Visual Storytelling with Colours:
Exploring Relationship Dynamics
in the Video Game Florence
Florence was released on Valentine’s Day, the perfect date for a game about relationships (Source: Google
Play)
As a writer, it could be hard to wrap our heads around the idea of visual
storytelling. Yet, there is so much that can be said without words, and that is
what this beautiful story managed to achieve.
Released in 2018, Florence was widely renowned for its visual storytelling,
and many have covered how it uses symbolic imagery to show the story of
Florence Yeoh — a young woman in her 20s navigating through life and a
relationship. However, I argue that the game does much more than that, and
the use of colours in its art and design truly shines through upon inspection.
In this exploration, I aim to delve into how Florence employs colours
throughout its entirety, effectively painting a vivid narrative from start to
finish.
Mundane, Muted Blue: Everyday’s a Routine
We start the story with Florence detailing her everyday life. Throughout the
series, we recognise the colour blue as Florence’s colour. A melancholic
colour, especially when muted, is prominent throughout this period of
Florence’s life. Everything is gray-tinted, mundane, and boring, and Florence
is just trying to get through life.
Very reminiscent of my conversations with my mum… (Screenshot by Author)
This use of blue sets the tone for Florence’s personality and how she views the
world initially. Everything looks dreary and monotone, a feeling a lot of us
can probably relate to as we first enter the adult world.
Sparkling, Shimmering Yellow: The Spark We Long For
This would be me when I smell good soup from afar (Screenshot by Author)
Florence’s ordinary life finds a source of light when she meets the cute
musician performing down the street. Throughout the game, Krish the
heartthrob is often represented by the colour yellow. The colour yellow is
associated with optimism, warmth, and happiness, the perfect counterpart to
Florence’s muted blue. With the symbolism of the colour, Krish is presented
as what she was searching for all along, the light in her life.
A bit shiny there, Krish (Screenshot by Author)
He thinks of his dreams in yellow and borderline gold, it’s a representation of
his optimism towards his future. He sees everything through rose-tinted
glasses, and that brings Florence out of her bubble as well. Soon, she begins
to see things in brighter colours. In the beginning, we can see that he has a
positive influence on her mindset, he encourages her to pursue and revisit
her dreams as an artist, and their conversations flow like water.
I don't think I’ll ever be able to accept a yellow couch… but to each their own (Screenshot by author)
That is not to say it’s 100% positive, however, because when Krish moves into
the house, everything seems to be yellow. Personally, I see this as a sign that
the relationship is becoming a bit one-sided and that Florence starts to
depend on Krish just a little too much for her happiness. It could be all
sunshine and rainbows, and the person who lights up your whole world could
seem to have no wrong in your eyes. This overuse of yellow seems to show
both the good and the bad: Krish is able to bring positivity into Florence’s
life, but now everything in her life is yellow, down to her wardrobe and
curtains.
Aggressive, Defensive Red: Reaching the Breaking Point
For some, the honeymoon period may end sooner than you think. Here, the
game contrasts their eventual descent into a new mundane life with bright
red dialogue boxes during arguments. Passion, Anger, Power. The colour
perfectly represents their heated conversations when they both seem to want
to win the argument.
Putting the puzzle pieces together was really anxiety-inducing here (Screenshot by Author)
Heartbreaking, Soulless Gray: The Eventual Realisation
Instead of a muted blue, Florence’s world fades into a deep gray when the two
decide to go their separate ways. Rather than showing sadness, the gray is
numbing and soulless, and it perfectly embodies the hopelessness one
initially feels when facing a life-altering event like a breakup.
This also directly contrasts the yellow, bright interior we saw earlier in-game (Screenshot by Author)
Krish also faced his troubles leading up to the breakup when he realised his
dreams of becoming a musician were becoming more futile. I liked this
particular screen as it shows how his golden dreams were deeply affected by
his lack of self-confidence over time. It also presented how both sides of the
party have their own struggles, and sometimes relationships that go wrong
may not be because of either party.
Calming, Peaceful Blue: The Art of Letting Go
Soon, Florence finds her path again after picking up the palette that Krish
gave her at the start of their relationship. She quits her job and becomes a
recognised artist, and her world becomes brighter and warmer.
Through healing and letting go of herself, she realises that life is what you
make of it, and even though sometimes you can feel blue, you just have to
turn the saturation up and see things from a new perspective. In the end, you
may find yourself a unique colour you can truly call yours.
Bonus: Lovey Dovey Pink
I love that the use of pink is scarce and therefore eye-catching whenever it’s
used in the game. Sure, pink represents love, and it was used in a panel to
depict Krish and Florence happily in love.
But the game also uses pink in the beginning sequence, when Florence finds a
childhood box of hers in her room. The box brings us back to when she first
discovered her love for art, and shows us where her passion truly lies. At the
end, what I took from the game, was that no matter how far we seem to stray
from our path, something we yearn for still calls out for us in that pink little
box, awaiting us to rediscover it. Maybe that’s what life is about, finding what
we love, and pursuing that to find what we are truly meant for.
Thank you for reading! I write other pieces about game design and game
writing so make sure to check out my Medium or my social media here!
