu... world, meet Captain Marvel. CM, meet the world.
You two play nice. ----------------------- Who are you? You may refer to me as Captain Marvel. Many ask, "Isn't there a Captain Marvel in both Marvel Comics AND DC Comics? Which one?" The answer is quite simple. YES.
What systems have you owned/do you own? I've been gaming for about as long as I can remember. I played on the consoles of my friends for my early years, playing on the NES, Genesis, and the SNES. The first console of any kind that I owned was my grey brick of a Game Boy. I went on to own a N64, a PlayStation, a Dreamcast, a PS2, a Gamecube, a Game Boy Advance, a PSP, and currently a Wii, a Nintendo DS, and XBox 360.
What are your favorite genres? I can be very honest in saying that there isn't a game genre out there that doesn't have at least a couple of games that I very much enjoy. If I had to say what genres are truly my favorite, I would have to say first-person shooters, action/adventure, and RPGs.
Least favorite genres? Least favorite...I suppose I'd have to go with racing games, but even there I have some games I like to play.
Favorite Games? My all-time favorite games can be hard to pick. For action/adventure games, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time wins hands down. FPS...eh...that's a tough one. I'll break that one down a little further. My favorite FPS for multiplayer/playing with friends co-op is definitely the Halo trilogy. For single player campaign...it's hard to beat Call of Duty 4. LOVE that game. When it comes to RPGs... ack! Hardest pick. A list, then. Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy...the one with Cecil, whichever one that is. Hard to keep up with them changing the numbers on us. Anyways, moving on down the list...Skies of Arcadia, Tales of Vesperia, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and...well, kinda a FPS/RPG, but anyway, Fallout 3.
So why do I love video games? I don't really know for sure; perhaps because of the chance to experience something that I can't in the real world. I can't defeat the King of Evil with the Master Sword here in Tennessee. In any case, I love this industry, and I aspire to work in it.
Currently playing: Metal Gear Solid (PSX) ----------------------- Flash games have become so prevalent on the web that it is an aspect of the industry that really cannot (and should not) be ignored anymore. Flash games were the Wii of gaming before the Wii had even arrived: it brought people to gaming who otherwise would not seriously look into it on a console or the PC. It is, of course, free, which only adds to the positive aspect of FGs. What is encouraging, though, is that there are very talented developers who are starting to look at FGs as a very viable way to bring their gaming vision to life. They are not constrained by the deadlines of a major studio and they (in all likelihood) do not have to meet expectations of investors. In other words, they are only restrained creatively by the limitations they impose on themselves.
With that introduction, let me introduce you to Don't Look Back.
In college, I played a decent number of flash games online, because, let's face it, college students can't really afford to go and buy videogames all the time; on top of that, I was tired of all the titles I had for my PS2 at the time. I went to Miniclip.com a lot (man, the hours I wasted on Heli Attack 3), Addictinggames.com, and also frequented MSN (I swear on all that is good and right in this world: Hexic is like an addictive drug that's bad for you... you want to stop. You really, reallydo. You hate that freaking piece of trash at times... but youkeep coming BACK). It's only been in the last couple of days that I've discovered Kongregate.com. Of the very few games I've played on that website, Don't Look Back is one of the most intriguing. I don't know if I can say it's the best, but it does a fantastic job of creating an engrossing atmosphere, and it even has a little surprise for you halfway through the game.
DLB takes a very minimalist approach, even more so than other flash games; seriously, go play HA3 and DLB and you'll understand what I mean. Even with this approach (the game only uses four colors. Yep, you read that correctly.... four colors), it's quite impressive to see what DLB's creator/developer, Terry Cavanagh, achieves. The game is only twenty to thirty minutes long and it definitely provides a challenge at times. The final boss you face can be ridiculous; I spent close to five minutes on him, but when you consider the overall length of the game, that translates to somewhere between 17% and 25% of the overall gameplay time, so that should give you an idea.
Developers like Cavanagh need encouragement to continue to do what they do. And the only way for people like you and me to do that is to go play. If you have a free half hour or so, go check out DLB. I think you'll enjoy the time you give it.
Happy gaming, friends.
-CptnMayhem
P.S.- You can check out an interview with Cavanagh here.
Currently playing: Metal Gear Solid (Playstation 1, or "PSX"), Uncharted (PS3), Rock Band 2 (360), flower (Playstation Network, or "PSN"), flOw (PSN), Killzone 2 (PS3) ----------------------- Welcome to Running Man Gaming! This has been something I've wanted to do for quite a while and am finally getting around to it. I figure if we're going to discuss one of my favorite hobbies/pastimes (gaming, duh), I should probably be a good host and tell you a little bit about my bad self.
Who the heck are you and why should I care? My name is Tony and I currently live in Tennessee. I'm in my mid-20s and have been a gamer since I was about four or five years old. I remember being sick with the chicken pox at that age and Dad bringing home the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) bundle that came with a Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridge and the old orange gun and having a blast with that system. The first game I actually got for that system (a Christmas gift) was Metroid. From that point on, I've been hooked.
I've wrestled bears and fought centaurs, so I figure whatever I have to say is pretty important.... wait, what?
What systems do you own/have you owned? I currently own a Xbox 360 as well as a Playstation 3. I also own a Nintendo 64 and a Playstation 2 (the giant cinder-block sized first issue version). That PS2 died a couple of years ago, but I'm looking at getting another one so I can play several PS2 games I never got a chance to when I was still on that console (and the recent price cut down to $99.99 definitely helps that wish). I've owned the NES (died late 1990s), the Sega Genesis (sold it when I got my N64), and the punch-you-in-the-face painfully frustrating Sega 32X. That thing was a piece of CRAP.
What are your favorite genres? First person shooters (FPS), adventure/action (Zelda and Metroid hold special places in my heart), and sports. I'm a self professed Madden addict, although I haven't played my Madden NFL 09 copy in several months. That's not because I don't like the game...I actually think it's the best installment in the franchise since Madden 2005. Rather, it's because I'm playing about three seperate games right now, and have a list of approximately ten different titles to play through. Working on my Titans franchise isn't exactly high on my list right now. I've also, thanks to Oblivion, become a fan of the role-playing genre (RPG).
Least favorite genres? Fighting games, racing, real time strategy (RTS) Favorite games? Halo series, Madden franchise, Mega Man series (original, not X series), Sonic the Hedgehog (moment of silence to mourn his falling from grace, i.e. the one hundred thousand crappy games that have come out over the last ten years)
Why "Running Man Gaming?" I'm a courier and in my spare time at work, I usually read a lot from my favorite gaming sites (see below). I figured that I could better spend that time by also writing about gaming myself. As a courier, I'm on the run (insert Pink Floyd Title of the same name here) more often than not, so that's the title I went with.
Where did your moniker (CptnMayhem) come from? Old high school nickname. I think it was actually given to me more in jest than anything, but I liked it so much I use it for pretty much anything online nowadays.
Gaming sites to recommend to keep track of the industry? IGN.com, GameInformer.com, & 1up.com are good sites to read reviews, previews, and general news of what's going on.
GamesIndustry.com, Edge-online.com, and Gamasutra are fantastic sites if you're interested in the actual workings of the gaming industry. These sites feature less material on the actual games (such as reviews and previews) and more on developments in the business that affect those games. These are for those who are looking to get serious in the industry.
What will you post on this blog? Everything on here will somehow connect to gaming. Whether that be reviews, editorials, or features, I aim to post on here about once a week to start out, and then as I get used to it, hopefully several times a week (perhaps even daily at some point in the future).
I hope to grow this blog into an everyman's destination for views on videogaming. I might even solicit the assistance of some of my gaming friends to write articles for this blog to offer a wider perspective than my own; I don't want to alienate those whose gaming tastes differ from mine. I encourage anyone who may be interested in contributing to shoot me an email (cptmayhem@gmail.com).
Every now and then a game comes along that is truly different from anything that came before it, completely unique in its design and execution; thatgamecompany's flower is one of those games. It abandons many common conventions of the modern day game such as dying, checkpoints, boss battles, and even combat itself; instead, it embraces themes of rebirth, beauty, and hope. In fact, there is not really a playable "character," so to speak... the main character of this game is the wind.
