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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As parents, we need all the tools we can get. A FAQ is an acronym for Frequently Asked Questions. These lists usually include the answers as well. (How helpful!) GameFAQs is a site that we’ve visited for years. It is a growing collection of reviews and “walk-throughs” for videogames for all of the consoles with some dating back as far as the 70s.

The majority of the content on this site is posted voluntarily by others and it has continued to be a free resource. I have often found that I don’t agree with all of the reviews, but they are the opinions of real people. The site now appears to be owned by GameSpot and I don’t know how that may or may not affect their content. Historically I have always found that they offer personal observations without fear of backlash from corporate sponsorship. If nothing else, it’s always nice to see a well-rounded view of a game.

As for the walk-throughs, there’s nothing like getting frustrated because you can’t figure out what your next step is in a game. At the risk of dating myself, my earliest memory of such a challenge was the original text adventure Colossal Cave. (In those days, no one on the ARPANET had posted hints. In fact, this predated CompuServe and America Online.) To have access to hints or step-by-step instructions on how to handle something that may be taking the fun out of your gaming experience (or your child’s) is very useful.

Another tool to handle such situations is a Strategy Guide. Many titles have strategy guides and these often provide in-depth analysis of storyline as well as impressive imagery and artwork from the game. However, if you just need a quick answer, GameFAQs is an excellent resource to keep the momentum going.

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