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I finished the game with a companion by my side, but finishing without one still has a great impact when you think of the companions that you lost along the way.
Honestly, after devoting 2 hours straight to it last weekend, I was underwhelmed. It was nice to look at, and fun at parts, but it's not going in my personal book of 'awesome games'. It's competent, but I have no interest in ever playing it again.
@StMcDuck,
I totally respect that. And that's another reason I love the game so much. Everyone I have talked to has had a completely different experience with it. :)
I totally respect that. And that's another reason I love the game so much. Everyone I have talked to has had a completely different experience with it. :)
It sounds like I've gotten really lucky with my partners so far! I've completed the game twice now having one partner who accompanied me the entire way. I've also never had to end the game alone, I've always had someone with me in my final moments (one time it was even a person that I had just met at the very last platform of the game).
The first time I played, I lost two of my partners somehow, but it was my fault both times because I wasn't paying attention to where they were going. Now I'm always super careful to stay as close to my partners as possible.
In case you couldn't tell, I fucking <3 this game!
The first time I played, I lost two of my partners somehow, but it was my fault both times because I wasn't paying attention to where they were going. Now I'm always super careful to stay as close to my partners as possible.
In case you couldn't tell, I fucking <3 this game!
nice thoughts - i like the timeline approach...i can see we had some similar experiences (including the RL dog keeping us company)... (but also some very different ones). i had 3-4 early companions get hit by the stone beast while I could only watch....i felt so genuinely bad for them.....and it causes my heart to race each time.
I always had a companion by my side on my first run... right up until literally the last minute of the game where I lost them during the final ascent. It was strange to walk towards the end alone.
First experience was totally epic. Had an unexpected loss in my game too, we had just made it to the snow, when my companion (whom I had played through the entire game with thus far) sat down. I figured they must be taking a bathroom break or something and thought it a good idea since I had to go to the bathroom too, so I ran to quickly do the same.
While in there I heard them chiming and chiming and wished I could have told them, "JUST A SECOND! I'M COMING! I'M WASHING MY HANDS!!" When I got back, they were sitting on the ground. I started chiming at them, as if to say, "Hey! Hey buddy! I'm back! Let's do this thing!" But instead I watched their body blow away like a pile of sand. They were gone.
NOO! Buddy! I was just taking a quick leak!! It was just a misunderstanding! But it was too late, I had already watched their body disappear. I don't know that I've ever felt loss like that in a game. Brilliant.
While in there I heard them chiming and chiming and wished I could have told them, "JUST A SECOND! I'M COMING! I'M WASHING MY HANDS!!" When I got back, they were sitting on the ground. I started chiming at them, as if to say, "Hey! Hey buddy! I'm back! Let's do this thing!" But instead I watched their body blow away like a pile of sand. They were gone.
NOO! Buddy! I was just taking a quick leak!! It was just a misunderstanding! But it was too late, I had already watched their body disappear. I don't know that I've ever felt loss like that in a game. Brilliant.
Playing it a second time, I realised the entire game is about birth, growth, decline, death, the trip to heaven - and, finally, your soul is returned to the gravestones at the start of the game.
With this in mind, subsequent playthroughs become more poignant as you realise that the entire game your destination (the mountain with the light leading to heaven) is death. Your 'goal' is to die. Everything you do brings you closer to death, but you can enjoy the journey - and the people you share it with - along the way.
With this in mind, subsequent playthroughs become more poignant as you realise that the entire game your destination (the mountain with the light leading to heaven) is death. Your 'goal' is to die. Everything you do brings you closer to death, but you can enjoy the journey - and the people you share it with - along the way.
@Chad
My experience was similar, I encountered 3 people in my journey and I tried to help them all. It saddens me that at the end I lost them, but I kept going.
Still hope to show this game to my friends and see how they will react.
My experience was similar, I encountered 3 people in my journey and I tried to help them all. It saddens me that at the end I lost them, but I kept going.
Still hope to show this game to my friends and see how they will react.
The ending was cool and the game was GORGEOUS, but as a game it wasn't all that fun.. As a piece of artwork its great, however if you're looking for something to have a super fun time with, this isn't it.
In my first time playing the game, i'd a power outage and i'd my game break in the 3rd level. Up until there, i was with a partner. When i continue the next day, i found another partner and we finished the game together.
I dunno who he was, but i can tell you, that at the end, while walking to the light at the peak; i wished a could make a gesture or something, just to say "Thank You" ;_;
I dunno who he was, but i can tell you, that at the end, while walking to the light at the peak; i wished a could make a gesture or something, just to say "Thank You" ;_;
How do you tell if you've got the same partner - I couldn't tell if I was refinding the same one or if it was a different one- only 1 difference I found -had a slightly longer scarf than most.
@Scaryjim: A different symbol will appear whenever they make a sound. You'll notice that your symbol is different from theirs, and any new person you meet will also have a different symbol from the last person.
Wow it was amazing to read through someone else's Journey, I find it funny we both seem to assume that if we lose our partners it's because they abandoned us out of dislike :P
I had a partner who had obviously come back to help newcomers to the game. They showed me all sorts of secrets. And they were so patient too while I looked at the scenery and took it all in. Best experience in a game online, that's for sure.
To anyone that didn't enjoy it the first time around, I found that playing through again can be just as satisfying as the first time, if not more so.
Initially I felt rushed by my partners and wanted to explore on my own, but my second time through gave me an opportunity to help a lost wanderer make their journey safely, and that to me was a much more powerful experience.
Initially I felt rushed by my partners and wanted to explore on my own, but my second time through gave me an opportunity to help a lost wanderer make their journey safely, and that to me was a much more powerful experience.
I was really excited to finally get this game this weekend. Sadly, my Journey experience has gone like this-
Press start-- PS3 freezes during opening cutscene-- sit there a bit because the music is still going-- finally realize my PS3 has crashed and reboot-- try again-- get a little farther before another crash-- reboot and try again-- finally get to some gameplay this time, only to crash shortly after the title screen-- try one more time-- get to some monument thing-- crashes before I can find out what the hell it is-- desperately reboot and try ONE more time-- freezes during opening cutscene-- black out and wake up in a pool of someone else's blood-- give up and go play something else after chucking PS3 out the window.
And before anyone says anything, I take great care of my consoles. Glad that everyone else seems to be enjoying this game though. Fucking sony...
Press start-- PS3 freezes during opening cutscene-- sit there a bit because the music is still going-- finally realize my PS3 has crashed and reboot-- try again-- get a little farther before another crash-- reboot and try again-- finally get to some gameplay this time, only to crash shortly after the title screen-- try one more time-- get to some monument thing-- crashes before I can find out what the hell it is-- desperately reboot and try ONE more time-- freezes during opening cutscene-- black out and wake up in a pool of someone else's blood-- give up and go play something else after chucking PS3 out the window.
And before anyone says anything, I take great care of my consoles. Glad that everyone else seems to be enjoying this game though. Fucking sony...
I really enjoyed Journey. I accidentally abandoned by first partner and although I tried to help my next partners out, they either didn't get what I was trying to do or they weren't interested. I reached the summit alone.
True story, I teared up a little on the final ascent. Oddly enough it was comforting to have a companion on those last few steps.
On my first playthrough I lost my companion about 2/3 of the way up the stormy mountain, looked everywhere but they were nowhere to be found.
I solemnly made my way through the final ascension alone and just as I was landing on the peak a new companion (or maybe the same?) landed with me and joined me in passing through.
A nice feeling to put it mildly.
This 'game' is a true anti-depressant and transcendental adventure.
I solemnly made my way through the final ascension alone and just as I was landing on the peak a new companion (or maybe the same?) landed with me and joined me in passing through.
A nice feeling to put it mildly.
This 'game' is a true anti-depressant and transcendental adventure.
thatgamecompany is absolutely the most brilliant dev team out there right now. While Flower was very similar to flOw, Journey is a completely different game with completely different mechanics...and all of the games are absolutely fantastic.
Loved every minute of this experience, and reading through someone elses journey is nearly as enjoyable as making the journey.
I hope this game sets a new trend in gaming. This new interpretation of the "escort mission" is one of the most refreshing developments in current gaming. There's something truly magical about being escorted through the game your first time through by a completely random samaritan. My compadre knew where most of the symbols were, and was very patient, even admiring the scenary with me.
It was a completely unique and original co-op experience, and one that I will never forget. I can't express enough how great this game makes you feel, from the sense of exploration to the pure joy of flight to the simple and powerful feeling of allegorical familiarity. How many games truly make you think about your own life and draw out emotion in this way?
To those disappointed with the game, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, and for you, your opinion is correct. I think that the fact that this game can resonate so strongly with some and not at all with others proves just how tied to emotions and humanity this game really is. I'd compare this game to Malick's "Tree of Life" in that some people can relate or become emotionally involved in the process of the journey, while others just think its boring and such.
As a side note, imagine if there was a fan outrage over the ambiguous ending of Journey. Thatgamecompany did not explain ANYTHING going on in this game, and left it completely open to interpretation. Its a matter of artistic intention, and if ME3 changes/updates/explains its ending to suit fans, they might as well admit they are striving to create a successful product for consumers and not art. that would give ebert enough ammo to write a few more disparaging blogs. Bioware needs to stand up to its fans and defend their art, unless it really is just a way to make money for them.
I hope this game sets a new trend in gaming. This new interpretation of the "escort mission" is one of the most refreshing developments in current gaming. There's something truly magical about being escorted through the game your first time through by a completely random samaritan. My compadre knew where most of the symbols were, and was very patient, even admiring the scenary with me.
It was a completely unique and original co-op experience, and one that I will never forget. I can't express enough how great this game makes you feel, from the sense of exploration to the pure joy of flight to the simple and powerful feeling of allegorical familiarity. How many games truly make you think about your own life and draw out emotion in this way?
To those disappointed with the game, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, and for you, your opinion is correct. I think that the fact that this game can resonate so strongly with some and not at all with others proves just how tied to emotions and humanity this game really is. I'd compare this game to Malick's "Tree of Life" in that some people can relate or become emotionally involved in the process of the journey, while others just think its boring and such.
As a side note, imagine if there was a fan outrage over the ambiguous ending of Journey. Thatgamecompany did not explain ANYTHING going on in this game, and left it completely open to interpretation. Its a matter of artistic intention, and if ME3 changes/updates/explains its ending to suit fans, they might as well admit they are striving to create a successful product for consumers and not art. that would give ebert enough ammo to write a few more disparaging blogs. Bioware needs to stand up to its fans and defend their art, unless it really is just a way to make money for them.
One of my companions was dressed in white. Not sure how that is achieved. It's a lovely little game.
I began my journey the first night it was released on PSN+ and couldn't stop playing until the very end. It was a wonderfully artistic, ambitious, unique and emotional game on all levels. Everyone's experience with Journey will be different, but I hope most will have the satisfying experience I had with the game, from strange start to incredible finish. I was fortunate enough to complete my journey with the same partner... Amazing.
Also, I recommend playing through the game in one epic, surreal sitting. Trust me, most of you will... Enjoy "your" journey.
Also, I recommend playing through the game in one epic, surreal sitting. Trust me, most of you will... Enjoy "your" journey.
Good grief, this article makes me feel like... It sucks. This isn't an emotional response to Journey, it's like live tweeting the game.
the main thing that surprised me about playing through it was the closeness I felt for my companion. It's not over egging things to say that at one point I was actually slightly in love with them as we trudged up the hill. Imagine my surprise when that one other player turned out to be seven over the course of my play time.
the main thing that surprised me about playing through it was the closeness I felt for my companion. It's not over egging things to say that at one point I was actually slightly in love with them as we trudged up the hill. Imagine my surprise when that one other player turned out to be seven over the course of my play time.
I actually thought the companions were kind of distracting at first. I wanted to experience the environment and discover things by myself, without anybody showing me what to do or that white light glowing annoyingly at the corner of my screen. It really took me a while to grow fond of the companions.
Wow, this was a pretty rosy account of the game. Don't get me wrong, it is a good game. The artistic direction is fantastic in the way it approaches the typical video game narrative progression (get to the castle on the top of the hill - in this case the mountain) and all the beats of the hero's journey (descent into the hollow, death/rebirth etc).
I didn't get as emotional with the co-op system though. It's basically drop in and out, except you have no control over who is playing with you. It is great how it forces cooperation rather than trolling but moved to tears? c'mon...
Perhaps I'm just dead inside.
I didn't get as emotional with the co-op system though. It's basically drop in and out, except you have no control over who is playing with you. It is great how it forces cooperation rather than trolling but moved to tears? c'mon...
Perhaps I'm just dead inside.
I quite loved Journey. It's not revolutionary, but it's one more solid step in making games something more than just games.
And somehow this game more than any other PS3 game made me sad that in 5-10 or so years we'll never be able to play it again, show it to our kids/etc, so enjoy it while you can.
And somehow this game more than any other PS3 game made me sad that in 5-10 or so years we'll never be able to play it again, show it to our kids/etc, so enjoy it while you can.
@drewski
exactly my thoughts about wtf!? is happening in journey...
although, being rather pessimistic myself i put more emphasis on the death thing.
especially when i think back to the moment when i noticed the shooting star/traveling light - for me it was like these white parental figures are fueling some perverse interest with clueless travellers. i was sad in the end.
exactly my thoughts about wtf!? is happening in journey...
although, being rather pessimistic myself i put more emphasis on the death thing.
especially when i think back to the moment when i noticed the shooting star/traveling light - for me it was like these white parental figures are fueling some perverse interest with clueless travellers. i was sad in the end.
I openly wept when you were on the verge of tears, and felt so great afterwards... like a runner's high... and proceeded to reflect on what my mountain might be.
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