PS3's Flower Is Art, Extends Conversation on What Games Are

There are two types of people when it comes to the games-as-art debate: those who spend too much time and energy arguing one way or another, and those who ignore it altogether and simply create games that are art. Jenova Chen and thatgamecompany belong firmly in the second category, and after playing Flower to completion on the PS3, we can confirm that they have given us another game to talk about, puzzle over, and enjoy.

In Flower you control the wind, causing a trail of flower petals to fly around each level, gathering more petals to itself by touching flowers, which makes them blossom. Touch a group of flowers and a splash of color spreads out across the land. These transformations are oddly satisfying, as if you’re painting the landscape with a heavenly brush. The music also works with the graphics to create a soothing, evocative mood for the game. These aesthetic issues are only part of the story, however.

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