31 people found this review helpful
2
Recommended
0.0 hrs last two weeks / 1.5 hrs on record
Posted: 13 Sep, 2020 @ 2:51am
Updated: 26 Nov, 2020 @ 3:52am

Follow the path!

Journey is an interactive narrative experience and some people might think this is also a walking simulator and to some point, I agree. I can't call it a game though, just because there is no objective, there are no rules and the gameplay is very minimalistic. There is only you and the big world ahead of you, waiting for someone to discover it's secrets.

The story is told through a series of cutscenes and very various levels (from the highest peak of a mountain to the scorching desert). It's up to the player to understand the whole meaning of this and to discover what the developers intended to do when they created Journey. When I said that the gameplay is very minimalistic, I was referring to the fact that the character the player controls is only moving and possesses the power to fly. The graphics are amazing and I couldn't stop and not take screenshots every minute. And in the last, but not the least, the soundtrack is consistent with what's happening on the screen and some songs will make you shed a tear.

There is one negative thing in this game and that is the length: you can finish the game in less than 2 hours. So the full price of 12.49 euro it's not the best one you can get it. Despite being short, it has some replayability (you can choose other ways to reach the end) in it and you can enjoy more hours of play for the money you spent. I played the game on PS4 too and I can say for sure that you might be able to entertain yourself for a couple of hours after you finish the first playthrough.

I also recommend that you play using an Internet connection. And remember: not the destination is the important one, but the Journey and the adventures to get to the end. This is what it teaches us. Get "Journey", if you're into casual, atmospheric, very nice visuals and soundtracks.
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7 Comments
Robert 19 Sep, 2020 @ 6:13am 
Thanks @Snowdusk for your feedback. Much appreciated. :luv:
Snowprism 19 Sep, 2020 @ 3:14am 
@TheDarkLurtz There is a way to see if you found all the murals and glowing symbols! Go to the Chapter Select area, then look for the big buildings surrounding the center platform. Each building represents a chapter of the game, which you can also use to jump straight into its chapter. Within each building, you will see murals on the left and right side of the wall. These murals will be lit up if you have discovered them.

As for the symbols, go to the right side of the Chapter Select area where some square stones are arranged in multiple rows. For each symbol you found, a stone will be lit up. There is a more specific way to see which symbols you missed in each chapter: At the end of each level you play, pay attention to the shrine where you get to see the visions. The number of square stones in front of the shrine represents how many symbols you can find in that particular level.
Robert 13 Sep, 2020 @ 1:01pm 
Thanks for the comment, Pleb! :BEheart:
Plebles 13 Sep, 2020 @ 10:57am 
Fantastic. Yet another reason I need Journey in my life.
Manostion 13 Sep, 2020 @ 5:17am 
I highly recommend you give Areia: Pathway to Dawn a try, for a quite similar experience. In my review I coined the term "Journey-like".

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/id/Manostion/recommended/768460/
Robert 13 Sep, 2020 @ 4:44am 
I'll keep in mind what you said, but I meant that the objective isn't that clear like in an RPG game for example. Those mini-objectives aren't clear either. You don't know if you collected all the scarf fragements or if you discovered all the murals. The game doesn't let you know there are side-activities to do, it's up to the player to discover them, just like I said. But I get your point. This experience isn't like a game we're used to these days. It's different from all points of view. Thanks for your feedback!
Manostion 13 Sep, 2020 @ 3:30am 
Another great review from you, thanks for sharing. I like how your reviews are less on the analytical and more emotional side.

The one thing I'd have to disagree on, is that there is no objective in the game. That statement and the fact you can "finish" the game in under two hours contradict each other. The objective may not be explicitly stated with a compass marker or a quest description telling you what to do, but it is heavily hinted at throughout the entire game by subtly keeping the mountain in focus as the most outstanding landmark.

Beside that there are also the very optional and missable side-activities that you could view as mini-objectives in uncovering all the murals and finding all the scarf extensions.

Again, great review nonetheless and I agree with everything else you say.