Journey

Recently, due to the pandemic, most people are stuck at home, including myself. Well Playsation did something very cool : the games Journey and Uncharted 1, 2, and 3 are now free to download from April 15th to May 5^th ! Here is a link : https://blog.us.playstation.com/2020/04/14/announcing-the-play-at-home-initiative/

Since I had never played Journey, I decided to download it and give it a shot !

In this game, you play a mysterious nameless character wearing a cute red cloak. Your goal is to reach the shiny peak of a mountain that you can notice from the beginning of the game.

I had read previously it was important to really set the mood for this game, for it is about to get really cozy.

So here I am, It’s 1am, pouring rain outside. I have my most comfortable pajamas on, I am now READY to play this masterpiece of a game.

There is no denying it : it is absolutely stunning. The graphics are very smooth and relaxing/satisfying to look at. It takes place in the desert, so your character can slide on the sand : sliding down those dunes is one of the best feeling in the gaming world. Sometimes, playing makes you feel like you’re meditating.

I can’t think of anything that could make this game any prettier. The camera movements feel very natural as you advance in the game, and the music is very fitting (it almost feels like an animated movie sometimes!) : very heartwarming melodies accompany you throughout your journey with perfect timing to make your experience extra special and moving. Honestly, I teared up a little.

It also tells a story. There are no words spoken, but there are illustrations that help you understand more what happened to this world and what kind of universe it is. I felt a very special connection to my character. I never know what it is thinking, but somehow that makes it easier for me to project myself into that little character. I know it sounds pretty sappy, but I’m a sensible rabbit! I like feeling cozy and relaxed !

This game makes me really hopeful on the future of video games, and how people perceive it. Reading those articles about how video games are responsible for mass shootings or other violent acts like that make me sad. Go read my buddy Amalizzie’s article on common received ideas about video games if you want to learn more about that.

When I thought of art back when I was a bunny, I’d think poetry, paintings, music. Now, I can honestly say you can make art with video games. Create your own world, tell a story, and share it with the world, it doesn’t get any more magical than that.

This is why I give this game 5 stars. It is short, but it is the kind of game that just relaxes you. No complicated mess, it is straight forward and helps you escape reality. I really needed that during this dark depressing period and it really helped me feel better.

Now don’t forget to leave a game suggestion in the comments and I might play and post a review !