flOw started out as a flash game from thatgamecompany, but was later brought to life on the PS3. It rocketed up the charts to become the number one downloaded game on the PlayStation Network. To further spread the game’s audience, Sony and thatgamecompany are bringing the title to the PSP. Here is a breakdown of some of the facets of flOw for the PSP:

Presentation and Graphics: flOw is simplistic in nature, a fact that is reflected in it’s graphical styling. Your creature becomes ever larger and more complex as you eat smaller creatures in the abyss and evolve. As you dive deeper into the vast oceanic world, the background gets darker as the light that can penetrate that deep into the ocean dissipates. It’s all very serene, albeit simplistic. There are a few framerate issues when the screen gets crowded, but otherwise it’s a pleasant experience. 6.5 of 10

Sound and Music: Like I mentioned earlier, flOw is truely a serene experience. The calming orchestral music will immerse you in the world, especially with a good set of headphones. flOw is meant to be more of an experience than a game, and the sounds of the deep do a great job at conveying this. 7 of 10

Gameplay: This PSP version plays a lot like its PS3 counterpart, but without the SIXAXIS motion controls. Using the left analog stick for movement and any button to boost, moving your creature around the world is extremely simplistic and fluid. Progression in the game can be as fast or slow as you wish, with each “level” taking anywhere from five to thirty minutes to complete. Your mission is to grow and evolve your creature by eating smaller life forms and descending further into the depths of the ocean. To descend, you swim over the red circle, which brings you down to the next step of the abyss. You could simply go through without eating other creatures and make your way to the end of each of the five levels, but where’s the fun in that? Each level of the game is characterized by using a different creature. When you reach the end of a level, your creature evolves dramitically, at which point you can move on and continue your quest to become the greatest creature in the ocean. 7 of 10

Multiplayer: The PSP version of the game features four player ad-hoc multiplayer out of the box, something that did not ship originally with the PS3 version of the game. You’ll be able to swim around, evolve, and even try to eat fellow players in this world. I would have liked to have seen this as an infrastructure multiplayer to allow play over the internet. 6.5 of 10

Lasting Appeal: With flOw being an experience rather than a competitive game, this could be off your radar rather quickly. If you played the PS3 version, this is roughly the same experience, but on a smaller screen. If you never understood flOw, this might not be for you. But for those of us who enjoy the serene nature of a game and being able to get away for a bit, flOw is something to keep coming back to on both your PS3 and PSP. 6.5 of 10

Final Word: For $8, many people will want to pass on flOw, especially if you already own the PS3 version. However, flOw is worth the price of admission if this is your thing. Why not try out the flash version and see if you’re ready to go deep into the ocean?

Overall: 6.75 of 10

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