How does one describe Journey, exactly? It's a videogame unlike any other, to the point where calling it a videogame doesn't quite feel right. One could call it an art game, but that would draw comparisons with infinitely less distinguished pieces of software. Whatever label you want to affix to thatgamecompany's latest creation, there's one description that absolutely everybody should be able to agree on. 

Journey is ... a journey.

Journey (PlayStation Network)
Developer: thatgamecompany
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Released: March 13, 2012
MSRP: $14.99

There is a story to Journey, a message to take away. What elements of this story will resonate and what message is ultimately gleaned depend on the individual, and may be quite unique. As in all titles developed by thatgamecompany, there is nothing truly explicit, nothing that cannot be interpreted in any number of ways. 

At the most basic level, you are a shrouded figure traversing the desert with the ultimate goal of reaching a mountain across the vast sandy wastes. Your interactions are minimal, as your main job is simply to move. Traditional stick movement gives you direct control over your entity, while Sixaxis motions manipulate the camera. Pressing the circle button causes the player character to emit a chime, and the button can be held down to make a more significant noise, generating a spherical field that emanates from the player. This aura can bring life to surrounding objects, causing them to perform special actions that will guide the player along the correct path. 

The creature (for want of a better word) wears a scarf that contains a unique power, allowing the player to fly into the air with a press of the X button. This flight only lasts as long as the glyphs printed on the scarf remain lit, and the glyphs' illumination naturally drains as the player remains airborne. The scarf can be recharged by touching fluttering strands of fabric, and it can be lengthened by collecting glowing symbols hidden throughout the desert. 

Simply describing these mechanics doesn't quite do their implementation justice. Nor would any summary of the unique cooperative elements accurately detail just how affecting one's interactions with another player can be. 

I found my partner in the middle of the desert, as he or she found me. Journey's online co-op simply introduces two players at random shortly after the game begins. No names are exchanged for the duration of the partnership. The characters look identical. There is no way to truly communicate with the other person, but that person -- whoever it is -- shall become your best friend for the next two hours. 

My new friend had clearly been on this journey before. He or she was an expert guide, pointing out hidden symbols and leading me to secret spaces where mysterious murals could be uncovered. Rather quickly, I learned to follow when my partner chimed three times. I also learned how to keep close, as players recharge each other's scarves while touching. 

Cooperation has not been forced into Journey. Rather, the player takes it upon one's self to help out others. This was clearly somebody who had played Journey before, but had returned to the desert in order to guide others. Even with this potential, the two players don't truly work together in any meaningful sense of the word. They are not pulling levers to open doors for each other. They're not giving each other a leg up to climb walls. While the recharging of scarves can save a little time, it's not necessary to complete the journey, since fluttering fabric is plentiful. 

Despite the lack of interaction and the dearth of true cooperative opportunities, I felt more connected to my traveling companion than I did to anybody else I've ever played a game with, as the thoroughly impersonal touch causes players to latch onto each other. The desert is expansive and can threaten to grow quite lonely. For all intents and purposes, Journey is a forsaking, solo adventure, but it's one you get to share with another person, and you feel worlds apart when you go your separate ways. This is what Journey's co-op truly means. Two people walking the same path, and simply appreciating each other's company. 

At times, however, you'll wish you could say something. When running through dunes and chasing magic carpets; when sliding through a sunken city; when looking through a crack in a mountain as the sunlight pours in -- there are so many achingly beautiful moments packed into such a short experience that you'll want to call out to your partner and say, "It's wonderful, isn't it?" You'll want to say it, but ultimately, nobody needs to. Chances are almost certain that you're both thinking the same thing. 

Through subtle animations and a gorgeous blend of colors, Journey's world is a joy to be a part of, a world that can genuinely etch a smile onto the player's face. As for the music that weaves itself throughout everything, I have only the highest praise. Journey's score is sublime, complementing the often breathtaking visual splendor with perfection. I would love to further describe this alluring marriage of interaction, sight, and sound, but to relate any one example would be to take away the joy of discovering it yourself, and Journey is a game best walked into without knowing quite what to expect.

Journey will take two or three hours to complete, and for $14.99 there are doubtless those who will feel cheated. Those who fall in love with what this odyssey has to offer, however, will find that the memories are more than worth the entry fee, and will likely be tempted to play through at least once more. Besides which, this is a game designed to be played in one sitting, from beginning to end, in order to appreciate the full scope of one's pilgrimage and the wonderful way in which it escalates from humble beginning to rousing end. This is not a game for those who view length as the primary measure of a product's entertainment value. 

Perhaps a little more could have been added to Journey, and I certainly would have loved more interaction with such an absorbing and intriguing world. Simply walking and gliding certainly can make a player focus solely on the atmosphere, but it still feels a little indirect and sometimes alienating. Nevertheless, these minor gripes serve to make it all the more impressive when one finally concludes the adventure and realizes how emotionally rewarding it was. For a game that does so little, Journey sure manages to accomplish a lot. 

Its greatest achievement, however, is showing the world exactly how to make a piece of interactive art that is both compelling and fun, without compromising any one element. So many self-styled "art games" feel that in order to evoke a feeling, one must confuse, irritate, or even totally disregard the player. Journey is a defiant bridge between art and game, managing to emotionally connect without being cloying, and succeeding in being mysterious without becoming pretentiously vague and obfuscating. Journey's interactive, visual, and aural elements work together, rather than fight with each other, in order to provide a flowing, seamless, influential, and utterly exhilarating experience.   

This is interactive art. This is how it's done.

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

Allistair Pinsof

That's it. You sold me Jim. Seems to be the opposite of Dear Esther, which is a good thing.

Bobthecatlol

/corrections

Score should be 10/10

polarbearcubz

I wanna give this a shot, sounded awesome from the moment I heard from it

Blake Stone

I hate that reviews are coming out for this now. It making waiting so much more difficult.

GoofierBrute

I hope it comes out on Steam someday. It sounds like something I want to at least try.

Dakilazical

Great review, I can't wait for this. After playing The Simpsons Arcade co-op with some strangers the other night I really appreciated being able to sit down and complete a game from start to finish in a single evening. I will for sure be picking this up when I want to take a break from Mass Effect 3.

Isay Isay

you feel worlds apart when you go your separate ways

Zeyro

Amazing! 10/10! Ima get this soon

Metalsnakezero

Lets Journey together soon everyone.

squibs

squibs

Jim I must say I played the demo and loved it, also your review is one of the best written pieces I have seen. I cannot wait to play the full game.

Tristrix

Been excited about this game for a year now. The wait is painful.

Also, Dear Esther was a beautiful experience that I can't praise highly enough. Just wanted to provide a counterpoint to my peer up there.

Jim Sterling

Isay Isay is the winner of the competition for which there is no prize.

MisterDonut

Praise for this game has just been flooding in from everywhere today. I loved Flower and have loosely kept my eye on this. Very happy to hear its resulted in a great product.

Great review as well Jim, the way you described the game took me on a Journey of extreme erotic tension resulting in a soggy patch of moist trousers.

I really want this game...

VoltySquirrel

This sounds fucking amazing. Nice to see an "art game" that doesn't insult the player likt fucking The Path. Just might pick this up. Thanks for the hearty recommendation, Jimbo.

Logic Incarnate

This seams the sort of game where the review score could fluctuate widely based upon the actual experience the reviewer had.

IMADESTROYOUWITHMYOMEGALAZAR

Thanks Jim. Now your making the wait that much more difficult.

hageoyaji

Fantastic! I can't wait to play this one!

Agikamike

Would blasting Journey the entire time ruin... or enhance it, though?

gaminglife

I was thinking about picking this up and your review has made my mind up going to buy it right now

Electrium

This review was an absolute joy to read. It's such a shame that Journey doesn't release to the public for another two weeks - I'm dying to explore.

hellmarch668

good stuff might be my first psn download ever lol

Favian

I argued with someone last week who was upset that voice chat wasn't incorporated into dark souls. This was his first taste in the series since Demon's souls was never released for 360. It shattered his world not being able to communicate with whoever happened to be playing with him.

He didn't quite understand that school yard taunts or any other verbal communication would ruin the atmosphere of that game. The designers made that choice for a reason, and to circumvent that breaks the game experience completely. 

I read that the experience of a complete nameless stranger helping the creator of demon's souls when his car was stuck in a snowy ditch was his inspiration for that game. I don't quite understand why verbal communication is needed at all when something like this seems much more magical. Can you imagine someone shouting at you during journey or Demon's souls? Sigh

Isay Isay

It's ok Jim...someday love will find me.

IMADESTROYOUWITHMYOMEGALAZAR

This is a game that i will probably remember for the rest of my life. It`s in the same line as Ico, Shadow of colosus and Okami. Yet another game that proves that video games can be art, that video games can be something more and something truly special that movies, books, music ect can`t hope to replecate.

Alan Argentina

God I'm so happy this game ended up being good. Gonna have to fire up the ole Sonytron this weekend.

Kazumi

I'll be sure to get this game if/when I buy a PS3. Though I agree it would be very nice to see a release on Steam.

Chris Carter

Separate Ways is my favorite Journey song.

This review is my favorite March review.

<3s for everyone.

Alan Argentina

@Chris Carter

Separate Ways.... dear God man. I JAM THE FUCK OUT to that song every time it hits the classic rock station. Do yourself a favor and watch the video if you haven't already, its the greatest 80s video ever recorded. The cheese is so thick you drown in it.

Timothy Kelly

Mother of tits, time to get a ps3.

SeymourDuncan17

I was a ginormous fan of Flower. I still think of it as the most beautiful game I've ever played. The only complaint I had was that the message it gave off could seem sort of preachy to some, but it was beautiful none the less. If this game accomplishes what Flower did and takes away that gripe, this might just be my most favorite game of all time as the experiences you described here sound amazing.

I loved this review, but I also hated it because it hyped me up that much more.... and think I'll have to break myself away from ME3 to play it. This is just awful D:

But it'll be worth it, I'm sure.

masterofchaz

yes to this game then.

MuddBstrd

I was entranced by the demo, so I'm glad to hear that the full game builds upon its awesomeness. Thanks for the review, Jim! I'll be picking this up for when I need a nice, calming break from Mass Effect 3.

Jim Sterling

SeymourDuncan17:

This game will be perfect for you. The message definitely isn't as hammer-hitting as Flower, but the game is just as inspiring.

Blake Stone

I'm man enough to admit that I teared up a little bit during the last level of Flower.

Kaoslyon

As a newish PS3 owner, I think you have convinced me to make this my first downloadable title for it, Jim.

Chris Carter

@OneRed
"The cheese is so thick you drown in it."

Oh. It's great :D

Elsa

nice!

Favian

I don't think we'll be seeing a steam release of a game financed by Sony for PSN anytime soon. I'm surprised they haven't already bought out thatgamecompany

Tristan77

Score is 10/10 on Joystiq and 1Up. Best review I have read so far is from Joystiq. This game is a. master piece just like Flower

Hawaii Jeff

For as long as they took to make this game, I was expecting more than a 2-hour interactive screensaver.

jecht35

I played the beta, and all I can say is when can I play this game again. Seriously this game is so mesmerizing in its gameplay and multiplayer functionality that I would play it a thousand times and never have the same experience. At least thats how the beta made me feel.

Mr Andy Dixon

High five for Separate Ways!

This game sounds amazing. I wasn't a big fan of Flower, but I at least appreciated why some people would be. I'l definitely check this out.

Also, fantastic review, Jim. This is one of the best you've written, and I've read 'em all.

fulldamage

I've been waiting to play this for what feels like ages. And all the reviews I'm seeing from all of my favorite reviewers are just glowing.

Los255

WHERE IS THE AK47 THIS IS BULLSHIT.

One thing that hurts is the early reviews! Makes the wait even more painful. Yay art!

RiotControl

So how much influence would you say the co-op has on the experience? Would one extremely different "partner" over another impact your experience in different ways? As in, would having a "guide" over someone who doesn't really care what you're doing and therefor may as well not even be there make the game more or less enjoyable?

Zwiki

So excited to see it lived up to the hype! Such an artistic game company.

Rainbowblack

now that i have a vita its the only sony product i want to spend money on at the moment lol

make this portable and im sold lol

Farshi Ko Munta Lawati

m really glad it got good score and is getting good score from all reviewer <3 just hope all type of gamer would realise the game and play it...............leave ur MW3, skyrim, BBC 3 fo a while n play this game when it comes out....but i think there is a demo fo this game if u arent sure..........and really wished this game was in PC, MAC, 360 and even in 3DS (might look wonky) :P...........but i still think that this game would be perfect fo PS VITA <3

Rodeo Danza

Art games are dumb. Journey? Pfft, give me Journey 2 with the fuckin Rock. He'd punch this gay game in the face.