Phyta

By: ithamore

On: June 29th, 2008

In Phyta, (Update: Direct Download) from Cambrian Games (Abraham Parangi), you control a dark sun with your mouse to direct the growth of a shadowy plant. Progress is made through its five levels by ensnaring the golden angels in the plant’s branches, which will grow more quickly toward the sun when the left mouse button is pressed.

With its clean, simplic look and play, the first game it made me think of was flOw. And the mellow classical guitar and cello duet music beautifully enhances the hole experience.

Some might find Phyta somber, a few might even consider it to be contrived, and then there are those who might consider this game as another choice example of games as art. I, however, found it to be more than ten minutes of mono no aware. Additionally, I wonder if the lack of ending beyond the abruptness of merely closing the program during the fifth level was based on a developmental or artistic decision.

Speaking of flOw, Little Fish is another game being developed by Cambrian Games with some similarities based on its description. I’m looking forward to seeing how original or imitative it is in comparison to flOw, but I’m also interested in the planet game Parangi has been posting about on his blog.