What started as a school project and moved on to be a flash game, flOw has been reborn once again as a PS3 downloadable game. Up until now it's also been the only game that's been worth the money to me on the PS3. It helps only being 8 dollars but the game is enough that I didn't feel ripped off, though I still do have a few small gripes with it.

You play as some sort of organism that eats the stuff smaller than you, and avoiding the stuff larger than you. As you eat you grow, so on and so forth. This continues through a few different "forms" as you move along further and further in the game. Though there's not much to do with the game once you beat it, it's still an enjoyable experience while it lasts. It's science in motion. Beautiful, serene motion.

First the positives. The graphics are simply incredible. It's a simple looking game on the surface but once you begin to notice the little details, on both your character and the water around you, it's simply astounding. Running in 1080p with the surround sound going is truly an experience worth tracking down. The game is really an exercise in relaxation, a sort of zen place where you're playing the game subconsciously, which means alot is lost when you're playing it in your web browser. It's initial availability was decent, but after playing it here there's no way I'll ever play it in a browser again.

The negatives are really contained to one single problem, the control. Or actually the lack thereof. See it has support for the motion controls in the SIXAXIS but no way to use the analog stick. It's an obvious oversight and it's like that only to FORCE you to use the motion control. Luckily, the motion control works pretty well but I'd still rather have the option of using the analog stick. There's something about the shape of the PS pad, it feels great when you're holding it but twisting and turning it just doesn't feel right.

Like I said it's not a huge problem because the motion control for the most part is spot on, but the fact that regular controls weren't included just to push the motion stuff is a cop out.

It's worth every cent of the 8 bucks, and if you have a PS3 with an internet connection, you oughta download this game. It's one of those rare titles that's more of an art project that a game, and this sort of outside-the-box games ought to be supported. Excellent experience.

7 out of 10

Comments (3)

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

Add Comment