Flower has been out for some time and I finally got around to checking it out. I had read so much about it online that I made a point to put it on my “to get” list. Downloading this PS3 exclusive title has been one of the better decisions I have made on PSN.

The best I can describe the experience is you’re some kind of Nature Spirit that needs to rejuvenate the planet. The themes are a bit bewildering at first, but as you progress the game feels quite literal in its message. There are all these dead plants and fields you fly through while bringing green back into the land. You start off as a single petal and with every flower you fly into more pop off until eventually you fly through the air as a massive collection of color and movement. Each stage has objectives to complete by simple exploration, and once you reach the end of each stage, the player is rewarded with an epic scene of nature’s majesty.

It may be the most relaxing gaming experience ever to be grace the PS3. Or video games period for that matter. As you fly through groups of flowers, often times each will play a single note in the same key signature. So no matter what order you gather, a light musical strumming sequence is played. The soothing sounds fit all of the moods as you progress from day to nightscapes.

As far as the graphics go, it’s the best at what it does. As you fly through grass, each individual blade of grass is parted via Flower’s physics engine. I can only imagine this world being used as an environment in an action or role-playing game. The camera is gentle and flowing and the controls are tight. The 6-axis is used for movement and a single button is pressed to propel you through the wind.

Those with obtuse sensibilities and an insecure sense of machismo may be scared of a title called “Flower”. But the fact is, if you like fun, unique, well-made gaming experiences, then Flower is a must have. Do I enjoy other games better? Sure. But for 10 bucks on the PlayStation Network, you can’t beat that amount of entertainment value per dollar.

Im givin’ this one 10/10