thesixthaxis

Sometimes I pick games for WeView knowing the result is pretty much a foregone conclusion, but when I selected Journey it was beyond that. It was basically a nailed on certainty that this game was going to get an overwhelming response, unless I’d some how managed to sleep through a very brief period of negativity about thatgamecompany’s newest title.

When I initially looked at your comments, it did seem that my thoughts on the reaction to the game had been correct, with nofi immediately dropping by to call Journey “Still the best game ever made.” bunimomike was quick to follow up, saying that it’s “one of the most incredible games I’ve ever played”. He was a little more expansive than nofi, highlighting the way the music “is woven into the game in a truly captivating way”, and praised the way it managed to tell a story “through the actions that unfold without a word spoken”.

However, with the unique aspects of Journey I should have taken into account it’s potential to split opinion. As LTG Davey put it “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.”

He puts himself in the latter of those categories, saying that whilst it’s “Certainly a pretty game with some nice sound design,” he found it “about as exciting as watching paint dry.” Roynaldo went even further, stating that he “wont buy Journey just yet, or maybe ever, simply because there was such a fuss over thatgamecompanys work (Flower, Flow) and I felt, while very pretty and out of the ordinary there just didn’t seem to be much game to the games.”

Whilst there were a few other islands of negativity, the general response was still one of extreme positivity. Many of you touched on the emotional aspects of the game, with uncleniccius saying “the emotional attachment you feel to your character, and your partner if you have one, has not been matched in any game” and that you really need to play it yourself to understand just how deep that attachment goes. Dom El was also effected by the way the game evokes an emotional response, calling it the “most emotionally affecting piece of computer game software I have ever played.”

Perhaps the most engaged by the game though was Mundham, who said it was the fist game since Final Fantasy VII to make them cry. The reason it brought about such a strong response? Well Mundham was kind enough to list several, citing “the feeling of camaraderie, exploration, helping and being helped, and loss of a friend you’ll never meet again”. For all of that to form over such a short span of time really is a testament to what thatgamecompany have managed to achieve with Journey.

For this week’s wrap up comment, I’ve picked out TSBonyman, simply for the absolutely terrible pun contained in their comment. Prepare yourself, it really is awful.

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)

I’m sorry to put you through that, but I had to read it so it’s only fair I share around the pain a little.

Now, onto the overall verdict of the game. In joint last place come Rent It and Bargain Bin It, with one vote each. Next up is Avoid It with two of you selecting that rating. However, in the lead by a distance even Usain Bolt would be proud of is Buy It, sitting on twenty-two votes. Whilst it would seem the game isn’t for everyone, a huge majority agree that it’s more than worth playing.

As always if you have any games you’d like selected for WeView simply drop a comment below.