You kind of need to buy Flower, man.

Y'know, Flower, for the PS3. Haven't heard of it? That's alright, you're just a bit ignorant. Take my hand. It'll be alright.

Videogames get a lot of shit in the media. Everyone knows that. And while I might wish that weren't the case, partly out of my desperate need for acceptance and partly for other reasons, the fact is that videogames often kind of deserve it. I like blowing people's heads off as much as the next non-sociopath, but there are too many violent games. It's easy enough to see why - combat is something videogames excel at because they represent some or most of the thrill of the activity with none of the physical dangers and, in game terms, 'smashing someone's skull open because otherwise he would've done the same to you' is an obvious victory condition that anyone can get behind. That, and people are stupid, so violence sells. Also, tits.

But what's really important is that you let people know that games like Flower exist. It's important that you tell them that amongst all the violent macho bullshit, there's a game where you play as a gust of wind, and your only real objective is to fly around pollinating flowers and bringing life to a barren, grey landscape. It doesn't make any real sense, but it doesn't have to. It's a fucking videogame. And it's nice.



LOOK. That's what it's like. And that's nothing compared to the later levels. I still occasionally load the game up just to play the second level, get to the last bit, then just fly around listening to the incredible soundtrack and just looking at stuff. Of all the games I've owned for the PS3, Flower is one of the few so far that's made me truly glad I bothered to buy the console in the first place. It is, without a doubt, one of the most achingly beautiful videogames ever made.

And at the moment, it's on sale. For £2.39. That's two pounds and thirty-nine pence.

No, no, don't start. I don't care if you don't already own the console. Go out and fucking buy one. And when you do, hoist it into the air in the middle of the shop, and shout "I JUST BOUGHT THIS £300 CONSOLE OR WHATEVER IT COST ME, AND NOW I'M GOING HOME TO BUY FLOWER FOR £2.39. I PROBABLY WON'T USE IT EVER AGAIN AFTER THAT EXCEPT MAYBE TO PLAY HEAVY RAIN ONCE IT COMES DOWN IN PRICE A BIT, BUT I WON'T CARE, BECAUSE I WILL HAVE PLAYED FLOWER AND LEARNED TO LOVE AGAIN."

Just do it. Please.