WeView: Journey

A journey to the top or to a flop?

Published 22/05/2012 01:00 PM by

 

There was an awful lot of love for Journey here at TSA Towers when it was released, and with good reason. thatgamecompany were trying something that felt fairly new and unique, and pulled it off remarkably well; it’s basically what they do as a studio. Even by their own ridiculously high standards Journey was a bit special though. I mean a game where you’re navigating a creature that looks surprisingly like a Jawa from Star Wars across a mystical desert with flying cloth? That was either going to be amazing or very, very weird.

Fortunately we thought it was the former, a game that had managed to build a fantastic experience out of quite possibly the weirdest concept since, well, Flower. Even without their experimentation with multiplayer thatgamecompany were onto something special, but the emotional connections that people have managed to build with each other even when almost no in-game communication exists is really something astonishing and quite touching.

In our review of the game Alex managed to find not a single thing he could list as a ‘con’ when playing, and could only praise the title. He gave the game a 10/10, something the text of his review more than justified. In fact here’s a short extract from that very text for you to mull over:

Allegory and metaphors in games of this ilk are mostly, intentionally or not, subjective, but Journey for me is simple and defined without any ambiguity: we all have a simple beginning and a simpler end and are – as the nondescript, universal cloak the character wears throughout demonstrate – all created equal. It’s who we meet and what we do along the way with those people that matters above anything else.

And standing alone, in silence, can be heartbreaking.

Despite the praise that Alex heaped on the game, I’m more than willing to accept that there may be some of you out there who just couldn’t click with the sand based exploration. Perhaps there was just something about the game’s overall style that you couldn’t get on with, or you found the lack of meaningful communication frustrating rather than enchanting. Maybe you felt that you just couldn’t connect with the other players that seem so key to the experience.

Whether you loved, hated or couldn’t care less about Journey, we’d like to hear what you thought after playing it. No matter where you fall on the scale, you can share your opinion by dropping a comment below before Sunday afternoon. Once you’ve formed your comment, you’ll need to attach a rating to the game. With WeView we use the Buy It, Bargain Bin It, Rent It or Avoid It system, rather than a numeric scale. Simply pick whichever of those categories best reflects your views on the game and add it to your comment; voilà, you’re done.

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39 Comments

  1. nofi
    One for all.
    Since: Forever

    Still the best game ever made.

    Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:05.
    • bunimomike
      Member
      Since: Jul 2009

      I can’t agree but for a very lovely reason. Comparing Journey to other games seems completely futile. It stands on its own as a digital gem for others to enjoy and devs to learn from.

      Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:07.
    • SpookyMulder
      Member
      Since: May 2012

      The “best game ever made” is taking it a bit far. Yes it is a 10/10 game and I love it, but I doubt I’d even put it in my top 20 of all time, if I’m honest.

      Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:08.
    • Kronik76
      Member
      Since: Jun 2009

      Each to their own

      Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:26.
  2. bunimomike
    Member
    Since: Jul 2009

    Journey is one of the most incredible games I’ve ever played. It’s beauty unmatched, it’s storytelling whispered through the actions that unfold without a word spoken. The music is woven into the game in a truly captivating way and the online element has created friendships that are hard to describe unless you’ve been part of that bond yourself.

    If it was on disc for rental I’d be torn between ratings but thatgamecompany deserve your money. Buy It. Buy It. BUY IT! Just make sure this is your sort of game first so you don’t end up saying “um… it’s just floating around sand and looking like a caped ponce for a couple of hours” as one of my mate’s spouted on the weekend.

    We have a world of FPS, RPG and genres we’ve loved for decades. However, the video game world needs more diversity and the likes of Flower, Unfinished Swan, Flower, Limbo, etc, are a huge step forward in many ways.

    Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:06.
    • chall5
      Member
      Since: Oct 2009

      “…caped ponce” – classic

      Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 14:17.
  3. LTG Davey
    andUandU
    Since: Aug 2008

    Journey is a marmite sort of game; you’re either going to love it or, well, not hate it as such, but certainly struggle to see what all the fuss is about. Personally I fall into the latter category, as I do when playing other artistic games like Flower.
    Certainly a pretty game with some nice sound design but also about as exciting as watching paint dry.
    Its also only a few hours long so definitely not worth the asking price. AVOID

    Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:10.
  4. psychobudgie
    Member
    Since: Nov 2009

    Buy it. While you are at it also buy Flow and Flower. 3 of the best and most unique gaming experiences you will ever have.

    Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:10.
  5. Cutter.T
    Member
    Since: Jun 2009

    BUY IT! For me it started of as ‘meh’ but then as I was sliding around, something about the combination of sound and sight just made me feel very sad, like seeing a magical world which you know can’t exist. When I finished I realised there were small puddles on the floor and my face was wet, but I was so Immersed I didn’t even notice. Variety is amazing, now back to God of War III.

    Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:13.
  6. mrfodder
    Member
    Since: Nov 2009

    Another unique concept from thatgamecompany. Beautifully crafted to give a emotional experience. Definitely a BUY IT.

    Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:23.
  7. colmshan1990
    Member
    Since: Apr 2009

    BUY IT.
    I disliked Flow and Flower, but after nofi convinced me to get it, I had to thank him profusely.
    Utterly fantastic. 10/10.

    Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:31.
  8. TSBonyman
    Member
    Since: Dec 2009

    Wonderful, emotional game. Beautiful music and a unique online experience – as someone who normally shies away from online gaming this was a treat. I’ll be returning to play it time and again, as i still do with flow and Flower. BUY IT, it’s a ripping good yarn! ( yarn… ripping… scarf… geddit? … no?…. sigh)

    Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:42.
  9. shields_t
    Member
    Since: Oct 2008

    Well I think I may be in the minority here but I think I preferred Flower and as a consequence of my adoration for Flower I couldn’t help but feel like Journey didn’t quite live up to the hype in my head.

    I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy it, far from, I loved the methods of gently easing you into the mechanics without so much as a word of text or speech to guide you. I loved the art and sound production and I loved the seamless and gentle online multiplayer (something I barely have any interest in when playing other games). I even loved the gameplay itself, which certainly had similarities to that of Flower.

    However having played through the game once I haven’t had any compulsion to go back and play it through again “differently”, perhaps this is something of a paradox and I won’t be getting everything I can out of the game without going back to it again but frankly I think I’d sooner boot up Flower for another blast.

    Bargain bin it.

    Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:43.
  10. JoshHood
    Small briefcase w*nker
    Since: Forever

    Finally got to sit down for a few hours and start this up the other week. Absolutely phenomenal experience – from the music and sound design, to the character movement, the style and visuals. Oh and brilliant with other people. BUY IT.

    Comment posted on 22/05/2012 at 13:43.

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