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chimney_swiftI...am not really a gamer.
I am, however, a person who has a laptop with no processing power, an Android smartphone, and a maybe unhealthy obsession with video game culture. I can't even play anything anyone is talking about! But I find it all just, well, fascinating.
But one of the top games of the year (according to Polygon) is a mobile game, and I played it, and I have some thoughts, because wow. Florence is something.
Florence is a quick (~40 minutes long) game that is supposed to be played on a smartphone. It feels a little like a cross between an interactive novel and a game. Here's the launch trailer if you're curious.
First things first, this game is beautiful. The art is charming but not too sweet; simple; and it feels like it fits the story, not only the content but the medium as well. The sound design and score are incredible. Florence, even when it feels sad or hard, is a joy to play and experience.
But outside of that, there are two things that made me fall in love with Florence: the story and the fact that it's a game.
The story revolves around a 25-year old woman named Florence and her journey through a first love/relationship. There are no words throughout the game, but there were so many moments that felt close to home. The way life fades into different parts; the joy of creating a new map of memories; how hard it can be to move past something. And *spoilers!* the story doesn't stop with the relationship. While it's the meat of the game, it isn't the true focus; that's Florence herself. And I love that; this Chinese-American (?) young woman is her own, full, colorful story.
And this story wouldn't be as meaningful or really possible in quite the same way without it being a game. There are no words, but they aren't needed. There are small interactive parts, and they so fully encompass the feelings that go along with the story. From piecing together conversations to the simple genius of just letting Florence walk, this game makes complete use of being a game. All the motions are familiar from basic smartphone-life, but all of the sudden they mean so much more.
Anyways, all of this combines into something truly special. I was almost crying during most of Florence. It made me think and smile and enjoy playing a game. What a lovely thing.
TL;DR: Buy Florence. It's some of the best $2.99 I've spent.
I am, however, a person who has a laptop with no processing power, an Android smartphone, and a maybe unhealthy obsession with video game culture. I can't even play anything anyone is talking about! But I find it all just, well, fascinating.
But one of the top games of the year (according to Polygon) is a mobile game, and I played it, and I have some thoughts, because wow. Florence is something.
Florence is a quick (~40 minutes long) game that is supposed to be played on a smartphone. It feels a little like a cross between an interactive novel and a game. Here's the launch trailer if you're curious.
First things first, this game is beautiful. The art is charming but not too sweet; simple; and it feels like it fits the story, not only the content but the medium as well. The sound design and score are incredible. Florence, even when it feels sad or hard, is a joy to play and experience.
But outside of that, there are two things that made me fall in love with Florence: the story and the fact that it's a game.
The story revolves around a 25-year old woman named Florence and her journey through a first love/relationship. There are no words throughout the game, but there were so many moments that felt close to home. The way life fades into different parts; the joy of creating a new map of memories; how hard it can be to move past something. And *spoilers!* the story doesn't stop with the relationship. While it's the meat of the game, it isn't the true focus; that's Florence herself. And I love that; this Chinese-American (?) young woman is her own, full, colorful story.
And this story wouldn't be as meaningful or really possible in quite the same way without it being a game. There are no words, but they aren't needed. There are small interactive parts, and they so fully encompass the feelings that go along with the story. From piecing together conversations to the simple genius of just letting Florence walk, this game makes complete use of being a game. All the motions are familiar from basic smartphone-life, but all of the sudden they mean so much more.
Anyways, all of this combines into something truly special. I was almost crying during most of Florence. It made me think and smile and enjoy playing a game. What a lovely thing.
TL;DR: Buy Florence. It's some of the best $2.99 I've spent.
