Goichi Suda occupies the more bizarre end of the gaming spectrum. With Killer 7 and No More Heroes, he delivered more knowing winks and self-referential nods than even Hideo Kojima would dare. Flower, Sun & Rain, the recently released DS adventure, adds another post-modern quip to Suda51’s repertoire.
It begins with a lengthy cut-scene showing our hero Sumio Mondo driving along a highway to an island resort. The highway is barren but for Mondo’s car. The fixed cameras track the vehicle hurtling down the road, switching perspectives again and again and again. It goes on forever and represents one of the stranger game openings I’ve experienced. Just when I was ready to switch the game off, Mondo arrives at his destination – an airport – and the story begins… in an enormous and seemingly empty carpark. Suda’s already managed to intrigue me while simultaneously upsetting my expectations of how games are structured. Flower, Sun & Rain is how I’ll be spending my weekend. How about you?
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