flOw is a one-of-a-kind game experience. What other game provides you with the brutal task of devouring other life forms to survive in such a relaxing, non-demanding manner? The game became a big hit last year on the PlayStation Network by offering SIXAXIS-supported motion controls and simple yet pleasant visuals and sounds. Satisfied with its success, Sony now provides the option of taking the experience anywhere you go on your PSP, with a handheld rendition of flOw. A couple of changes make it a lesser experience overall, but one still worth checking out for the $8 price tag.

Gameplay is simple. You swim around a water-filled level as a microorganism; slowly evolving with each new enemy you munch down. Some enemies are larger than others, able to harm you just as easily by snapping at one of your glowing appendages. However, the basic tale of survival applies here – you simply have to finish them off before finish you. As you swim deeper and deeper into the game's few levels, you'll find larger, faster enemies, keeping the game fresh and unique.

So tranquil, and yet so appetizing...

With graphics, flOw couldn't look any simpler. There are no fancy backgrounds here, just a solid-colored sea floor where you can barely make out images from the next level down. This introduces some strategy into the game, as you can make out larger enemies and plot out your attack before heading down. The delicate creature animation is stunning, despite the lack of details. As for sound, you've got tranquil sound effects and a soundtrack so easygoing that it would fit right in as the background music of choice on an audio stress program. And breathe in...

The gameplay may not have changed much, but the controls have. Instead of utilizing the motion-sensitive movements of the SIXAXIS, they're limited to analog nub movement and the face buttons for a speed boost. It still works, but part of the innovation goes away because of this. The game's a lot easier to beat now, and considering it doesn't have that many levels to begin with, that's slightly bad news for those expecting a similar experience.

Multiplayer still plays a huge part in flOw. The PSP edition automatically tracks down other online players through the WLAN network, as long as your switch is turned to on. Being able to connect with a friend is pretty cool for a game like this, aside from one gigantic flaw that's hard to overlook – slowdown. The screen slows whenever there's more than one player on screen, to the point that it appears that the creatures are swimming in mud rather than water. Single player also suffers from slowdown, although not nearly as much. Still, this is a problem that should've been addressed during the game's development. If the PSP can handle the chaos of God of War: Chains of Olympus, it sure as hell should handle flOw.

In spite of the limitations, flOw is a game still worth experiencing. The pure uniqueness of its formula overcomes the speed and longevity flaws to the point that it's worth dropping $8 on. Let's hope this is the start of a new trend where we see PSN games available for downloadable play.

Related Links

flOw Game Guide

SCEA

Our Final ScoreOK

What did you think of this game? Post Your Own Review