Journey Review

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Journey, the newest title from ThatGameCompany (TGC) makers of fLow and Flower for the PS3, has finally been released. Needless to say this game was on my radar since it was announced and teased a while ago. It follows a nameless traveller, awakened in the desert and beckoned toward a distant light amidst a mountain. Journey takes cues from many genres on one hand, it is an adventure game with a few platforming sections but where it breaks the norm, is that you are not limited to time or accidental falls. Also in this world solitude and the motive of redemption are prevailing themes.

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Title: Journey
Genre: Adventure
Developer: ThatGameCompany
Platform: PS3
Price: $15.00
Release Date: 3/13/12[/toggle_box]

PRAISE:

• Concept – Lonely traveller traversing the desert in search of identity, origin and redemption. Coupled with a very unique take on multiplayer.
• Graphics – At times I thought I was watching an anime or cartoon. You would be hard pressed to find a game that has been released this year that outdoes the graphics or artistic direction in Journey
• Sound – Ominous, fitting and engrossing the music is also part of the “journey”. Chirps are the primary ability with which you interact with others and the world around you.
• Level Design – Meticulous and well thought out, ever so often you are given a glimpse as to the route ahead.
• Multiplayer – Perhaps the strongest point of the game, when I started I didn’t know whether I wanted to play offline or online. I decided to go with the latter and it was such an engaging experience. The player I met with the limited communication always seemed as pleasant as myself. Both of us had no clue at points but in these moments we came together and surmounted the task.

AWKWARD SILENCE:

• Price – At $15 USD, I could name a few games that should be purchased over this but perhaps due to its artistic nature, may have been why it was priced so high.
• Length- Very short, can be completed in about two hours, though this wasn’t such a major complaint as multiple playthroughs are a must.
• Additional Modes/Content - I cannot help but think that this is one of those titles that needs some DLC love.

WELL-DESERVED CRITICSMS:

• ??? – Many gamers will struggle to justify purchasing Journey at $15; to them I say you can wait. I’m sure a summer sale will probably see a reduction. Also when reading forums, some complained that it lacked core adventure elements as a strong narrative, well I say the narrative is up to you and your companion and this form of storytelling is very much needed in today’s plethora of titles.

CONCLUSION:

Everyone should experience journey at least once, in my opinion the game would have had even more acclaim had it been released in the winter and at a cheaper price point. With strong focuses on multiplayer and the look and feel though, TGC has outdid all of their past works, this is an easy recommend for families, younger gamers and those seeking something different.

[box_light]We believe that the score is the least important part of a review. It’s tough trying to assign a numerical value to an experience. Furthermore, is there really a difference between a 7.5 and an 8? Gamers place too much importance on arbitrary numbers. This is why our scores are hidden by default. Only look at them if you absolutely need a number between 1-10 to see if a game is worth your time. You can read our review guidelines here.[/box_light]

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Gameplay: 9
Story: 9
Graphics: 10
Sound: 8.5
Replay Value: 7.0
Overall: 9

Amazing – This is a must have, you’ll see this game on top ten lists at the end of the year.[/toggle_box]

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