JoeTheDestroyer's Journey review

Nice review, Joe. It began with some truly excellent writing, and the final paragraph ties things together nicely.

I still do wonder how 'peril' manifests on the journey, though.

I found an odd line:

Arctic blasts and whiteouts can slowed my journey

Otherwise, fine work. I salute you.

Nice to read a more sober look at the game, and I agree with all the points you made.

After replaying it a few times I found that I'd only ever go back to the most interactive parts. Everything else is quite slow, and doesn't hold much value after the first playthrough hits so strongly. I loved Braid as well, for example, but I'd never touch the game again. Nothing is going to top the first time I played the last level.

Crazy games these hipsters make.

Thanks for reading and commenting, everyone!

Masters:
The peril isn't great or threatening to the player, but moreso to the character. It's especially so in the final stage, where you have to deal with flying creatures, ice cold gales and freezing temperatures.

EmP:
Nice catch, thanks!

htp:
I think that's one thing I forgot to mention in the review. Certain elements of style doesn't always hold the same power on repeated playthroughs. I think that's true about any medium of entertainment. A kind of strange example, but the movie Suspiria comes to mind. While I love the movie, nothing compares to the first time I saw it. I was blown away by the gorgeous and intricate sets, not to mention Argento's trademark use of lighting that gives the film a part pulp horror comic-part nightmare atmosphere.

I believe we pretty much agree on the game, Joe; though my score was higher, really our thoughts and words were the same. Aside from all that, this is a well written review that confirms my opinion that you should break up your reviews of games with bad covers for something more modern now and again.

It seems the game captured you despite the reservations. Although maybe you missed out on the companionship aspect which was such a surprise to me. Did you go for all the trophies? That added quite a nice degree of challenge, searching out the hidden glyphs and symbols. And getting that white robe!

Suspiria is an unusual comparison to make but it certainly rivals the game for sheer visual splendour. Blew me away first time watching it and that theme music is so wonderful.

Zipp:
Thanks! The older stuff I'm covering right now mostly consists of games I reviewed at GameFAQs that I'm bringing over here (currently working on Captain Skyhawk). I do like to take breaks from that every now and then and cover some newer stuff, or at least something that isn't part of the category I'm currently reviewing.

I also reviewed Journey as part of a small project I'm undergoing. There are four games that were low on my priority list, yet were incredibly popular: Journey and the first three Uncharted games. I decided that, one by one, I'm going to purchase all four games, play them, and review them. So, part one complete. Just need to get a copy of the first Uncharted now.

Threetimes:
Thanks! I didn't go for the trophies, but I usually don't. By the time I finish a game, I'm usually ready to start a new one.

Yeah, Suspiria is a great flick. Awesome soundtrack, too! It was the first example that popped into my head. I really love and appreciate the movie, but I don't think it has quite the same effect on me as it did in the first viewing--mainly in terms of visual style. Same goes for its sequel, Inferno. Still, Suspiria is one of my favorite horror films.

My quick review of Uncharted 1 is that it's a really fun game which overstays its welcome by a couple levels. And it has a terrible last boss fight.

Just a total side note here, but I have to tell Joe that I'm reading the Dark Tower series right now and loving it.

I love Dark Tower, except I don't know how I care for the new book (which is essentially book 4.5). I haven't dragged ass this much on a Stephen King book... well, ever...

Yeah, I'm planning on skipping that one, actually. I've found that whenever an author goes back and starts inserting books into the middle of a series, it's always unnecessary and never as good as the original works. It's because it's trying to tag on to the main plot arch, like a pimple. There's never a good reason for it; if you truly missed an entire chunk of the arc, then you never would have been able to write the rest of the books so it sort've prevents itself from happening except because the author just can't leave a series alone.

And as much as I like Dark Tower, Stephen King is the definition of an author who cannot leave his own work alone.

God, for sure. He's retired how many times? He's like the Ozzy Osbourne of horror novelists.

And yet I'm still going to pick up Dr. Sleep when it hits...