Flower, Sun, and Rain

 DS
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 37
  3. Negative: 12 out of 37
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  1. Cheat Code Central
    72
    Flower, Sun, and Rain suffers from an extremely dated presentation and a strict, not entirely likeable, code-based puzzle system. These elements gradually wear on the nerves, yet they're not enough to drown the entire experience.
  2. n-Revolution Magazine UK
    70
    If you can handle the strangeness, you’ll find great rewards here.
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Da Gameboyz
    70
    While Flower, Sun, and Rain has a cool premise and story, the game falls short on the delivery.
  5. Play Magazine
    65
    Flower, Sun and Rain is a great remedy for those pesky times that you start to actually feel sane and rational.
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  6. Deeko
    65
    While it may not be a must have game, if a person has the free time and the tenacity to stick with it, the game can really be quite enjoyable.
  7. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    64
    Proof that not even bona fide geniuses like Suda51 get it right every time. [Dec 2008, p.73]
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  8. games(TM)
    60
    A lack of interactivity makes playing Flower, Sun, And Rain an experience not unlike listening to a favourite album, letting images wash through the mind for their own worth. [Dec 2008, p.119]
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  9. Pocket Gamer UK
    60
    Flower, Sun and Rain is an incredibly ambitious release for the DS. Most will find it overly frustrating and just a bit too weird. Some will love it, though.
  10. 3DJuegos
    60
    Flower, Sun and Rain for Nintendo DS is a remake of a game that was released in 2001 on the PS2, but doesn't take advantage of the characteristics of the Nintendo handheld being the puzzles so repetitive. A special game but so weird for moments with a poor graphic textures.
  11. Nintendo Power
    60
    Unless you're a Suda51 completist, though, you'll likely find Flower, Sun, and Rain to be little more than an artfully executed curiosity. [Apr 2009, p.84]
    All this publication's reviews
  12. GamePro
    60
    While I salute Flower, Sun and Rain for its innovation and uniqueness, its mind-boggling puzzles met with surreal gameplay makes for one hell of a trip in every sense of the word.
  13. GameSpot
    60
    It's Groundhog Day meets Philip K. Dick in this entertaining but muddled mystery adventure.
  14. GameZone
    60
    Though flawed, Flower, Sun and Rain offers perhaps more than one would expect from a game certain to be remembered as Suda's rookie effort. The story is shockingly original and fearless, and the game's style is irrefutably Suda. It's just a shame there isn't much of a game beneath all the ideas.
  15. Games Master UK
    58
    A genre-defying postmodern game but lacking the punch of Suda 51's more recent efforts. [Dec 2008, p.79]
    All this publication's reviews
  16. Game Informer
    55
    The one saving grace of Flower, Sun, and Rain is the story. [July 2009, p.90]
  17. IGN
    55
    This one just isn't that good.
  18. Eurogamer
    50
    In the end, the game's dated feel is a double-edged sword. It might be odd to feel nostalgic for a time that's less than a decade ago, but Flower, Sun and Rain will make you feel exactly that.
  19. Total Video Games
    50
    Some ill thought out mechanics really make this already niche title further marginalised, but it's nonetheless a very quirky adventure game.
  20. Level7.nu
    50
    In striving to be unique, this title actually manages to loose itself in the attempt. The puzzles are repetitive and the sense of progress is often lost in all the "unique" features of the game. There are better games in the genre available on the DS.
  21. AceGamez
    50
    What holds Flower, Sun and Rain together, in the end, is Suda 51's inimitable sense of humour.
    All this publication's reviews
  22. Thunderbolt
    50
    It's a shame that a game with so much promise in the areas that maybe we underestimate in games such as the story and scripting, can fare so badly in the audiovisual experience and general gameplay.
  23. 1UP
    50
    But the game feels low-budget and leaves more questions than answers, and the underlying "math" theme isn't exactly the best implementation of the puzzle system.
  24. Worth Playing
    50
    There is absolutely no reason to buy, rent or even think twice about this game. It will only continue to break your heart over the course of one repeated, anguish-filled day.

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Most Discussed DS Game of 2009
14
#14 Most Shared DS Game of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 43 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 43
  3. Negative: 3 out of 43
  1. VicMiyamoto
    Jun 4, 2019
    8
    I played the PS2 version from this, but couldn't find the PS2 version here. But it's a amazing and calming experience, but who connects prettyI played the PS2 version from this, but couldn't find the PS2 version here. But it's a amazing and calming experience, but who connects pretty well with silver case, the previous game.… Full Review »
  2. Beanie
    Dec 9, 2013
    9
    Flower, Sun, and Rain.
    The only thing I saw of this game before playing it was a screenshot, and the only thing I knew about it was the name.    Flower, Sun, and Rain.
    The only thing I saw of this game before playing it was a screenshot, and the only thing I knew about it was the name. Those two things alone were enough for me to play this game. And I did. And I absolutely loved it. This game is weirder than weird, crazy, trippy and all in all a fantastic experience. It's difficult to explain why the game is good, it's really something you have to play yourself to judge if you like it or not. But I'll try to at least point out some things I really enjoyed.

    The graphics. Yeah, I thought they were terrible at first, but you know, I started finding a charm in them the more I played and I ended up really liking the strange style they went for.

    The atmosphere and setting. I don't know, I really felt like I was on a small, quiet island while playing this. All the places look really nice, and all the locations give off such a peaceful vibe when they are meant to, and they can also be spooky when they're supposed to be. Really nice.

    The plot of the game. It's good. Really good. At least I though so. Interesting all the way, funny at times, even serious and dark with likable and fun characters. Yeah, most of the characters in this game are really cool in their own way, I really like them.

    Music and sound. The soundtrack is fantastic, amazing, magnificent. Every track fits the situation perfectly, and pretty much every track is great. Even if a lot of the tracks are remixed songs, they feel really fresh and new. I know the original PS2 version of the game has an OST that sounds better, but I think the DS version also sounds amazing. The voice work never really bothered me either, I actually kind of liked it. I think I might have preferred proper voice acting though.

    Now, the flaws of this game in my opinion are:

    The fact that you have to walk back and forth A LOT! It made my thumb hurt on the DSi, so I tried playing it on my 3DS, and my thumb still got really tired. It gets annoying, especially some really long walks later in the game. The other thing is... Well, the puzzles. Some of the puzzles were fun to try to figure out, but others made no sense in my opinion and were simply absurd. I even had to look at an FAQ at some of them, which makes me feel guilty, but I couldn't help it. I just got really frustrated at a few of those puzzles. I was expecting it though, the game kind of throws you into it with very little explaining of what to do. Already at the start of the game you feel confused.

    But yes, this is a really nice game. I really enjoyed it and if anybody reading this wants to try it out, I recommend them to do so. I feel like the scores for this game are kind of unfair, I know it's not a game for everyone, but seriously, that 54 is pretty harsh. But oh well, this is just my humble opinion. Grasshopper did a good job with this one, and I'm now convinced that I want to try more of their games.
    I give this game a 9 out of 10.    … Full Review »
  3. ThisLifeSucks
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    Flower, Sun, and Rain is one of the most beautiful games I've played. Don't let the scores fool you, if you want a unique experience, itFlower, Sun, and Rain is one of the most beautiful games I've played. Don't let the scores fool you, if you want a unique experience, it hardly gets any better than FSR. This game taught me that video games can be much more than what I thought. It's daring, full of heart and probably the best writing of Suda51. A worthwhile play.… Full Review »
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