Previously available only on the PS2 in Japan, Flower, Sun and Rain has made it through to release on the DS out of sheer cult brilliance and a storyline that pulls you in so completely that it urges you to complete it at all costs. In other words, the sort of title a gamer can really cherish – it ticks all the boxes after all. With cult Japanese success and fiendishly difficult puzzles, it’s a fanboy’s dream ticket and a great way to while away DS-based hours.
The title clearly gets the geek vote, and mainstream success may also be in the offing if Yen Hau, product marketing assistant at Rising Star is to be believed. “Flower, Sun and Rain is a good game, first and foremost, and is the type of title that you see very little of in Western markets,” says Hau.
“It was very successful in Japan when it was originally released and has since gathered a cult following over there. That is why we signed it. Of course, having Suda51’s involvement gave the game added credibility and weight which is a welcome bonus.”
That credibility looks set to be enough to get Flower, Sun, and Rain well out of the traps here and across Europe, and thanks to the intriguing nature of the game itself, it’s bound to pull in plenty of interest. Playing the role of Sumio Mondo, a ’searcher’ who ekes out a living finding peoples lost possessions, players first arrive at an island and are tasked with the job of de-fusing a bomb onboard an aircraft before it takes off. No mean feat, I’m sure you’ll agree – the twist comes when, en route to fixing the stricken plane, Mondo is sidetracked by other folks after his help, when the plane explodes.
The next day, however, he repeats the last, like the Bill Murray film, with the day re-running and the player given another chance to solve all the problems and get to the plane on time. It makes good use of the DS’s dual screens and brings what is in essence a very close replica of the PS2 version to the handheld, giving Suda51 fans a chance to get an idea of where his trademark style originated.
“It’s a mystery game but with a sense of the surreal that has become Suda51’s trademark,” continues Hau. “As a searcher, or detective if you want, you are tasked by the manager of the hotel Flower, Sun and Rain to uncover the mysteries that occur both within the hotel and on the island resort it is located in, and ultimately to prevent a passenger airliner from being destroyed. The twist on this is that you find yourself repeating the same day over and over again, á lá Groundhog Day. You’ll uncover pieces of information the more you talk to and interact with your environment. It’s a very engrossing mystery to solve.”
An absorbing plot that almost sounds enough on its own to pull people in is not all that this DS version has up its sleeve.
“There are many new additions in the DS version, mostly content-related,” says Hau. “For starters, Suda51 specifically asked the graphics to be kept the same. You can imagine how that looks for a seven year old game, but the reason for this is immediately evident; Suda has added conversations throughout the game with the sole purpose of addressing this issue. They have no bearing on the storyline, but they do add many of the funniest self-deprecating jokes in the game.
“Flower, Sun and Rain also says a big ‘thank you’ to Suda51’s fans by paying homage to his work. Scattered throughout the game are references to all of Suda’s previously released titles, some subtle, some not so subtle. Characters and items from Fire Pro Wrestling to Killer7 to No More Heroes are evident all through the game.”
The association with Grasshopper Games legend Suda51 will certainly bring an element of excitement to the title’s release. The twisted storytelling and copious in-jokes that appeal to his many admirers could well find themselves under scrutiny from a wider audience if Flower, Sun and Rain performs as well as it has the potential to at retail. A must-have for mystery fans as well as followers of Suda51’s previous work should make this a pretty solid seller. “In the first instance, the game will appeal to fans of Suda51,” says Hau.
“Suda has a unique fan base, particularly with Killer7 and No More Heroes. Anyone who has played these titles would immediately applaud the way they have been referenced in this game. Of course, this is not just a ‘fans only’ game; it is also a genuinely quirky mystery adventure that will appeal to all fans of the genre.”
Playing to all the strengths of the DS, graphically Flower, Sun, and Rain proves more quirky and individualistic than breathtaking, while sheer character and strength of plot, not to mention the title’s Japanese reputation, should be enough to ensure it sells well over the festive season. “With the type of game that it is and the success this genre has experienced, especially on the Nintendo DS, we expect it to do particularly well at retail,” confirms Hau.
“The strength of the Suda51 brand will drive sales with regular gamers, but it will be older DS owners who like a good mystery who will drive constant sales into the New Year. Look how well the other mystery games on the DS sold this time last year and you can see that the market is definitely there.”
A marketing campaign will soon be swinging into action, with cross-media activity sure to raise plenty of eyebrows.
“At the moment we are planning full page colour advertisements to appear in relevant specialist press as well as specific Japanese culture magazines,” concludes Hau. ... Article continues below
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“We are also looking at targeted online activities with banners, skyscrapers and MPU’s appearing on selected gaming websites, with the possibility of site takeovers.”
Although arguably not a blockbuster release, Flower, Sun and Rain certainly is a title that appeals to that special something buried deep in gamers that goes beyond the wanton desire to mindlessly shoot things or hammer away at sports titles.
Flower, Sun and Rain is one of those rare gems that gifts the player with enough intelligence to really get their teeth into the story and feel involved with the characters and the journey, as opposed to being just another piece of computing candy floss.
So there’s no mystery here, Rising Star’s Flower, Sun and Rain is surely a DS hit that’s just waiting to happen.
“We are also looking at targeted online activities with banners, skyscrapers and MPU’s appearing on selected gaming websites, with the possibility of site takeovers.”
Although arguably not a blockbuster release, Flower, Sun and Rain certainly is a title that appeals to that special something buried deep in gamers that goes beyond the wanton desire to mindlessly shoot things or hammer away at sports titles.
Flower, Sun and Rain is one of those rare gems that gifts the player with enough intelligence to really get their teeth into the story and feel involved with the characters and the journey, as opposed to being just another piece of computing candy floss.
So there’s no mystery here, Rising Star’s Flower, Sun and Rain is surely a DS hit that’s just waiting to happen.
