flower Reviews
Flower on PS4 is even better and more beautiful than the phenomenal, unforgettable original.
Flower remains a ravishing display of nature's grace.
The previous generation's definitive chill-out game gets a lovely visual makeover for the next. And it's still as cool as ever.
Flower feels like the first step in a right direction -- much more so than any of thatgamecompany's previous releases -- but having played through it twice, I can't help but feel that it could have been a gargantuan leap.
Every aspect of Flower serves its singular vision: nourishing and maintaining a 1-2 hour Zen-like experience. Vibrant colors, an incredible score, and meticulous eyes overseeing the game's pacing—Flower rises to the occasion. A decade later, little has changed, though the PC port suffers a good deal on account of its mouse and keyboard controls.
Flower blooms then wilts away.
The sheer simplicity of flower makes it a difficult game not to fall in love with. It's a relaxing, calming, and curiously moving experience that has the power to change the way that you look at the outside world. Moreover, the improved motion sensors inside the DualShock 4 coupled with the enhanced horsepower of Sony's fresh hardware breathe new life into the experience, ensuring that this former PS3 favourite blossoms all over again on the PS4.
Flower is a unique title. The ThatGameCompany production embraces the idea of a synesthetic digital entertainment, linked to the poetry of form and color, cloaked in a dynamic sound accompaniment. Compared to the inner landscapes of Journey - often barren, oppressive, invaded by darkness and lashed by a cruel nature - here the wonder is disrespected in living and vital environments, made of unforgettable colors.
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Making it a bit easier on the gaming budget, Flower is also cross-buy, so if you've already got it on PS3 or Vita, then the PS4 version is free. There's no gameplay updates, no level tweaks or new areas, but it runs at a better framerate and the 1080p is noticeably sharper than the original if you put them side-by-side.