Journey: The kind of game Jesus would make.

[Zhukov]

For those of you who don't know what game I'm talking about, have a trailer:


Right then, I will now proceed to gush.

Holy Christ in cream cheese sauce, this game is fucking fantastic.

It sounds great, looks utterly gorgeous and features some supremely elegant design. It has the most interesting take on multiplayer I've seen in years. Crucially, the game manages to include it while keeping the Ico-esque atmosphere and ambiance of the game intact [http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2012/03/19].

Having another chic little Jawa along for the trip makes a surprising difference. I don't know how exactly, but you end up getting surprisingly attached to your trail companion [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/comics/critical-miss/9493-Journey]. The minimal communication allows for some nice shared moments. On one occasion I couldn't figure out how to make a particular jump. The other player spent a good five minutes demonstrating it to me with admirable patience.

Oh, and the ending. Wow. A not-insignificant part of me wishes to slap myself across the face until I am cured of the urge to use phrases like "emotional experience", but, well... it kinda was.

Also, there was a singing whale made of living fabric. That was cool.

...

Lastly, a question for those who have already finished it:

Spoiler

What exactly was going on with the ending? As much as I loved it, I didn't quite understand it. My little traveller dies in the snow, gets resurrected(?), gets to the mountain's peak and is somehow returned to the desert, presumably to guide others.

All fine and dandy, but how does that tie into the little backstory with the civil war and whatnot? Also, where do the travellers come from? Are they just survivors?

 

[sb666]

I loved this game and i highly recommend everyone goes out and plays it.

 

[Dandark]

Personally I think this game sucks and is terribe. You know why?


Because it's only on PS3 and I don't have one so I can't play it D=

 

[ChupathingyX]

That trailer gave me a very Samurai Jack-esque feel...which is a good thing.

I have some money to spare on PSN (or whatever it's called now) so I might check it out.

 

[hazabaza1]

Wishing I had a PS3. People are talking about this a lot.

 

[DoPo]

Dammit people, stop making me regret not being able to afford a gaming console!

I want Journey but...moneyz!
Lots of them are needed. I'll go weep in the corner now.

 

[Tohuvabohu]

I heard about this game for the first time after seeing some escapists talk about it. Coincidentally, I got an email from Sony a few days later reminding me that I had an unspent 20$ sitting in my PSN wallet for over 6 months. Guess what I spent it on!?

I bought it this past weekend, and decided to give it a whirl... Ended up playing through the whole thing in one sitting. It wasn't particularly long, but I'm still surprised that the game drew me in enough to NOT want to stop until I have finished the Journey.

Right then, I will now proceed to gush.

Holy Christ in cream cheese sauce, this game is fucking fantastic.

Basically how I felt about it while I was playing it, and once it was over.

It sounds great, looks utterly gorgeous and features some supremely elegant design. It has the most interesting take on multiplayer I've seen in years. Crucially, the game manages to include it while keeping the Ico-esque atmosphere and ambiance of the game intact [http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2012/03/19].

Spoiler: Remember that one level?

I think it was the 3rd or 4th chapter.... When you slide across the sands for the whole level. I think that really shows off what you're talking about here. The music itself seemed to follow everything that was going on in the level, and was accurately fast-paced through the whole thing as well until it hits it's dramatic climax when you fall off that huge cliff.

I think that moment was really when I went: "This game is fucking fantastic."

Having another chic little Jawa along for the trip makes a surprising difference. I don't know how exactly, but you end up getting surprisingly attached to your trail companion [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/comics/critical-miss/9493-Journey]. The minimal communication allows for some nice shared moments. On one occasion I couldn't figure out how to make a particular jump. The other player spent a good five minutes demonstrating it to me with admirable patience.

I met 4 people across my Journey, and I agree with what you said. In that level I mentioned above, it was the first time I got split up from my traveling companion. Given the hectic pace of the level, it would be difficult to NOT get split up. I remember we were side-by-side at the start, and about a minute later I saw myself outpace him.

Since you couldn't really stop yourself, I kept going until the level hit it's sudden end. I thought "Damn I cleared this level really fast, the other person must still be behind me..."

So I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

For about, probably more than 5 minutes. Right in front of the monument. My traveling companion never showed up. I don't know if he made it before I did and decided to move on, or we just got split so far apart that the game separated us. But I had to continue my journey alone.

And sitting in front of that monument by myself was the hardest thing I had to do in that particular level.

Spoiler: Much later on in the game...

Towards the end when you're in the snowy area.

Remember those flying constructs?

I was traveling with another companion at this point trying to advance through the terrible wind when one of those fuckers showed up out of nowhere. It locked on to me, and kicked my ass pretty bad. Sent me flying backwards a good 200 yards. Then as soon as I stood up to walk forward, it locked onto me again, sent me back another 200 yards...

My traveling companion, rather than move on by himself, instead traveled backwards to find me. I'm sure you remember how difficult it was to make any progress at this point of the game. I really wanted to give him a sincere thanks for finding me and pointing me in the right direction.

But we kept moving, side by side, until we got close to the glowing summit. And we both began to break down, walk slower and slower, until we both fell to the floor and died side-by-side.

Oh, and the ending. Wow. A not-insignificant part of me wishes to slap myself across the face until I am cured of the urge to use phrases like "emotional experience", but, well... it kinda was.

Also, there was a singing whale made of living fabric. That was cool.

Yeah... it kinda was, wasn't it? I was surprised by it. I genuinely gave a shit about these 2 jawas making it to their destination.

Lastly, a question for those who have already finished it:

Spoiler

What exactly was going on with the ending? As much as I loved it, I didn't quite understand it. My little traveller dies in the snow, gets resurrected(?), gets to the mountain's peak and is somehow returned to the desert, presumably to guide others.

All fine and dandy, but how does that tie into the little backstory with the civil war and whatnot? Also, where do the travellers come from? Are they just survivors?

I don't know anything about any backstory at all. So the ending was a mystery to me as well.

But hey, at least we made it.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Yeah, it's pretty swell, isn't it?

It probably has the greatest soundtrack I've ever heard in gaming, and yet the game itself is only about 2 hours long.

Lastly, a question for those who have already finished it:

Spoiler

What exactly was going on with the ending? As much as I loved it, I didn't quite understand it. My little traveller dies in the snow, gets resurrected(?), gets to the mountain's peak and is somehow returned to the desert, presumably to guide others.

All fine and dandy, but how does that tie into the little backstory with the civil war and whatnot? Also, where do the travellers come from? Are they just survivors?

Spoiler

I would think it's probably some kind of ascension to heaven after being deemed worthy by the big tall white jawas. That whole bit was staggerly beautiful, and the way the score accompanied it was just flawless.

I don't know anything about a civil war though, I must've missed that.

You also noticed how when you fall down dead in the snow and you're with a companion, you are always the last one to fall? I've played through the game 4 times now. Everytime I had a companion with me at the end, and everytime I'm the last one to fall down, and I assume it's the same for everyone else. I would suggest this is done intentionally since seeing you're companion die just before you go only adds to the bond.

 

[scorptatious]

It was indeed a fantastic game. I'm going to play through it again tomorrow once I waited long enough to get the "Return" trophy.

My brother and I both felt that the game sort of had a very Fantasia-esque feel to it. Hell, he says it's sort of feels like Fantasia and The Little Match Girl mixed together.

As for the ending:

Spoiler

Part of me thinks the entire journey sort of serves like an after-life for the people who have died during the war over the red cloth. They take a journey towards the peak of the mountain, which I believe represents Heaven. Along the way, they free the red-clothed creatures that they once captured for their resources. Perhaps a sign of repentance?

And maybe the people you meet along the way may represent the people your character may have fought in their previous life. Perhaps that explains why some of them wear different patterns on their cloth? To represent the opposing faction(s)? And then you put aside your differences to make your way towards the goal together.

I kind of love when games have a somewhat vague story that's left to your personal interpretation. That's part of what makes me like games like say, Dark Souls.

Finally, is the singer who performed the song in the credits the same one who sang the song in MGS4's ending credits? If it isn't it sure sounds like her.

Also, I feel this video is appropriate:

 

[Fappy]

Why you be a PS3 exclusive

 

[Corven]

...

Lastly, a question for those who have already finished it:

Spoiler

What exactly was going on with the ending? As much as I loved it, I didn't quite understand it. My little traveller dies in the snow, gets resurrected(?), gets to the mountain's peak and is somehow returned to the desert, presumably to guide others.

All fine and dandy, but how does that tie into the little backstory with the civil war and whatnot? Also, where do the travelers come from? Are they just survivors?

Yeah I thought the game was great as well, as for the end I made a thread speculating on the story of the character that didn't do to well due to the onslaught of the ME3 threads, check it out if you want my ideas on the whole thing. although massive spoiler warning for anyone else who wants to click on the link as well, http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.354680-Speculating-on-Journeys-story-Heavy-Spoiler-Warning#14086744

Don't worry this isn't a "zomg search bar!!" post I just dont want to copy/paste and spoiler all that text.

 

[Smertnik]

I love the visuals of Journey. The art style really makes the game.

Is flOw or Flower any good? I may pick those up as well.

Well, I believe you can play fl0w for free on PC (although there're probably some features missing and it doesn't look as good). Never played it myself but it doesn't look like it has the same kind of impact as thatgamecompany's other works by any stretch. As I said, though, never played the game.

As for Flower, I can definitely recommend it. In my opinion it's at the very least just as beautiful and emotional as Journey. It's 50% at the moment, too (although today may have been the last day for the discount).

 

[dimensional]

Yup got journey and loved it I dont think I got so emotionally attached to it as some of you though and I didnt exactly go out of my way to help fellow travellers (I preferred solitude) but I did really enjoy the experience and will be replaying it a few times as for the ending what I took from it was this

[spoiler/]the destination isnt as important as the journey dont get so fixated on reaching your intended point that you lose sight of all the wondrous things around you and as for the people you meet treasure their companionship for as long as it lasts incase you never meet again.

As for the harsh settings I took it as showing adversities faced on your trip and the wondrous things that happen if you push on the heights you can scale if you dont give up. I choose to believe at the end you are reincarnated and set out again showing that the end destination is really just the start again tying in with the journey being the most important part while the shooting star at the end was a nice touch I believe some people used to see them as souls or omens of prominence and gives me the impression of life being fleeting and yet eternal.

I particularly liked that the game being set in desert (sand then snow) and its length (took me just over an hour) tie in with the famous excerpt from william Blake

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

In fact I think this passage is a great fit for the game.[/spoiler]

sorry if I wasnt completely coherent there I just quickly wrote down what conclusions I drew from the ending and the game.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I always thought Jesus would make a real time strategy game. I don't know why he just seems like the type.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

I always thought Jesus would make a real time strategy game. I don't know why he just seems like the type.

He'd probably make it autobiographical too. Though I wonder how you'd balance a game where one side has the freakin messiah.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

I always thought Jesus would make a real time strategy game. I don't know why he just seems like the type.

He'd probably make it autobiographical too. Though I wonder how you'd balance a game where one side has the freakin messiah.

By making it so that messiah unit has to die in order to win BOOM RIMSHOT

 

[Zhukov]

[snip]

I had a similar thing happen with one of the sliding levels, but from the opposite perspective.

I was taking my time swooping back and forth and generally having a good time. By the time I realised that my companion had gone zipping down at full speed I was way behind with no chance of catching up. Since he had consistently been going for the objectives in a direct sort of way, I assumed he would head straight for the white statue and continue on.

However, once I finally reached the bottom, there he was perched on a ledge and looking back up the slide, quite clearly waiting for me. I was rather touched.

I ended up going through the entire game - start to finish- with that one person, which made it all the better.

I don't know anything about any backstory at all. So the ending was a mystery to me as well.

I don't know anything about a civil war though, I must've missed that.

It's depicted in those tapestry things that you activate in the world or see in the visions at the end of each level.

The cloaked Jawa guys built the city by turning the cloth creatures into an energy source. When the the supply started to run out there was a war over the remaining creatures. Those huge stone constructs were used as weapons/battle beasts.

But after that it starts getting confusing. Eventually it loops around and starts showing your own journey.

 

[wintercoat]

Why you be a PS3 exclusive

This this soooooo much this. Of all the games that are exclusive to a single console, Journey seems to be an oddball, considering it's theme. I WANNA MAKE FRIENDS TOO!!!! D: