Journey

Developer: thatgamecompany

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Console: PS3

Release Date: March 13th, 2012

Available exclusively on the Playstation 3 through the PSN, Journey is the latest title to come from the minds of thatgamecompany. Featuring a stellar soundtrack, captivating visuals, and providing an experience like no other, Journey is a title that no PlayStation gamer should miss out on.

Single Player

Journey starts off the player as a nameless cloaked traveler in the desert. You have one goal throughout the game, get to the top of the mountain that towers in the distance. There is no tutorial section, and aside from a few button signals shown briefly at the beginning, the player must figure out what to do and where to go on their own.  There are no healthbars, no on screen HUD, no timers or score to track. No enemies to attack, no map to follow and no levels to gain.  Just you and the mountain, and how you get there is entirely up to you. Along the way you will traverse a vast desert, numerous ancient temples and ruins, an underground cavern, a seemingly underwater-like trench and snowy cliffs.

Although being a single player game, there is a multiplayer portion of the game. Not in any traditional way of course. In Journey you will come across other players via the PSN. You can only communicate with them by the actions in the game. You can help them, travel with them, or ignore them entirely. The decision is up to you. Just knowing that there are other travelers in this world can help you acheive a greater experience.

To call Journey a video game would be almost incorrect. It is more of an emotional investment than an interactive experience. Right away you will care very much for the well being of your nameless traveler. You will make reaching that mountain peak no matter what happens.

Gameplay

While there aren’t too many technical aspects other than walking and climbing, your traveler can gain the ability to fly, all be it for a very brief amount of time. Finding glowing symbols along your journey will increase the length of the scarf on your traveler’s cloak. The longer the scarf, the longer you can fly. This ability is vital in aiding your quest, and can be recharged with certain objects/characters you will come across with. Your traveller can interact with objects with what can best be described as a musical chirp.

Graphics/Presentation/Sound

There were times that I forgot I was playing a downloadable game. Every area of the world in of Journey is stunning. The artistic care and quality that went into every detail cannot be given justice with this sentence. The soundtrack behind the game is awe-inspiring.  It will tear at your heart-strings and  invoke emotions you might not expect to feel playing a game. It is truly one the most remarkable games I have ever played. Quite simply, Journey is beautiful.

Gorgeous

Final Thoughts:

I have never had such an emotional attachment to a game like Journey. It has provided me an experience that will last for years. Too often games are over-hyped by million dollar budgets, advertisements, and blockbuster credentials. Journey has none of this issues. The time you invest to complete Journey might seem brief (it can be finished in 3-4 hours) but, it makes up for it with the emotional return you will get out of it. This game will touch you in a way that cannot be put into words. It taps into what makes us human, and everyone can relate to it. If you enjoy feeling emotions, creating memories and having unforgettable experiences, you owe it to yourself to play Journey.

Final Score:

I give Journey a 10/10

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