FlOw is a weird one. We’ll happily state, for the record, here and now, from the bottom of our heart (and cliché barrel), that it’s one of the best concepts we’ve seen in years. It’s diffi cult to elaborate on too much, as our words simply don’t convey the delight that it offers. Sure, it’s unlikely to be a killer app in the same way that Killzone 2, Metal Gear Solid 4 or Devil May Cry 3 are likely to be, but what it does do is send a message that if anyone can deliver a truly innovative gaming experience, Sony can. Whilst you couldn’t call it genuinely original it opens doors to developers by saying that success doesn’t have to be based on the kind of generic rubbish that so often fi nds its way to the top of the charts.

When you fi rst start playing, it’s diffi cult not to be enchanted by the glorious music and magnifi cent visuals. This really is so little of the story though, as playing past the ambient tunes and sexy hues of the fi rst few levels reveals a genuinely emotional experience. You’ll actually fi nd yourself fl inching, much like your on-screen avatar does, every now and again as some neverbefore- seen sea creature nibbles off one of your nodules. More than likely you’ll lean back at some point and just fi ddle around with the controller and marvel at just how perfect the tilt control manages to be. There’ll almost certainly be actual gasps of amazement as you unexpectedly encounter the larger monsters. These things are priceless in gaming, and in themselves warrant fl Ow’s download.

Then, once you’re just getting used to how magnifi cent your evolved creature is becoming, as you descend through the deep, eating and growing, you’ll fi nd yourself transformed into a completely different animal, and the whole thing starts over again. One word. Joy. That creature lives in a different colour liquid, creates different sounds and behaves entirely differently. X, for example, performs your creature’s behaviour, and whilst the fi rst animal has a kind of gentle acceleration, the next spins around, sucking all and sundry into its pursed maw. There are others, and each is as beautiful as the next, and we’re holding off completing it for fear of running out of the happiness that it brings. fl Ow is the kind of title that everyone should play. It’s slick, beautiful, occasionally challenging and seriously relaxing, and who doesn’t need that nowadays.

Tom Leclerc