I'm always especially attracted to games and projects that differ from the norm and that bring something original to the table.
Cloud Gardens fits this criteria exactly. By it's own admission Cloud Gardens is an experimental project, somewhere between a game and an interactive experience.
The game can be played either as a single player campaign or as an interactive sandbox, the premise is the same. You are presented with lo-fi diorama of urban decay and a single seed that you must decide where to plant.
The seed will start to germinate and cover the scene with foliage, as it grows a meter in the bottom left of the screen will start to fill to show your progress.
As the plant continues to grow, you are given additional objects to expand the scene. These objects contribute energy to the growing of plants, but you will also have to cover them in foliage to complete the stage, when the meter fills it's on to the next stage.
As you progress plants will blossom and flower, these flowers can then be harvested to create additional seeds, these are needed as the scenes get progressively larger.
Eventually you will unlock new seeds that have specific requirements for growth or unique benefits you can use to your advantage.
This really is fantastic title and something very different, it's a simple premise with limited strategy elements and a low challenge threshold, but a challenge isn't what this game is all about. It really is a relaxation aid.
Gentle puzzle elements, beautiful, peaceful environments coupled with a gorgeous soundtrack by Amos Roddy as you de-stress and while away the hours.
The pacing is perfect and watching the plants grow, snake and entwine their way around girders, rubble and signposts never feels too slow or too rushed. It's genuinely satisfying to see each scene muddy the line between wasteland and nature as the diorama flourishes.
You really are allowed to delight in your own creativity while playing this game. If the campaign wasn't already laid back enough, you can opt for the sandbox mode and just interact with each environment without any restrictions or challenge, even take pictures of your accomplishments.
I was a little concerned with how the game would transfer to consoles given its natural fit to mouse controls on the PC. However these concerns gave way within minutes, as ease of navigation and intuitive shortcuts via controller became second nature.
Cloud Gardens really is a wonderful change of pace from Battle Royale and FPS campaigns. Its a great experience that I would urge anyone to give the benefit of the doubt and try. I find it so easy to loose myself in game for an hour or two and always emerge all the better for it.
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