At the time of its international release, the critical reception of Flower, Sun, and Rain was probably justified; the core gameplay loop isn't traditionally engaging and as a standalone work it's story makes little to no sense.
But in 2020, where fans have realised that numerous titles Suda51 worked on are actually thematically and narratively interconnected, an unofficial series of games dubbed "Kill The Past", it's clear that Flower, Sun, and Rain is actually the sequel to Grasshopper Manufactures inaugural outing: The Silver Case.
Going in with The Silver Case fresh in my mind, I can easily say that engrossing, entertaining and esoteric writing continues to make me enjoy games that I would have likely never played otherwise due to the genres they inhabit (visual novels and walking sims respectively).
Not to mention the design choice to technically give the player all the answers to every single puzzle in the game in the form of The Lospass, an in-game guidebook that Sumio Mondo (the protagonist) is given during the second chapter, is actually the most ingenious move I've ever seen.
It's good. Play it.
But in 2020, where fans have realised that numerous titles Suda51 worked on are actually thematically and narratively interconnected, an unofficial series of games dubbed "Kill The Past", it's clear that Flower, Sun, and Rain is actually the sequel to Grasshopper Manufactures inaugural outing: The Silver Case.
Going in with The Silver Case fresh in my mind, I can easily say that engrossing, entertaining and esoteric writing continues to make me enjoy games that I would have likely never played otherwise due to the genres they inhabit (visual novels and walking sims respectively).
Not to mention the design choice to technically give the player all the answers to every single puzzle in the game in the form of The Lospass, an in-game guidebook that Sumio Mondo (the protagonist) is given during the second chapter, is actually the most ingenious move I've ever seen.
It's good. Play it.