It’s the end of 2020. I’m in Kuwait stuck in quarantine and COVID’s got the airports locked down. Therefore having some downtime on my hands I decided to dust off my PS3 and play Flower, a game developed by Thatgamecompany . Here are some brief notes (images from Full Playthroughs):

Like

World Transformation

• Love the world transformation aspect. The world becoming colored is a popular trope used in film and games.
• The finale level reminds me of a scene from One Piece when this massive Sakura Tree blooms.

• Love the swap of elements that were once oppressive (in-organic metal structures) that you break which can create green grass, and more organic shapes that come out of the ground.

• Another transformation aspect is the home screen. It’s ‘liveliness’ and color increases as the game progresses.

Player Guidance

• Player guidance to flowers is supported with a ring that indicate the essential ones to grab.

• Little to no words (e.g. diagram to explain controls and how to start).

Audio

• Flower employs light piano music for what I interpret as a means to make the player feel free (heavy use in the finale level).
• The audio soundscape consists of distinct tones for every action. For example destroying stuff, picking up flowers, and world transforming.

Progression

• The growth of ‘player avatar’ is progress you can literally see.
• The different colors you collect give a sense of history and memories. For example ‘oh I I remember collecting those yellow petals!’
• Variety of color petals gives visual contrast.
• Grandest level is the smallest flower (priming expectations for a surprise?)
• Typical level pattern starts with a single petal which grows, then the level ends with a huge visual payoff.
• Level structure felt like they saved the best for last.

Didn’t Like

• Impreciseness of controls – wish for a button equivalent to some of the controls.
• Feeling of having to collect flowers detracted sometimes from the experience.
• In the home screen, what if all pots are visible but plant in that pot only appears and is selectable when level can be played, then when the level is complete the flower blooms? (Trade off of progression vs surprise?).