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Journey: 10 days in
22 April 2012 14:02I'm not really much of a gamer. However, ten days ago I happened upon a review of thatgamecompany's Journey by a friend. He related his rather emotional experience of it, and I decided to give it a go.
From the moment I pressed start and was treated to gorgeous visuals of the desert to the sound of haunting orchestral music, I knew that I was going to enjoy this game no matter what.
I became so completely absorbed in the beauty of the environment that I only vaguely appreciated the storyline. I even failed to notice that I had not one, but several different companions on that trip. No, although I understood that the point of the journey was the journey itself, I was hooked on experiencing the next part and the next part. The burst of elation when I discovered I could soar playfully through the air with carpet things. The feeling of wonder as I surfed through the golden sands that shone under the evening sun.
That's not to say I didn't appreciate my red-cloaked companions. If it were not with a real person alongside whom I spent the last of my energy in the snow, I doubt I would have been reduced to tears in the way that I was. And when I finally ascended into the light to a crescendo of heart-wrenching violins, I doubt I would have been quite so dumbstruck by the artistry I'd just witnessed.
My second and third journeys followed the same evening. During this time, I came to appreciate my companions that much more, and felt a stronger bond with them. I stayed with them most of the game, shared each moment as if it were new to both of us. These were perfect journeys – the kind you only get on your first few tries.
As with plenty of others, this game has left a lasting mark on me. The initial sense of wonder has faded a little, but there remains a warm glow – almost a nostalgia – for that perfect world I experienced that night. Just like real life, something new and special can only stay that way for so long. You only get one fleeting taste of it, and that's just how it has to be.
I write this soon after completing another journey, my eyes again warm with tears as the companion I thought I'd lost returns to join me for our final crossing into paradise. The point of the Journey for me is all about sharing it. So long as there are companions to journey with, this game will stay special to me. It reminds me what a great experience video games have the potential to give.
From the moment I pressed start and was treated to gorgeous visuals of the desert to the sound of haunting orchestral music, I knew that I was going to enjoy this game no matter what.
I became so completely absorbed in the beauty of the environment that I only vaguely appreciated the storyline. I even failed to notice that I had not one, but several different companions on that trip. No, although I understood that the point of the journey was the journey itself, I was hooked on experiencing the next part and the next part. The burst of elation when I discovered I could soar playfully through the air with carpet things. The feeling of wonder as I surfed through the golden sands that shone under the evening sun.
That's not to say I didn't appreciate my red-cloaked companions. If it were not with a real person alongside whom I spent the last of my energy in the snow, I doubt I would have been reduced to tears in the way that I was. And when I finally ascended into the light to a crescendo of heart-wrenching violins, I doubt I would have been quite so dumbstruck by the artistry I'd just witnessed.
My second and third journeys followed the same evening. During this time, I came to appreciate my companions that much more, and felt a stronger bond with them. I stayed with them most of the game, shared each moment as if it were new to both of us. These were perfect journeys – the kind you only get on your first few tries.
As with plenty of others, this game has left a lasting mark on me. The initial sense of wonder has faded a little, but there remains a warm glow – almost a nostalgia – for that perfect world I experienced that night. Just like real life, something new and special can only stay that way for so long. You only get one fleeting taste of it, and that's just how it has to be.
I write this soon after completing another journey, my eyes again warm with tears as the companion I thought I'd lost returns to join me for our final crossing into paradise. The point of the Journey for me is all about sharing it. So long as there are companions to journey with, this game will stay special to me. It reminds me what a great experience video games have the potential to give.
