The PS3’s downloadable software has a little more to it than its web sibling, though the emphasis should be very much on little. The idea behind flOw is to guide a small cell bacterial-like creature about a liquidy environment, gobbling up that which is smaller in order to grow into a bigger cell-like creature, whilst avoiding that which is larger and therefore questionable to the critter’s on-going health. The more portly animals can be devoured, but this involves detaching things piece by piece until they finally break up into bits; best to evolve and take on these things with bigger teeth.

The PS3's six-axis motion control is used to guide the "My Little Germ" about the screen, and work very well it does. Tilt left, go left, tilt right, go right, press a button and he’ll perform a special move ... simple, no head scratching required, and takes no longer than thirty seconds to get to grips with.

Whilst moving about the screen is two-dimensional, the environment of flOw has layers and depth, unlike the experience itself. Eating the right kind of substance in the world of flOw will push Junior down, or pull him up to another plane, where there's more stuff to eat, and more stuff to avoid. When the bottom of the existence is reached, and all edible life is consumed, the controlled creature evolves into a new shape, and the experience is once again repeated. In all there are six different life forms to unlock, each with its own unique design and ability.

flOw is an experience, it's very zen, and very calming, The "new-age" style soundtrack is suitably apt and may even come alive to those partial to more illicit consumables, but it is a very shallow one. What is pleasing is the way the creature evolves, grows and moves. The little amoeba form transforms to a far more complex structure. It’s nothing that’s going to challenge the graphical powerhouse that is the PS3, yet somehow it totally fits the whole feel, anything more would destroy the minimalist look; it’s all very organic and, well, flowy.

flOw isn’t going to keep the player coming back for more; everything there is to appreciate will be seen in just couple of hours or less. However, 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.