Journey--who's played it? (let's be mindful of spoilers, please!)

[japester]

I mentioned Journey in another thread, but now that it's available to all PSN members, I'm curious what others think about it. Please use spoiler tags--check the BBCode link to the right for the format--appropriately since the details of the experience are key to enjoying the game.


I'm torn on this one. Critics and fans are going ga-ga over it, and I've definitely enjoyed my 6 or so playthroughs. The co-op is what really makes it interesting for me, and I'm a guy who avoids co-op like the plague. The actual gameplay is somewhat simple, if elegant and beautiful in it's execution. I'm still noticing new details, but the actual tasks are getting repetitive.


Have other folks played it and enjoyed it? If you haven't played it, is it because it doesn't look interesting? Do you think Journey is going to change how other games are made, perhaps in terms of co-op? Or will it remain a fairly unique art piece, like their previous effort, Flower?

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

So I just got finished playing it, wasn't really getting into it in the first section, was trying to figure what buttons did what and what was the point of some them and so on. Then when I got to the bridge area I ran into another player. I'll say from then on out it was great experience. I'd say the best Co-Op experience ever had - we worked together without speaking, follow each other's leads, at one point got stuck and the other player helped me figure it out what I had to do.


I'd say going through Co-Op def made the experience, then when I thought it was going to end it didn't and rather it continued. Definitely worth playing and checking out.


@Japester - I think its a great unique experience, I wonder if going through 6 times in such a short amount of time is the way to go though, may diminish its effect. Going through once I had a blast but part of that is experiencing it for the first time and another was getting paired up with one cool Coop partner who we ran through the entire game with.

I'll prob go back to it, see if I can find what I missed and collect what trophies I can but I don't know if I should. If I do maybe wait for some time to pass. It's like Bioshock the first time going through is one you will never forget and subsequent playthroughs your chasing the feeling which came from that first experience.

[BullyX22]

I preordered it, just downloaded it yesterday night, its okay so far, and I love that the online is like in "Demon Soul", pretty cool, and pretty graphics.

[japester]

Glad you enjoyed it and found a nice partner, felonious! Did you go through the entire game with the same person?


This isn't a spoiler, but their claims that it is entirely anonymous are not true. It seems that each time you play, you are assigned a random glyph that appears when you "sing". Since your partner could drop out at any time, noticing their glyph is a big clue if you are going through each area with the same person. And if you sit through all of the credits, at the very end it will list the PSN IDs of each person who joined you on this journey, including their glyphs. I made sure to jot down the name of a particularly good partner that I had.


The way I play, and due to the shortness of the game, I think 3 playthroughs would have been a minimum. Yes, the first time was the most magical, but I missed plenty of little things by sticking to the main path. And additional meanings and such became clear on subsequent playthroughs. The co-op added more variety, hence my reason for going back a few more times. I have one final "hidden" object to discover, and my own exploration will be 100% complete. Then it will be all about the partner experience.


My first time through was with a partner, and it was pretty good. We were both noobs, so there wasn't any helping, per se. We just tried to stick with each other. I played solo next. The time after that I had the great partner. They followed my lead, and we seemed to communicate really well. Several other partners were either clueless or completely disinterested in sharing the experience. Yet another partner wouldn't make a move without me, which was slightly frustrating. Heh. But each one has been different.


Here's a spoiler question for you about the end: <span>Since you mentioned the false ending, did you get my earlier reference to pushing your character--almost to the point of regret? Marching on into the snow, with each step getting slower and slower, with your partner next to you....I really wanted to stop. It was like a slow walk off a cliff. When my partner fell, followed by me, it was a gut punch. Which made the real ending so much sweeter!</span>


@nitefox11

You preordered a digital-only game? Why?! Was there any benefit? Let us know what you think once you've finished it. And I totally get your "Demon's Souls" reference. The random match-ups are nice, but it's even better (IMHO) that your partner can't really hurt you here, unlike a red spirit invasion. LOL

[BullyX22]

japester said:Glad you enjoyed it and found a nice partner, felonious! Did you go through the entire game with the same person? <img />

This isn't a spoiler, but their claims that it is entirely anonymous are not true. It seems that each time you play, you are assigned a random glyph that appears when you "sing". Since your partner could drop out at any time, noticing their glyph is a big clue if you are going through each area with the same person. And if you sit through all of the credits, at the very end it will list the PSN IDs of each person who joined you on this journey, including their glyphs. I made sure to jot down the name of a particularly good partner that I had.

The way I play, and due to the shortness of the game, I think 3 playthroughs would have been a minimum. Yes, the first time was the most magical, but I missed plenty of little things by sticking to the main path. And additional meanings and such became clear on subsequent playthroughs. The co-op added more variety, hence my reason for going back a few more times. I have one final "hidden" object to discover, and my own exploration will be 100% complete. Then it will be all about the partner experience.

My first time through was with a partner, and it was pretty good. We were both noobs, so there wasn't any helping, per se. We just tried to stick with each other. I played solo next. The time after that I had the great partner. They followed my lead, and we seemed to communicate really well. Several other partners were either clueless or completely disinterested in sharing the experience. Yet another partner wouldn't make a move without me, which was slightly frustrating. Heh. But each one has been different.

Here's a spoiler question for you about the end: Since you mentioned the false ending, did you get my earlier reference to pushing your character--almost to the point of regret? Marching on into the snow, with each step getting slower and slower, with your partner next to you....I really wanted to stop. It was like a slow walk off a cliff. When my partner fell, followed by me, it was a gut punch. Which made the real ending so much sweeter!

@nitefox11

You preordered a digital-only game? Why?! Was there any benefit? Let us know what you think once you've finished it. And I totally get your "Demon's Souls" reference. The random match-ups are nice, but it's even better (IMHO) that your partner can't really hurt you here, unlike a red spirit invasion. LOL

Lol, freaking red souls, and well, I dont have playstation+, so I pre-ordered it because I was gonna buy it the day it came out anyways, but for doing so, I was given a Journey Dynamic theme for free. Oh, and I didnt beat it yet, its that Ive been playing alot of Bioshock 2 online, left4 dead 1&2 on steam, and Vampire Bloodlines The Masquerade(which is one of the most underrated rpgs Ive ever played).

[japester]

Ah, if the dynamic theme was the bonus, then it was well worth it. That's a lovely theme. Since I have PS+, it was included, but I would have purchased the game on day one anyway. LOL. Flower made me a believer in TGC.


Gamespot did an interesting piece on the communication in Journey (be warned that several locations are spoiled in the article, so best to read if you've finished the game at least once):

http://www.gamespot.com/features/how...thing-6366633/


They asked some Berkley linguistics majors to watch how players communicate and discuss whether it is communication or language and how the core system could be preserved while expanding the opportunities for richer communication. One interesting suggestion was a low tone and a high tone. Right now you can only do short or long chirps. But different tones could indicate a positive and negative response, which they all agree is essential.


In my experience, a lot of the chirping is simply used for bonding. One player does a single or double chirp, and the other echoes it. Kind of like a friendly clap on the back. There is no message, just an emotional connection. At other times, it's used to indicate something important or to warn of danger. One fellow on my last playthrough was a musician. We started with simple repeated chirps, but he would occasionally break out into elaborate song. Heh, heh. It was great fun to listen to, but I felt bad that I couldn't repeat it or jam with him. I wondered if he knew I was incapable or if he interpreted as a negative response (like "I'm too busy to respond" or "stop being silly"). Just one of the many interesting nuances of this game.


Anyone use the chirps as syllables? I find myself doing that from time to time. In other words, I talk to the other player and hit the chirp with each syllable. Sometimes they seem to get the message, but who knows?

[Sans Frontieres]

played it the day it came out for normal PSN (not PSN+)


thoroughly amazing. Fumito Ueda tweeted saying he loved it and Jenova Chen tweeted back that it took inspiration from SotC / Ico. I see the SotC clearly but one of the greatest things I enjoyed was the communication between any groups you meet.


No spoilers but I met my companion early and we went nearly to the end. We got to an area that they couldn't figure out and they quit and the quitting animation, especially after spending 2 hours with this person, was so dramatically sad...


All in all, play it! So awesome! Great story, great experience!

[Durandal]

I'm waiting for the price to go down. $15 for 90 minutes of play seems a bit much for me.

[japester]

shocker22 said:I'm waiting for the price to go down. $15 for 90 minutes of play seems a bit much for me.

Nobody is going to play this game for just 90 minutes.


Depending on how much you explore, 2-3 hours for a single go is going to be typical. But you have zero chance of finding everything in that time. Plus, almost everyone will do at least two playthroughs to experience both single player and co-op. I'm not a completionist, yet I've gone through six full times already. And I'm definitely going back for more.


Most of the reviews point out that Journey is meant to be finished in one sitting to have the maximum impact. And it is meant to be experienced again and again, mainly because of the co-op dynamics. So the 2-3 hours should be viewed as a morsel, not the entire experience the game has to offer.


No harm in waiting for the inevitable sale. But don't sell the game short.

[Durandal]

I heard the game is only 90 minutes according to the Cheap Ass Gamer guys. Good to know they are wrong.

[BullyX22]

japester said:

shocker22 said:I'm waiting for the price to go down. $15 for 90 minutes of play seems a bit much for me.

Nobody is going to play this game for just 90 minutes. <img />

Depending on how much you explore, 2-3 hours for a single go is going to be typical. But you have zero chance of finding everything in that time. Plus, almost everyone will do at least two playthroughs to experience both single player and co-op. I'm not a completionist, yet I've gone through six full times already. And I'm definitely going back for more.

Most of the reviews point out that Journey is meant to be finished in one sitting to have the maximum impact. And it is meant to be experienced again and again, mainly because of the co-op dynamics. So the 2-3 hours should be viewed as a morsel, not the entire experience the game has to offer.

No harm in waiting for the inevitable sale. But don't sell the game short. <img />

Im going t be honest, on my 1st play through, I kinda rushed it I think, but it was totally worth the money, the ending was so... heart-warming, to me anyways. And Im looking forward to getting all of the trophies, so if youre interested, add me, NiteFox11. And I can get over how beautiful the game look, its like just one big open world piec of art, I wish theyd allow us to take screen-shots like in DCU online or any PC game.

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

I'll keep what I say here spoiler free, provide some links for Journey and then go a little spoiler talk after that so be warned.


First I preordered the game as well and found the theme awesome its replaced my Bioshock 2 multiplayer theme. I thought my first run took about 2 hours and 15 minutes and while both my partner and I were thorough we didn't waste a lot of time I felt, waste is even a bad word to use but you should get my point. The game was totally worth it and over the weekend I came to the conclusion willbe playing it some more for future CoOp experiences and even may D/C myself from being online to try a solo one. I will just have to bottle up how good my first run was in my memory bank in case future play throughs just don't offer a similar effect. Even though I'm not a trophy guy on PS3, think I'll go to get everyone as well!


At the Gamesfest in DC I got to talk briefly with Kellee Santiago who is a designer/producer for ThatGameCompany about Journey and what an awesome experience it was and being someone who really doesn't care for COOP/multiplayer it was the best one I had encountered and I wasn't alone in that feeling. I should have asked at the time but I didn't but I will ask you guys who have played it. Do you think say after a few playthroughs or perhaps to be patched in later it would have been a good idea to be able to invite a person to go through the game with instead of it being random? I kind of think it would be cool to eventually be able to do, curious what everyone else thinks.


Link Times


Metacritic - Critics Love Journey 92 - http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/journey


Gamesfest - It's all in Design with Robin Hunicke - game designer for Journey - whole panel is worth watching even the Q&A isn't bad - not really any spoilers but the game is shown a bit in video so if you want to remain dark on the subject then avoid till you play - if you want to get right to Journey talk starts around 22 minute mark - http://americanart.si.edu/calendar/l...efest/hunicke/


Behind the Scenes with Journey (Spoilers!) - http://ps3.ign.com/articles/122/1220149p1.html


The ProtoTypes Behind Journey - http://www.1up.com/features/the-prot...behind-journey


Interview with Jenova Chen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVYJU...P50PEKqc7rnE18


WARNING Going to talk SPOILERS


@Japester - yeah I actually tried to turn around for a second climbing up the mountain, but my partner kept marching so, so I trudged along with him. That was the second time though I thought the game was going to end and it didn't. Having heard the game wasn't that long when you witness the scene of your Journey right before the mountain and you have that walkway. I was like oh that's probably it and then to have the whole mountain sequence was bonus in my eyes as well.


As far as communication - I'd do a series of chirps when something exciting happened like getting to an exciting part or past the the mountain part. I'd also do a one long one to say Thanks, My partner must have looked at the trophy list ahead of time which I didn't, he helped me get at least two (the sitting reflection one and finding the ancient creature towards the end) and I'd do a long one to express hey Thanks!

[pixelshock]

Do you know the ongoing debate about games being a true art form? Well yeah, this backs up that statement.

[Durandal]

This was a really great game. I've already started a second round. They do let you know who your partners were, so that's nice.


<span>I also like how your coat and scarf change to show how many times you've played.</span>

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

Good to hear you like it so much Shocker22! Off tomorrow, so hope to get my second round tonight or tomorrow!

[Durandal]

<span>Does anyone know how to get a white coat?</span>

[japester]

Sorry, didn't mean to neglect this thread. It's great hearing that felonious and shocker both enjoyed the game.


In terms of your wardrobe question, shocker: <span>find all the glowing symbols--the ones that make your scarf grow.</span> A basic game dynamic changes at that point, which makes it a little more fun to explore.


@felonious

I think that moment on the mountain, when you wanted to turn back but didn't--that kind of defines what makes Journey special to me. You don't even know this other player, but you let them influence your decision, even though it looked grim. On one level it's such a simple, basic thing. But on another level it's a great metaphor for how we choose to live our lives. Brings out the hippy dippy in me. LOL


@pixelshock

Has that really been an ongoing debate? I respect Ebert's opinion (he is the one and only movie critic I regularly check), but it seemed like everyone else disagreed with him. Which is fine. I believe he admitted that he doesn't know much about games, so he was speaking from a place of ignorance. I thought once all the chest-pounding and feather-ruffling died down, it was the general consensus that games--at least some of them--qualify as art in the classical sense.


Certainly TGC has made a strong case with both Flower and Journey. I described Flower to my non-gaming friends as "interactive art". Journey has that same core DNA, infused with a little more traditional gaming. Even though there are more goals and "jump here, grab that" actions in Journey, both games leave me with a sense that I felt something. It's not about the button presses or even about accomplishing a particular goal. It's that emotional journey.

[Durandal]

Thanks, it would be sweet if someone cosplayed this.

[losstarot]

I played it and finished once and I gotta say the online mode is quite unique and the fact that there are no voices or texts provide a more fertile ground for silent coop. No need for words when a game is brillantly achieved.

Now I gotta wonder why they took so much time to make it released when there are so few levels. Don't get me wrong the levels are nicely done but I feel one or two more levels in the desert might have been a nice addition. As for the rest you have summed it up pretty well. I think I'm gonna head over to give it other tries...

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

@shocker22 , Their was a kid at Gamesfest who cosplayed as the journey character it looked really good too.


@losstarot , The prototypes of Journey which I linked about talks about all the iterations they went through in the process of making Journey. I'm pretty sure I read the team was rather small too like 12 people if I remember correctly. I think it was a good length as I think its best to play in one sitting if possible. I haven't found everything yet and as Japester has said it offers a reason to go back to it.

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

Saw this on Kotaku - short but good comic strip - http://kotaku.com/5896662/journey-wa...l-of-a-journey

[Durandal]

felonious said:Saw this on Kotaku - short but good comic strip - <a>http://kotaku.com/5896662/journey-wa...l-of-a-journey

</a>

lol, so true.

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

Fastest U.S selling game on PSN - http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/...psn-game-ever/


Not the greatest of news perhaps, several people in ThatGameCompany have left - http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/...atgamecompany/

[japester]

Puts a smile on my face hearing about the terrific sales numbers. Good for them!


As for the team splitting up, part of me wonders if it isn't related to the expiration of their exclusivity contract with Sony. With such a small staff, perhaps they had contracts requiring them to stay on until the Sony commitment was fulfilled? And now that they are pursuing other interests?


I wish TGC all the success in the world, but a small part of me regretted the news when I heard that Journey was their last PSN-only game. There's no logical reason to expect that the quality may drop or their quirkiness may be diluted if they choose to go multiplatform, but that is my niggling doubt. I sincerely hope they prove me wrong.

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

I've been listening to some podcasts on Journey Gamers with Jobs episode 285 - http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/podcast


They did a good spoiler section at the end of the podcast, speaking of spoilers will mention something about climbing the mountain and the stitching on your robe if you want to know what I heard (don't think its been mentioned yet)


<span> When walking to your freezing death, if your with someone and you huddle together you can go longer than if you were alone, as you huddle and keep each other warm. Also the more times you play Journey the more stitching you have on your robe</span>


I found both things pretty interesting. Still have to play through it again, just haven't found the Time!

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

Journey Soundtrack is releasing tomorrow - http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mis...ic-by-journey/

[japester]

I just noticed your spoiler from the 4th, felonious. It does change, but only until the fourth playthrough, I think. No further changes after that.

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

Ah good to know, was wondering how much they change as well, would be interesting to see comparison shots between someone who is playing it for the first time to different looks for different number of playthroughs.

[Durandal]

felonious said:Journey Soundtrack is releasing tomorrow - <a>http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mis...ic-by-journey/

</a>

squee!

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

Finally went through a few more times to bring my total to 4, got all the trophies and my white robe. A fun experience, nothing matched my first playthrough though. Def still stands as the best multiplayer experience I've had but could also be pretty lackluster all depending upon who you meet.

Here's some Journey Cosplay involving a cat - http://kotaku.com/5910655/journey-no...lable-for-cats

[Durandal]

adorable!!

[Durandal]

Gamercat has a comic strip about Journey.

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

Funny comic strip! Thanks for posting it up!

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

A collector's edition for Journey which includes Flow and Flower as well as a bunch of extras is coming Aug 28th for 29.99. Having not played Flow and played only Flower for few minutes and all the extras (including soundtracks) will probably pick this up - http://thatgamecompany.com/flow/jour...you-august-28/

An interesting take on Journey's ending calling it a cop out - don't agree with the article but I do think if Journey ends where he says it should have, I would have just been as satisfied with the game - http://www.edge-online.com/opinion/j...ending-cop-out

[Durandal]

I agree that it should have ended where he said. I'll pick that up even though I bought the digital download and soundtrack for Journey. I just love it so much. ^_^

[japester]

Even though I own Flower and Journey, I'll probably buy this just to support TGC. Their work is too special, I want to encourage them in any way I can.

I'll have to strongly disagree with the article. I don't think the ending detracts at all. And finishing the game on a down note, without any payoff, would discourage people from playing again and again. I can see where the author thinks "Journey" strictly applies to the physical movement of the character until it's death, but that ignores the spirit. And that is what continues on in the Journey at the end, freed of the limitations of the body. And that allows you to continue the cycle of rebirth into the physical plane.

The joy at the end is made that much sweeter after the sadness which precedes it. The author seems to view this as a cheap method of "wringing" extra emotion out of the game, but I see it as an elegant way to take the player to all extremes. Taking a rollercoaster all the way to the top of a huge hill....and then ending the ride....may be "cool" and unexpected, but it's a waste.

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

An article featuring 15 foot Journey scarf which has been created - http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/a...y-want-it.aspx

[IGlegacy_Felonious]

An article just came out detailing the tumultuous development of Journey - http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/...o-save-journey

Interesting read and helps further explain why some of the developers probably left after the game released.

[Durandal]

I don't want to know. Happy thoughts and kittens made this game.

[Durandal]

Journey Art Book