flOw

"A mindless, but pretty fun game"

flOw is one of those games that just makes you go, "What"? Either you'll love it or you'll hate it, in my opinion. Available on the PS Store for about 8 dollars, flOw can either be a worthy addition to anyone's collection or a dust-collector... if binary could collect dust!

Graphics: 9/10
Let me get one thing straight: the graphics on this game are not revolutionary or anything like Call of Duty 4's or Uncharted. However, for what kind of game it is, the graphics are engrossing. The way your creature contrasts against the background, and the way the background progressively gets darker as you advance through the levels is quite nice. On an HDTV, especially at 1080p, the game will be very visually pleasing to the eye. Not for being revolutionary graphics, but for simply working so well for this game.

Sound: 9/10
The sound in the game is also good. Once again, they can't really be compared to another game. The music that plays throughout the game is very calming - great, because I see flOw as the sort of game you play when you just feel like relaxing. The sound effects also work well. Excuse the pun... everything just sort of "flOws" together. Because the sound isn't super-stunning, it doesn't reach a 10.

Gameplay: 8/10
This is really what the game is about. You play as one of five creatures. You eat small pieces of food which boost your health circles or evolve your creature into having more appendages, tentacles, whatever. There are also enemies. Some are passive, and when you attack them they'll try and run away. Others are defensive, which will attack if you attack them. Others are aggressive, and will attack if you get in their line of sight. To kill enemies, you attack their glowing health circles. At the end of each level you fight a boss creature, then you unlock a new creature. You can't really die in this game either. If you lose all your health circles, you will simply be returned to the level before the one you died in. There isn't major strategy or difficulty involved; just mindless fun.

You control the creature using the SIXAXIS controller. You simply tilt the controller around to make your creature move. Pressing any button (except for Start and the PS button) will activate your creature's special move. This could be a boost of speed, attracting enemies, stunning enemies depending on which creature you use. The SIXAXIS control works surprisingly well, and there is no noticeable lag between when you move your controller and when your creature responds.

There is also an "expansiOn" available for flOw, which adds another creature to play as, another enemy, lets your friends play as different creatures in multiplayer, and also adds a "snapshot food." When you eat this food, your creature's health circles will turn yellow and after a bit a snapshot of your screen is taken.

The only issue I have with flOw is that it is, well, short. You unlock all the creatures, and then there's not much else to do. That being said, the game isn't really the kind you'd WANT to sit down at for five hours straight. I like to pick it up, play a level, then go play something else or do something else. If you don't really feel like playing a "real" game but you do want to satisfy your gaming need, flOw is a relaxing experience that is rather entertaining in a special way.

If you've got the spare cash, then you should try out flOw. I would recommend getting the expansiOn as well, simply because it will add a bit more gameplay to the simple but relaxing game.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/20/07

Game Release: flOw (US, 02/22/07)