Gamersyde Review: Journey

• Driftwood
• Tuesday, August 11, 2015 | 11:05 PM
• 13 comments

GSY Review PS4 PS3

Rewiewing games is not always an easy thing to do, but when it comes to reviewing Journey 3 years ago, it all felt so natural that it may have been one of the best articles we've ever written. Because we thought it deserved to be brought back to light, and because we're sort of lazy, here it is again to celebrate the release of Jenova Chen's jewel on Playstation 4. We only added a very short paragraph to tell you a few words about the port, and of course a bunch of 1080p/60fps videos because well, after three years, we feel we now can show it without having the impression of spoiling the surprise. That being said, if you have never played the game, please stay away from those vids.
Note: The full walkthrough has been sped up so it lasts 10 minutes instead or 90 minutes.

Travel broadens the mind

A vast desert. Surrounded by a sea of sand, the only barrier between a rather mysterious character and a mountain that rises in the distance is a sea of pristine dunes. The player will use a shiny mountaintop as a beacon to guide them through a mysterious spellbinding odyssey. Similar to the game Dear Esther, Journey allows the player to create his own story by taking on different paths and using magical glyphs that will help you travel. The freedom experienced in the game let’s you interpret what happened before and gives it a very dreamlike appearance.

Hovering, that’s the word that will keep coming to the player’s mind. The mysterious traveler gracefully glides over the sand and twirls in the air to reach new heights, which gives the player a heavenly feeling that will never be forgotten. The visuals of this game are stunningly beautiful. While amazed by the landscapes, or overwhelmed by the hostile environments, it will be hard not to be emotional. There is no doubt that anyone will remain insensitive to the splendor of certain environments surrounded by the warmth of the sunlight. Furthermore, this blissful contemplation gets rid of any anxiety and claustrophobia, because of the dream likeness of this game. To spare you the details, Journey takes you to a place few games can.

Travel Light

If the new creation of ThatgameCompany didn’t offer too complicated gameplay, and limited interactions with the world of Journey, it is clearly not the same kind of experience as in Dear Esther where gameplay was minimal. We actually find similarities in this game comparable to classic games such as Ico and Prince of Persia, especially in the sense where the feeling of loneliness is experienced by the player when he is not accompanied by anyone. Yes, Journey is not an adventure that you take on by yourself. It is actually possible to travel with another player who is on the same quest as you. A spirit with whom you cannot communicate with other than through musical notes triggered by the buttons on the controller.

We then share a couple of kilometers across the dunes, sometimes working together, and other times going our separate ways. The moments spent with other players are wordless and therefore never breaks the harmony experienced by the mystery that surrounds us. Who is this stranger who helps by constructing a necessary bridge for the progression of the game? Who is this stranger whom helped travel the icy slopes of the shinning mountain? To find out, we will need to finish the game and during the credits, we will see the names of the players whom we encountered during the game. But before that, we will need to overcome obstacles, avoid traps, and of course travel across the vast desert and be guided by mysterious winds.

Final destination

To do this, we’ll need to collect small pieces of swirling clothes that will charge the traveler’s scarf and allow him to jump higher and hover in the air. Of course, they are hidden from the world, but with the help of mysterious symbols, the player will get the chance to lengthen his magical scarf, which will give him for flexibility with his aerial ballet. Similarly, several hidden areas invite the curious players to explore and get sucked into wandering with the hopes of finding lost ruins after the climb of an endless dune. For those who answer the call, the trip will probably not be unique, not as in one walkthrough but as in one of a kind.

We will therefore highlight the first thoughts and experience, with the hopes of a better understanding of this desert world, and also win a few trophies along the way. After all, deflating one’s ego never hurt anyone. Anyways, what kind of crazy person would say no to exploring such a beautiful dessert? Although the game is indeed beautiful, it is nonetheless extremely short. For length of the game, which is about two hours, it deserves to be the price of a good (or bad) DVD. Obviously, this may be debated, but we will let you decide weather the quality of the game reflects the cost of it.

Three years later on PS4

Time may have passed, but Journey is still the masterpiece it was back when it was originally released. Free for all those who bought the digital version in 2012, Journey is the kind of title you must not miss if you haven't experienced its mesmerizing beauty. The breathtaking landscapes, the friendly strangers you'll encounter on your way to the mountain, the perfectly orchestrated soundtrack, everything that made Journey what it was reaches new heights on PS4. Emotion does not give a damn about the debates gamers love to have when it comes to framerate and resolution, but it has never been as overwhelming as it now is in 1080p/60fps. What better way to pass the torch from one generation to the other, while we are all waiting for the studio's next crown jewel.

Verdict

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First steps

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First encounter

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Sliding down

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Full walkthrough - Time Lapse