What makes Journey the perfect game
Journey is a game developed by thatgamecompany and presented by SCEA Santa Monica Studio. The game released in December of 2012 for the Playstation 3, but it is available for PS4.
When you think of the word “journey” you may think of a long trip, and epic, or even an expedition. Journey aims to be different. Journey is a simple and short game. It only took me around an hour and a half to finish in one sitting. There is no combat, no words, no violence… Just walking, jumping, and speaking in the world’s vocabulary. The premise follows an unnamed traveler who is trying to make it to a light at the top of the mountain. The player guides the traveler through the world with minimal complications.
So, what makes such a simple and plain game such a masterpiece? Because it’s just that: simple and plain. Journey doesn’t focus too much on the how, but the why. While guiding the traveler, the music and atmosphere pulls you into the emotion of the journey. It all leads up to a wonderful and quite emotional end-game that is worth journeying for. Every once in a while, you need a break, and Journey is the perfect game to relax you. It’s just you, the traveler, the music, and the atmosphere.
Another excellent feature that makes Journey so great is it's anonymous multiplayer. You’re probably wondering why a game like Journey would have multiplayer when it seems like a game that should be played alone? Think about this: Would you rather journey into a vast, unknown, and barren land by yourself, or with someone else?
In my own experience, I went at the game alone. I wasn’t expecting anyone to show up in my game because of how old the game is. But near the end, near the most emotional parts, I found a friend and we finished the game together. It was a different experience completely. You start to work as a team, one person is cheering on another when they are trying to get to a platform. Dare I say, it’s a heartwarming experience.
Now I know you are probably wondering about the graphics. The graphics, much like the game itself, is simple a plain. However, there is something so lonely about being a small figure in a simple and plain land. I believe that was on purpose. The vast, barren environments in the game, whether in the desert, underground, or in the snowy mountains, are overwhelming due to their size in comparison to the traveler.
It’s the relaxation you feel, the companionship you may receive, and the emotion that the environment evokes that makes Journey such a perfect game. Even though it is such a short game, it 100% has multiple replayability.
I want to know what you think about Journey! Have you played it? What were your favorite parts? If you haven’t played Journey, would you? Please comment below, and remember not to post any end-game spoilers.
