Florence Game Review: A Heartfelt Journey of Love and Self-Discovery

Florence by Mountains is an interactive visual novel that offers a deeply emotional and artistic experience, focusing on love, life, and self-discovery. Released on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, PC, and Console, Florence invites players to follow the personal journey of Florence Yeoh, a 25-year-old woman navigating her everyday routine until she meets someone who changes her perspective on life.



Gameplay and Mechanics

In Florence, the gameplay is primarily driven by narrative, with simple, intuitive mechanics that reflect everyday tasks. The player interacts with Florence’s life through a series of mini-games and puzzles that mirror mundane activities, such as brushing teeth, answering phone calls, or engaging in conversations. The core of the gameplay lies in the relationship between Florence and Krish, a musician she meets, with mini-games used to depict the development and eventual struggles of their relationship.

Narrative-Driven Gameplay: The game’s story unfolds in short chapters, each representing a significant moment in Florence’s life. These moments are told without dialogue, relying instead on visuals and interactions to evoke emotions and guide the player through her emotional arc.  

Emotional Puzzles: The puzzles are simple but poignant, often changing in difficulty or complexity to represent the emotional state of the characters. For example, conversation pieces fit together more smoothly during happy moments but become disjointed during conflicts, adding a layer of symbolism to the gameplay.



Graphics and Design

Florence features hand-drawn, minimalist art that perfectly captures the simplicity and depth of everyday life. The soft, watercolor-like visuals give the game an artistic and dream-like feel, immersing players in the world of Florence. The use of color is particularly impactful, with different hues used to evoke various emotions, from the warmth of love to the grayness of monotony.

Challenges and Strategy

Florence is not about traditional gameplay challenges or strategy. Instead, the challenge comes from the emotional weight of the story and how players connect with Florence’s journey. The simple mini-games are designed to emphasize the narrative and give players a way to interact with Florence’s life, rather than present difficult obstacles.  



pic via techcrunch.com

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Pros:

Deep Emotional Experience: The game tells a beautiful, heartfelt story that resonates on a personal level.
Unique Visual Style: The hand-drawn art and simple animations add charm and depth to the narrative.
Subtle Storytelling: The lack of dialogue and reliance on visual storytelling allows for a more intimate, introspective experience.

Cons:

Short Playtime: The game is quite short, lasting only about 30–45 minutes, which might be too brief for some players.
Minimal Replay Value: Since the game is story-driven, there are few incentives to replay after finishing.

Final Thoughts

Florence is a beautiful, introspective game that explores themes of love, growth, and change in an accessible and emotional way. Though it may be short, the experience leaves a lasting impact, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.

lifeonabalcony wrote:

Personal Opinion

Florence truly stands out as one of the most emotionally engaging games I've played. The visual storytelling is masterful, and I was surprised by how much depth could be conveyed through such simple mechanics. Though it’s short, it packs a powerful emotional punch, and I found myself reflecting on Florence’s journey long after the game ended.

Rating: 8/10