Kickstarter Picks – Bloom: Memories

Video games have stories galore about princesses in peril and the heroes that are commissioned to rescue them. You might go so far as to suggest that many games tell love stories. Bloom, an adventure game by Studio Fawn, likewise tells a love story—though it’s the deep, cool love of a mother and her child rather than anything to do with the fiery love between mates.

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Video games have stories galore about princesses in peril and the heroes that are commissioned to rescue them. You might go so far as to suggest that many games tell love stories. Bloom, an adventure game by Studio Fawn, likewise tells a love story—though it’s the deep, cool love of a mother and her child rather than anything to do with the fiery love between mates.

Bloom is an isometric adventure title that is inspired by The Legend of Zelda. The game features tons of exploration, puzzles, interesting-looking bad guys, hidden secrets, and challenging, imaginative battles. But what really makes Bloom worth a second look are its story-driven game mechanics. Since Bloom is a game about a mother and a child, the two share energy and abilities. Mom can lend her strength to her child, but if something devastating should happen to either one of them, they can suffer heartbreak as well.

Bloom also features soft, eerie visuals that lend the project a grown-up storybook atmosphere. Characters and enemies are highly detailed, and the entire game exudes a lonely but whimsical atmosphere.

Not convinced? Jenova Chen, the designer behind the gorgeous indie games Flower and Journey, praised the potential of Bloom when he saw the game in an episode of The Next Game Boss. God of War‘s David Jaffe and game journalist/actress Lisa Foiles likewise praised the game’s concept and visuals.

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If you want to help make Bloom happen, there are lots of neat rewards you can garner if you pledge. For $15, you can get a DRM-free download of the game on either PC or Mac. For $30, you get the game, plus a digital art book. For $50, you get the prizes on the previous tiers, plus access to a beta of the game. For $80, you get a Bloom USB that’s packed with the game itself, plus other cool Bloom-related bonuses.

If you’re truly moved by the love between mothers and kids, higher pledges are an option, too. $125 gets you a physical copy of the game, plus a physical game guide. For $250, you can get a signed, physical copy of the art book and a “Thank You” in the credits. And for $500, you can sit on the creation process and offer feedback as the game is developed.

There are lots of other prizes, too. Want to help out? Visit the Kickstarter page for Bloom!

Kickstarter Picks is a series of features on Gamezebo that will profile Kickstarter projects in the world of video games. We’re doing this in the hopes of calling attention to interesting projects in need of funding, so please, if a game looks like something you’d want to play, don’t hesitate to lend it your support!

In the early aughts, Nadia fell into writing with the grace of a brain-dead bison stumbling into a chasm. Over the years, she's written for Nerve, GamePro, 1UP.com, USGamer, Pocket Gamer, Just Labs Magazine, and many other sites and magazines of fine repute. She's currently About.com's Guide to the Nintendo 3DS at ds.about.com.