zippdementia's Journey review

This is a pretty fantastic review. Made a vivid and extremely convincing argument for your side while leaving little doubt in my mind that I would not personally enjoy the game. Thanks for writing it!

Thank you, Suskie, and thank you for reading the review. I am really pleased that you came away feeling the way you did, because I very much wanted to highlight both sides of the argument here.

I originally wasn't planning to write a review for Journey. I didn't want to play it with reviewing in mind. Then I read this site's "Have you played Journey?" thread and saw the discussion between True and Roto. That they held two such opposite opinions on the game stuck with me when I sat down to play it. Each scene I was thinking of how each different party would be taking the game.

Until the last scene on the mountain, anyway. I couldn't think about anything else other than my unnamed partner in that scene. That's how I knew it had finally affected me, without a doubt.

Despite having been so moved, I am left with the very clear idea that, despite its acclaim, Journey isn't for everyone. I don't think it can be fairly criticized for being what it is and not something else, yet the fact remains that it is not "something else." I mean, a thousand people can tell you how great the Mona Lisa is, but if your soul is not moved when you see the piece, then it doesn't mean anything. Acclaim lends no value to something. It is all about how we feel and what we are looking for.

I really enjoyed this review. I loved the way it flowed, almost in the same fashion as you describe the game. Thanks for the read, very well done. I really wish I could hear the music. You make it sound so wonderous.

I almost posted this in the review itself, but it broke flow. Check it out, though:
Journey by Austin Wintory

Also, if anyone really likes the music I know where you can get a download link. You can PM me.

Nice review. Almost exactly my thoughts on the title aside from the Dick novel stuff (never read it).

Absolutely gorgeous music, thanks for embed.

Sure thing, Miyamoto-san. I originally was going to base my review entirely around the music, but when I recorded the first paragraph (I've been using my iphone to voice my reviews before writing them), it came off sounding like a mixture between a snob and a stoner. So I abandoned that angle. In the end I didn't get to say nearly as much about the music as I wanted to.

I actually think music doesn't get enough of a feature in most reviews. I understand why. After tackling gameplay and characters, it's often time to move right on to some kind of finale. Graphics may get a paragraph but sound is often given only a brief mention or (more commonly) none at all. And it is admittedly difficult to fit sound and music into a review without jarring the reader (or boring them). After all, music is something that has to be experienced. It's very hard to recreate its effects in words.

Yet music is undeniably important. Often when I come back to a game years months or years later it's because I remember the music. Chrono Trigger's soundtrack has been responsible for more playthroughs of that game than anything else. Hell, all week I've had Secret of Evermore digging at my mind for a playthrough and all because of Jeremy Soule. If only Penguin had reviewed that game instead of Golden Sun.

i'm not a master review critic, so i'm just gonna say spot on review for a truly landmark game. so glad i fall into the camp of people that appreciate it. i think i'll go play it again now, thanks.

ps. i'd love to download the soundtrack.

Glad you enjoyed the review, GX! I played the game five times in fairly quick succession and have finally put it down for a spell. Sometimes, writing a review feels like the perfect ending to a gaming experience for me and sates my thirst for the game for a long time. That it is making others "thirsty" in my stead is great!

I've sent the link.

I hadn't even heard of this game. Now I have to check it out.

Hey, Will! Miss you around here. Glad the review convinced you.

Okay, wow. Just finished first play-through of Journey.

That was something else. I got all teary near the end there, wondering if I'd lost my friend. But I found him again in the end, and we chirped a song of victory. :)

That was incredible. Zipp, thank you for introducing me to this game.

Hey, Will, it was my pleasure. Thanks for reading and taking my suggestion and, even more, for letting me know! There's nothing like knowing you led a friend to a good game.

One other thing:

CLOTH WHALES OMG

YES. I feel bad that I didn't even mention the incredible cloth whales, but I also think it's something that's more awesome when you discover it on your own. The whole water theme was entirely unepxected in a game that takes place in, well a desert.