One man and his briefcase...
Adventure-thriller games seem to suit the Nintendo DS well. With hits like Another Code,
Hotel Dusk and the Phoenix Wright Series the handheld seems to have the perfect interface,
so it was no surprise to hear that another one was on the way.
But when we heard that Flower, Sun and Rain was from the minds of Killer 7 and No More
Heroes, our interest grew. Suda 51' games are known for the cel shading and a bizarre sense
of reality, so it should come as no surprise that the story behind Flower, Sun and Rain is a
little out of the ordinary.
I'm sensing some De Javu....
In Flower, Sun and Rain You play Sumio Mondo, a Searcher, who arrives on the Island to
help the inhabitants who are stuck in a groundhog day style situation. Throughout the day
you'll need to solve side missions and a main mission in order to progress. Once you reach
the end of the day you will witness the explosive climax you're trying to prevent: a plane
being blown up by a terrorist bomb. With time reversing but your solved puzzles remaining
completed (previously locked doors now unopened, for instance), you'll have to solve the
mystery of who is behind the explosion and end the continuous loop.
Your briefcase sidekick Catherine can be used to
hack into pretty much anything from computers to locks and even people.
Flower, Sun and Rain immediately stands out from previous Adventure-Thriller games, with
cel shading giving a bright and vibrant appearance that's a world away from the dark
grittiness of Hotel Dusk and Another Code. It's Suda's trademark this: no-one does that
cartoony look quite like them.
You can control Flower, Sun and Rain either with the D-pad and face buttons or just the
Stylus. As with most DS games though, there are stylus specific areas, particularly when it
comes to using your briefcase-sidekick Catherine. Catherine can be used to hack into pretty
much anything from computers to locks and even people. Along with Catherine; Mondo must use
his Guidebook, which offers hints and information on how to do certain areas.
Flower, Sun and Rain is a breath of fresh air
for the ever-popular DS Adventure genre.
Flower, Sun and Rain was originally a PS2 game that was only released in Japan. But this
has not been a lazy port from one format to another. New features have been included, and
when one is discovered your character will let you know with a comment that in some cases to
poke fun at the game itself. You'll quickly come to realise that Flower, Sun and Rain
doesn't take itself too seriously.
Take a deep breath
And yet, this is a purchase that DS owners should consider very seriously indeed. Flower, Sun and Rain is a breath of fresh air for the ever-popular DS Adventure genre,
adding a new spin that focuses on fixed cameras and static scenery, with chunky cel shading,
cinematic camera angles and tongue-in-cheek humour all part of the package. Due in November, it will be going up against some established titles;
but in true Suda 51 fashion, Flower, Sun and Rain promises to do so in style.
Preview by: Tom 'Sunshine' Daly
Preview Published: 19.09.08