Summary

Journey is a third-person adventure game that captivates with its beautiful landscapes, emotional depth, and innovative gameplay. Players embark on a silent pilgrimage through a desert to reach a distant mountain, uncovering ancient secrets and forming unspoken bonds with fellow travelers along the way.

Release Year: 2012
Genres: Adventure, Platform
Platforms: iOS, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Developers: ThatGameCompany
Publishers: Annapurna Interactive, Sony Computer Entertainment

Introduction

Journey (2012) invites players into a mesmerizing desert landscape on a pilgrimage to a distant mountain. This adventure game, devoid of dialogue, relies on its breathtaking visuals, music, and simple gameplay mechanics to weave a narrative that’s open to interpretation but rich in emotional depth.

Synopsis

“Journey” is an indie adventure game developed by Thatgamecompany and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was first released for PlayStation 3 in March 2012, and later ported to PlayStation 4, Windows, and iOS.

In “Journey”, you control a robed figure in a vast desert, traveling towards a mountain in the distance. The game begins with the robed figure sitting in the sand, with a large mountain visible in the distance. The path towards this mountain, the ultimate destination of the game, is subdivided into several sections traveled through linearly.

The game is unique in that it features a multiplayer component, but not in the traditional sense. Other players on the same journey can be discovered, and two players can meet and assist each other, but they cannot communicate via speech or text and cannot see each other’s names until after the game’s credits. The only form of communication between the two is a musical chime, which transforms dull pieces of cloth found throughout the levels into vibrant red, affecting the game world and allowing the player to progress through the levels.

The developers sought to evoke in the player a sense of smallness and wonder and to forge an emotional connection between them and the anonymous players they meet along the way. The music, composed by Austin Wintory, dynamically responds to the player’s actions, building a single theme to represent the game’s emotional arc throughout the story.

“Journey” is a wordless story told through gameplay and visual-only cutscenes. The player’s character begins near a small sand dune in a vast desert. Walking to the top of the dune, the character can see looming in the far distance a large mysterious mountain with a glowing crevice that splits its peak.

The game has been praised for its visual and auditory art as well as the sense of companionship created by playing with a stranger, calling it a moving and emotional experience. It has since been listed as one of the greatest video games of all time. “Journey” won several “game of the year” awards and received several other awards and nominations, including a Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media nomination for the 2013 Grammy Awards.

“Journey” is more than just a game; it’s an experience. It’s about exploration, discovery, and the connections we make along the way. It’s a testament to the power of wordless storytelling, and a reminder that sometimes, the journey is more important than the destination.

Characters

The game primarily features the robed figure controlled by the player, anonymous fellow travelers, and a variety of mystical creatures. The characters are designed to evoke emotion and connection through their actions and interactions rather than through words.

Gameplay

Journey’s gameplay is intentionally straightforward, focusing on exploration, puzzle-solving, and interaction with the environment and other players. The robed figure can walk, glide, and fly for short distances, abilities that are enhanced through the discovery of glowing symbols. The game is notable for its multiplayer component, where players are anonymously paired with others on the same journey, encouraging cooperation without direct communication.

Conclusion

Journey is an unforgettable adventure that transcends the conventional boundaries of video games to offer a deeply personal and emotional experience. Its artistic achievement and unique approach to multiplayer gameplay have set it apart as a landmark title in the indie game industry.