For those of you with a PlayStation 3, I have a wonderful recommendation. The PlayStation Network has a downloadable game entitled flOw and it is really quite pleasant. (For more information and to view some in-game footage, visit Sony’s site.) For those of you with a PSP, I have a similar recommendation. flOw for the PSP was released last week and it is every bit as beautiful as its PS3 cousin. However, there are some differences worth noting. Let’s begin with the PS3 version…

My son and I played flOw on the PS3 about a month ago and he really seemed to enjoy it. We can both play simultaneously so I can help him in some of the more overwhelming situations without him having to surrender his controller. The game takes advantage of the PS3’s six-axis controller to move your onscreen character. All you need to do is tilt the controller to determine the direction that you want to move. If you want to dart in a given direction, just press any button on the controller. That’s all there is to it!

The simplicity of the interface is really what made this accessible to my son. Combine that with the stunning visuals which he seems to think look like “skeleton-fish-bug-things” (a big plus for him on all accounts) and it’s hard not to have fun. But what is flOw?

It’s hard to describe but as an avid gamer I have found it a rather relaxing experience. There are occasional conflicts, but essentially you are an organism that is seemingly swimming around eating other organisms. As you eat more, you grow. Your shape evolves as you play through the game. After you go through all the levels, you return to the beginning and have the opportunity to grow a different organism through the same trials. Though similar, the experience offers enough variety in the gameplay that it is no chore to experience this growth process repeatedly. The visuals, the sound, and the simplicity of the interface makes it a very pleasant experience and one that I can highly recommend for a younger (or older) audience.

As for the recently released PSP version, there are two major differences that I have noted so far. First, since the PSP does not incorporate six-axis control, the player moves his/her creature around using the analog nub. This is fairly intuitive for the average PSP owner, but it does not convey the subtle nuances afforded to those who play the game on the PS3. Most moves on the PSP are more abrupt and less flowing. (Yes, I chose that word intentionally.) The second issue that I observed on the PSP version was that when you proceed from level to level, there seems to be a slight pause or stutter in between levels. This too detracts from the flowing experience.

All in all, each version of the game is under $10 and well worth it. I look forward to more games that seem so simple, yet convey such a deep sensory experience. I recall that someone on the PlayStation forums commented shortly after the original PS3 version of the game was released that it was the most cost effective therapy session money could buy.

For those interested in viewing the original Flash version of the game, you can check it out here.

Enjoy!

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To all the families, to all the gamers, and to all the families with gamers - Happy Thanksgiving from Game Apparent!

Sony seems to have wished PS3 owners with the PSEye a Happy Thanksgiving as well. Two new titles appeared Tuesday of this week just in time for your holiday gathering. Both are kid-friendly too!

The first is Aquatopia and I would describe it as an electronic fish tank. It’s very pretty and you don’t have to worry about cleaning the water! The Eye makes it look as though you can see your own reflection in the tank. Many of the fish are attracted to movement so when you move your hand, some fish will follow it. Also, moving your fingers at the water’s surface feeds the fish.

 It may be a simple diversion, but at $1.99 USD it’s hard to beat. Also, it might give the kids something interesting to do while you’re dealing with the after effects of the turkey and it’s tryptophan. (Yes, I know that the effects of tryptophan within turkey are exaggerated, but for whatever reason, we’re always exhausted.)

The second download is a little more ($4.99 USD), but it offers a more traditional game experience. It’s called Operation: Creature Featureand it’s a lot like Lemmings with an Eye interface. You basically guide these little creatures with your hands in order to get them out of harms way. Each level poses new challenges. It’s very simple to learn and it poses enough of a challenge that young and old will find some entertainment value.

I know that we have much for which to be thankful and I hope that you all do too. Take care and enjoy your families!

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Since the early days of the original PlayStation, the developer Naughty Dog has created some engaging virtual worlds. They began with the Crash Bandicoot titles (ESRB “E”) and continued on the PlayStation 2 with the Jak and Daxter series (ESRB “E” and “T”). Though the original Jak and Daxter followed the Crash Bandicoot lead as a kid-friendly 3D platformer, Jak II started to become darker. It was at this point that Naughty Dog began creating “T” titles. They are excellent games and well worth playing, but not as kid friendly as the original cartoon antics of a certain bandicoot.

Their latest game is as much of a leap in technology and presentation from the Jak and Daxter trilogy as Jak was from Crash. It is called Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and it’s an adventure game in the vein of the Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider franchises. What appears to set this apart is the depth of the characters, the story, and the level of detail. In their previous productions, Naughty Dog took pride in painstakingly keyframing all of the animation. Though this makes for exceptionally fluid motion, it is better suited to stylized characters and not realistic human motion. For Uncharted they decided to start with motion capture to portray natural movement of the human characters. Then they refined this information be supplimenting it with traditional animation to create a more organic realism for the characters than motion capture could handle alone. This was an incredible undertaking considering that there is over an hour of these storytelling cinematics in the game.

In addition to the impressive cut-scenes, the in-game animation is stunning. Your onscreen persona, Nathan Drake, moves very naturally whether he is walking, running, jumping, or climbing through the environment. The control appears to be spot on as well, which is expected from a Naughty Dog title. Their titles are known for consistantly good gameplay and fun factor.

As of this week, the game’s demo is available free online at the PlayStation Store (North America). Feel free to download it and decide for yourself if it lives up to the hype. It is rated “T” and does include quite a bit of gun play. I would not call it brutal, nor is the hero of the title killing for any reason other than self-defense. Yet, the player is required to shoot quite a few of the “bad guys” throughout the game.

For more information about Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, visit the game’s official website here. For more background about the previous Naughty Dog titles and about the people behind the scenes, you can find their official website here.

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