Journey

"Journey" was full of surprises for me. Somehow I thought the whole game would take place in the desert, and because I don't like deserts, I was somewhat hesitant at first. But I was proved wrong by "thatgamecompany" in terms of limited environment and climate.

It has beautiful graphics. Especially the lighting is outstanding. The environment responds to your movements and actions, and the interaction with the NPC is really fluid. The soundtracks are fitting, though some felt rather dull. The partner based multi-player is well implemented, and it feels really great to go through the whole journey with the same partner. At times you teach each other, show hidden paths to symbols and glyphs.

What really makes "Journey" such a jaw-dropping experience must be the pacing. In my opinion, the progression of the events makes the game truly similar to "real life". The game doesn't hold your hand, even though there's no complex puzzles whatsoever, you have to figure out what you have to do on your on if a partner does not guide you, which makes it a joy to explore and observe.

Recommended for: People looking for a relaxing, enlightening and peaceful experience.

I don't know how they did this, but the sand in this game looks better than real sand.

JOURNEY (2012) was a game that was somehow simple and yet full of emotion, beauty and secrets. Journey is a work of art, with it's meaningful visual aesthetics, gorgeous landscapes and mysterious purposes. It is a game unlike any other. You play a robbed figure in a desolate land that journeys towards a glowing mountain in the far away distance.

There is something so profound about such a simple premise. This game truly is a wonder. Beautiful minimalist styled graphics, rich eye-catching scenery, intriguing gameplay and premise. The music is simply a masterpiece. There is something so chill and relaxing about the ambience, and yet so emotionally poignant. The gameplay is very enjoyable and satisfying, you can really spend more time than you should ever spend floating around the golden sandy desert realms. The light and responsive environment is captivating, to say the least.

Overall, this game is highly recommended, especially to those looking for a beautiful, emotional, and enlightening experience, one that is as calming as it is gratifying.

STORY: 7/10 GAMEPLAY: 9/10 GRAPHICS: 9/10 ART DESIGN: 9/10 MUSIC: 10/10 OVERALL RATING: 9.5.

Journey is one of the most unusual games I've ever played, and I live for small little indie titles imbued with passion like this. I've played a lot of "walking simulators," and this is perhaps the second best I've ever seen (second to What Remains of Edith Finch), and I'm not sure how to review it, because all at once I'm so moved by it, but also convinced it's entirely over my head. The part of me that wants to make sense of it goes crazy, but the part of me that just wants to feel something is head-over-heels, because Journey made me feel a lot of things, and I'm not entirely sure how to describe those feelings, but I felt things none-the-less. It's a game that operates on pure emotion, playing it makes you feel like you're experiencing something profound, and that's all I can really say because I don't know what else there is. I'll play it again sometime and see if the "logic" part of my brain comes to any conclusions.

This is not only a game. This is pure art. Simply one of the most beautiful games I've ever played.

The relaxing atmosphere, the ambient music, the beautiful graphics, the smart gameplay.. everything is put together so perfectly. Actually a game you can combine doing yoga and meditation as well.

The gameplay is easy, and you can finish the game in about one hour and a half if you just play it straightforward and know how to do the puzzles. However there are much to explore and also hidden objects to find, and the best thing about this game is the joy you'll feel when floating around the desert not worrying about anything else in life.

One of the best things about this game is also the possibility to meet up with other random players characters, and you can choose to either ignore or co-operate with them. You'll not know who they are until you've finished the game. I appreciate the developers to concentrate on the gameplay instead of scorekeeping, statistics etc.

Floating through the temple with the sunlight in the background and flying up the mountains through the rivers and then walking into the white light in the end were some of the best moments!

If you've played Flow and Flower, you know what to expect from this game. I'm really looking forward to what 'thatgamecompany' comesup with next... it seems they can't fail!

I can't recommend this game enough.