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flOw

EMAIL PRINTps3

8.6 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 12 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America

Developer: thatgamecompany

Genre(s): Action

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: February 22, 2007

Summary

[Downloadable Game] flOw is a game about piloting an aquatic organism through a surreal biosphere where players consume other organisms, evolve, and dive into the abyss. With an embedded design of DDA (dynamic difficulty adjustment), players with differing skill levels can intuitively customize their game experience and enjoy the game at their own pace. [SCEA]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Cloud

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Play UK

Pure, beautiful genius, and the kind of game that despite its simplicity manages to surprise and wow at every turn. As relaxing as it is gorgeous, no one can dislike this. [Issue #151, p.66]

Kombo

Conventional review breakdowns can't do this game justice but the overall product is something you have to experience.

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PSM3 Magazine UK

Mesmerising and beautiful. Just excellent. [May 2007, p.77]

VideoGamer

It may not have any longevity beyond the times you boot it up to show off to friends as a curio of you new PS3, but at a budget price it is an undeniably unique and enchanting piece of software.

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Playstation Official Magazine UK

This is utterly unique. [May 2007, p.116]

GameDaily

While the $7.99 asking price feels excessive for a game that offers little content versus other downloadable games, flOw deserves to be experienced, thanks to its dreamy visuals, angelic soundtrack and addictive play.

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Games Radar (in-house)

A mesmerizing, gorgeous achievement in interactive art, and should be experienced by anyone willing to open their minds as to what video games can be.

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GameTrailers

One of the coolest things about flow is its simplicity. You never feel harried or rushed. Even when you pause the game, it doesn’t actually stop, it just raises your creature to a level where nothing can attack it, waiting for you to pick the controller back up and continue on.

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IGN

flOw is an extremely interesting game for multiple reasons. The only goal is to evolve and see what's next, and its presentation couldn't be any better. The downside is that that's about all there is to the game.

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Play Magazine

You can only take so much away from FLOW before the effect wears off, but until then, it's a treat that hopefully will inspire more for the future. [Apr 2007, p.47]

GameSpot

There's not an awful lot of game here, but flOw still makes for an attractive and soothing showpiece.

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1UP

The sense of purpose and accomplishment comes from making your creature grow -- to be king of the primordial soup. And while there are levels, enemies, power moves, et cetera, flOw is more of an entertaining diversion than what we're used to calling a "game."

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Cheat Code Central

It will provide you with a relaxing and somewhat strange experience that no other game offers. It looks great on the PS3 and will impress (and maybe hypnotize) your visitors when they come over.

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Boomtown

While part of the beauty and pure artistry is that it doesn’t hold your hand the whole way, I can’t help but feel that it does lack direction, but it shows off the PS2’s Sixaxis in a more than appealing way, and gives the PS3 an edge of experimentation and originality that could sway the odd savvy gamer.

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Gamestyle

Easily the most distinctive and unusual title exclusively available via the PS Store. For £3.49 you receive 128MB of something rather unique and eye opening but others will thoroughly hate the lack of structure and goals, as many play to win or obtain the highest score.

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Eurogamer

FlOw is what it is - download it in the full knowledge that you're participating in an experiment of sorts and I think you'll get good value from your £3.49. If you're looking for something more like a conventional game, I'd lop off a mark or two from the final score.

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PALGN

A very calming and intriguing experience, but unfortunately nothing substantial to keep you coming back for more.

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G4 TV

flOw has all the makings of a great game, with one major exception. There is almost no point. Just the same, for $8 PlayStation 3 owners will find a truly distinctive, Zen-like gaming experience.

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GameZone

It could be viewed as either mind-numbing or hypnotic. The game is simple enough to learn and time will flutter past as you play. Still, this is not a game that is overly complex and may not appeal to everyone.

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NTSC-uk

It's cheap, it's easy, there’s no death, severed limbs or even blood, it's great for wowing hammered friends with a motion sensitive controller. In fact, it's simply ornamental.

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Hardcore Gamer Magazine

As-is, it's a very, very pretty demo of what the SIXAXIS can do. [May 2007, p.69]

Pure Magazine UK

While flOw does offer some different gaming experiences and the implementation of the Sixaxis is smooth, it does just feel like a demo of the controller and not exactly a fully rounded game. [May 2007, p.67]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

A W gave it a10:
I just thought i'd say how DARE some of the official reviewers give this game such low scores (here's looking at you G4TV, GameZone, NTSC-uk, HGM and PM UK). It certainly doesn't deserve less than a 70 from anyone... Wonderful experience; if you appreciate art and relaxing, unique games, this is for you. One of my favourite games (and that's saying a lot - also, check out Flower).

Jaakko V. gave it a10:
A surreal experience.

Mr Opinion gave it a10:
I have a view on reviews - they should only be based on the intent of the game. Flow achieves (so far as I can see) 10 out of 10 with regards to what it sets out to do. Now, if it's intent isn't for you, then don't download it - but when I see reviews moaning about lack of blood, or whatever I see poor reviewing (which is rife in gaming industry). Flow does exactly what it says on the box, without bugs, flaws or any design issues. But make sure you read the box and know what you're getting.

Andyman gave it an8:
A completely unique... well, "game" doesn't really describe flOw... it's more like a relaxation aid. Using the movement-sensitivity of the Sixaxis controller, you guide a continuously-evolving lifeform up through the natural order. In other words, you eat stuff, you get bigger, and you evolve. There's no score, and there's nothing to do other than eating other lifeforms... and that's the beauty of flOw. You just chill out in the La-Z-Boy and soak in this absolutely spellbinding experience. This would be a perfect 10, but it's all over way too soon. I can only hope that downloadable content (preferably FREE) will be made available to breathe some more life into flOw.

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