Author Topic: I bought Journey, because art (Read 3719 times)

Shaka Khan · « **on:** March 06, 2012, 10:00:05 PM »

A week earlier for PS+ subscribers ($14.99)

So beautiful. It makes me feel nostalgic and appreciative of my ancestry.

Still piss easy, and lacks gamey elements, but it's much less of a screensaver than Flow and Flower.

I played the entire first session in co-op, and I got it, man. I got what the journey is all about, and everything that makes us human.

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2012, 10:24:20 PM »

Quote

Eurogamer pegged it at an hour and a half.

Shaka Pwn'd

"Bu.. bu.. But It's still an experience that transcends time counters."

Hipsters

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2012, 10:33:16 PM »

And Sfags have been stroking their tallywackers for years over this?

Bebpo · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2012, 11:19:23 PM »

I bought the game

I don't know why

Is this even a game? Flow was not a game. Flower was not a game. Does this have an actual game underneath?

cool breeze · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2012, 11:32:44 PM »

the beta was cool. I don't know what's changed or anything, but I liked it and Flower enough to know I'll buy it eventually.

Flow sucks big time, though.

Bebpo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2012, 11:33:39 PM »

Also, I haven't followed anything about this game (or most games anymore these days), so I have no idea what it is about besides a robed person in a desert.

cool breeze · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2012, 11:35:30 PM »

in the beta you'd spend several seconds to climb a hill, then have two seconds of fun sliding down it. and you had this sweet jump move, but it was limited so you didn't want to use it.

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2012, 11:44:20 PM »

Co-op is fun. Your jumps are limited by the gauge on your capes, but when you're with someone you can replenish each other's by whistling and touching. I was paired with someone cool who just got me, man. Without saying a word. I'd see a cape extending crystal in the distance and I'd be like *whistle* and he'd be like *whistle* *whistle* and then we'd both set out to get it. Feeding each other jumping juice, like two snowballing feggits.

Huff · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2012, 11:51:49 PM »

Playing with someone one is a very cool experience. But I wouldn't really call it fun

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #9 on:** March 07, 2012, 12:13:24 AM »

We keep side-stepping conventional descriptors like that people would call us snobs, Huff.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #10 on:** March 07, 2012, 12:15:18 AM »

I almost bought it, but then I remembered I've got a shit-ton to play, and this will be on sale at some point in the future.

Huff · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2012, 12:19:38 AM »

So I lost my first "partner" and now all the rest I find are fucking useless

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #12 on:** March 07, 2012, 04:39:50 AM »

I just finished the game.

It was gut wrenchingly beautiful but offensively short. Arguably more of a game than their first two games. But man, I don't regret buying it. In fact, I'm gonna play through it again for the trophies, as they pack a decent challenge.

Also beautiful music.

My god, I can feel my scarf growing in real life just by thinking and taking about it. Art

Huff · « **Reply #13 on:** March 07, 2012, 09:28:51 AM »

Just finished this morning, and wow. It really draws you in.

I think the length is fine. Perfect for single playthroughs at one time and high replayability . Any longer and there's a high chance of getting bored with the mechanic and then just trying to finish the game, which would take you out of the moment

chronovore · « **Reply #14 on:** March 07, 2012, 09:59:45 AM »

I am looking forward to it. Flower and Flow were fun. I thought this one would eventually be renamed to Flowest.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2012, 07:15:49 PM »

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #16 on:** March 07, 2012, 07:18:04 PM »

Flower was most def a game.

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #17 on:** March 11, 2012, 01:29:53 PM »

Flower was pretty cool, I'd like to play Journey too.

Flow was more of a screen saver.

chronovore · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2012, 02:47:45 PM »

Saw some of the multiplayer experiments which led to this game at GDC, and I am now really curious about how it works in practice. Going to have to charge my PSN account, remember the password, and hope my PS3 controllers haven't entirely drained.

Also of note: 2D prototypes do not necessarily translate to 3D gameplay.

Bebpo · « **Reply #19 on:** March 12, 2012, 08:45:10 PM »

How long is this game? Thinking about giving it a play tonight, but don't have a tooon of time in the evenings to game. Can I play it from start to finish in < 2 hours session?

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #20 on:** March 12, 2012, 08:46:35 PM »

Quote from: chronovore on March 11, 2012, 02:47:45 PM

Saw some of the multiplayer experiments which led to this game at GDC, and I am now really curious about how it works in practice. Going to have to charge my PSN account, remember the password, and hope my PS3 controllers haven't entirely drained.

Also of note: 2D prototypes do not necessarily translate to 3D gameplay.

Don't forget to update your system OS today!

Huff · « **Reply #21 on:** March 12, 2012, 08:51:59 PM »

Quote from: Bebpo on March 12, 2012, 08:45:10 PM

How long is this game? Thinking about giving it a play tonight, but don't have a tooon of time in the evenings to game. Can I play it from start to finish in < 2 hours session?

Yeah easily

Bebpo · « **Reply #22 on:** March 13, 2012, 01:09:20 AM »

Holy shiiiiiiiiit

That was GOOD.

Much better than my expectations going in. It's crazy to think this is the same company that made FLOW, a game about swimming in a circle for an hour with shitty motion controls. Flower was a much better experience and this is as big of jump as FLOW was to FLOWER. Really amazing how far this small team has come in 3 games.

Extremely impressive experience. It's one of those games when the PS4 is out, people will say "Journey was one of the reasons to own a PS3". Sure it borrows HEAVILY from SoTC and a bit of ICO, but hey, those are good games to borrow from! The only thing I didn't like was

spoiler (click to show/hide)

the snow area. I got that they were trying to represent the TOUGH SURVIVAL to the player, but it just wasn't fun to play and was a grueling experience. I can see myself replaying all the rest of the game except that section. Also the enemies were kind of annoying because you wouldn't see the spotlight until it was right on you and it's too late.

[close]

Those were the only 2 annoyances though, the rest is 4/4 star material from start to finish. Going to replay this with my gf this weekend, this is the kind of experience you can totally enjoy with non-gamers. I wonder if Roger Ebert will play it. It's a wonderful piece of interactive art.

THAT BEING SAID
The game also depresses the hell out of me. Why? Because a team of like 5 people were able to make a better looking HD game than 6 years of Japan working with 5-20 million dollar budgets. Graphically, the game is insanely impressive. From the Sand (which is how I thought Uncharted 3 was going to be during the Desert section), to the glistening lighting, to the expansive environments and killer cell shading. The game is one of the best looking games I've seen and it screams THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE ON PS3/X360 GENERATION SYSTEM. If Japan had their shit together this gen, I imagine that we would have tons of games that looked like this. Imagine Okami with visuals like these! Hell, I'd love to see a Team ICO game in a world like this visually.

It's also depressing because they created this incredible looking world to move through, but there's not a whole lot of game there. And games that have "game" parts don't have worlds that are half as interesting as this. I would like someone at Sony to borrow the world and make an actually game-y game in it, lol.

Also impressive considering people always say Sony's Phryengine sucked, but uh, it looked REALLY GOOD here.

4/4 stars

Bebpo seal of approval

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #23 on:** March 13, 2012, 01:13:53 AM »

sony is stupid not to lock these guys down on exclusivity

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #24 on:** March 13, 2012, 01:15:46 AM »

Bebpo gets it

Bebpo · « **Reply #25 on:** March 13, 2012, 01:21:48 AM »

Quote from: Thomas Householmes Lane on March 13, 2012, 01:13:53 AM

sony is stupid not to lock these guys down on exclusivity

They're really bad at moneyhatting/buying studios/games. Probably a mix of pride and stinginess.

Bebpo · « **Reply #26 on:** March 13, 2012, 01:41:16 AM »

I could think of harsher things to say about Flower!

I remember enjoying Flower, but it was kind of a total non-game. Just floating through some environments for an hour. Didn't leave much of an impression (still a lot better than FLOW, which was basically a tech demo that wasn't even particularly fun or engaging). Journey is like the exact opposite in terms of presentation of experience. I think Ebert may approve!

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #27 on:** March 14, 2012, 09:25:00 PM »

this is the best looking and flat out best game i've ever played.

cool breeze · « **Reply #28 on:** March 14, 2012, 09:42:57 PM »

you people make me want this

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #29 on:** March 14, 2012, 11:20:52 PM »

Regardless of what you think of the content, it's just a visual treat. Plus the music is great.

Bebpo · « **Reply #30 on:** March 15, 2012, 01:58:36 AM »

Quote from: dcharlie on March 14, 2012, 09:37:42 PM

Flower was a 20 minute experience spread out over 3-4 hours of mindlessly dull collecting.

So far Journey is great.

I thought Flower was like 30 mins long? Maybe I just remember the good 30 mins.

Bebpo · « **Reply #31 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:00:56 AM »

Quote from: Linkzg on March 14, 2012, 09:42:57 PM

you people make me want this

I thought you already wanted it!

Quote from: Linkzg on March 06, 2012, 11:32:44 PM

the beta was cool. I don't know what's changed or anything, but I liked it and Flower enough to know I'll buy it eventually.

Flow sucks big time, though.

cool breeze · « **Reply #32 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:05:58 AM »

I meant "now" rather than "eventually"

I planned on playing Infamous Festival of Blood, and I briefly started Ghost Trick the other night but the intro is really wordy and I was too tired to pay attention. I'm really trying to play games I own, rather than ignore my backlog, but it's hard $:-\$

Bebpo · « **Reply #33 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:13:35 AM »

Well I thought about waiting but PSN has sucky sales and if I actually want a PSN game I might as well just buy it. It's not like Steam where it'll be cheaper in a few months.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #34 on:** March 15, 2012, 10:18:46 AM »

maybe i'll dust off my ps3 and get this over the weekend after i finish up with ME3

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #35 on:** March 16, 2012, 09:39:30 PM »

what a really nice experience this thing is.

Bebpo · « **Reply #36 on:** March 17, 2012, 07:16:56 PM »

Went through this again with my gf. Still a nice experience, I didn't notice how much the online co-op with randoms can really make the experience until I got to the

spoiler (click to show/hide)

top of the snow summit alone this time and it was a totally different experience than doing it side by side with another person, pushing against the blizzard, only to watch your buddy collapse in the snow moments before you do

[close]

Also this is definitely more of a "game" than their previous stuff. My gf, who is a non-gamer, couldn't pass a lot of parts and I had to take the controller and do it for her. You have to have some ability to do 3d platforming in order to get through Journey. Still, as a non-gamer, she enjoyed the experience. Especially the art and music.

And I actually understood the plot this time around, haha. I didn't pay enough attention to the wall scroll parts in the first play but now they all make sense.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

ancient civilization is granted/discovers the power of the SCARF, uses it to build modern cities and destroy the environment, eventually they fight over the power and tear it, then they build giant attack robots and go to war with each other which destroys the civilization leaving only ruins and dust and a hell of a lot of grave markers. Then you come along and climb the mountain into the light.

[close]

cool breeze · « **Reply #37 on:** March 17, 2012, 07:24:55 PM »

I was planning on buying this tonight until I learned that Amazon doesn't sell PSN codes anymore

I'll go to a store tomorrow or something.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #38 on:** March 17, 2012, 07:43:53 PM »

managed to make it all the way through without losing my scarf. my coop buddy that showed up didnt get so luck though

Huff · « **Reply #39 on:** March 17, 2012, 08:30:34 PM »

i lost my scarf of the last level on my first playthrough

going to do another run later this weekend

Flannel Boy · « **Reply #40 on:** March 17, 2012, 08:36:49 PM »

About time they got their own Guitar Hero game.

Bebpo · « **Reply #41 on:** March 17, 2012, 08:40:57 PM »

Quote from: Huff on March 17, 2012, 08:30:34 PM

i lost my scarf of the last level on my first playthrough

going to do another run later this weekend

Quote from: fistfulofmetal on March 17, 2012, 07:43:53 PM

managed to make it all the way through without losing my scarf. my coop buddy that showed up didnt get so luck though

Other players make good decoys. Let them get fucked up and keep your scarf

Timber · « **Reply #42 on:** March 17, 2012, 10:58:17 PM »

Someone gift me a PS3.

cool breeze · « **Reply #43 on:** March 23, 2012, 01:25:53 AM »

this is kinda awesome

I had no idea those flying things could attack you. I was wandering around and one swooped in and ganked my partner. I ran up to see if I could help with the circle button thing.

apparently I had 8 partners in the one playthrough. at one point I helped a guy reach a glowing orb by jumpin and rubbin, he started spamming the circle thing. I felt like Ramirez.

btw, was anyone else's PS3 going crazy towards the ending? It was 360-levels of loud.

Big Barry Jazz · « **Reply #44 on:** March 28, 2012, 03:10:36 PM »

If you liked the soundtrack, the composer has just put up a free bundle of reworked music from the game.

Get it here:
http://austinwintory.fanbridge.com/downloads/file.php?file_id=18941&sid=192439028&conf_code=YaB62379rtaFXU5art611kd6KBkaXd1Be&anon=0&cid=813503

chronovore · « **Reply #45 on:** March 28, 2012, 08:37:17 PM »

Thanks!

Shaka Khan · « **Reply #46 on:** March 28, 2012, 10:21:41 PM »

Awesome, thanks!

Huff · « **Reply #47 on:** April 13, 2012, 01:11:57 AM »

Just got my white coat. nerdswag. Too bad I'll never have a chance to show it off as I'm not going to play again

Huff · « **Reply #48 on:** April 19, 2012, 12:06:34 AM »

Playing through it again to try and get that last trophy of finishing with mostly the same player. And I love it.

Fucking douche plays with me from the start all the way to the snow level then quits. Damnit literally 15 mins left of gameplay

chronovore · « **Reply #49 on:** April 19, 2012, 10:45:21 AM »

Is there a trophy for that, or something?

Huff · « **Reply #50 on:** April 19, 2012, 10:52:51 AM »

Yeah, and its not the easiest thing to only play with one person.

chronovore · « **Reply #51 on:** April 19, 2012, 10:54:48 AM »

Yeah. I hate it when Trophies/Achievements are tied to something I can't control at all.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #52 on:** April 26, 2012, 05:36:43 PM »

Beat my first ps3 game and it was journey. 10 minutes in I was pissed that I had wasted 15 bucks on some bullshit. After I finished it I was glad I played it and enjoyed it but still wish it was about 10 bucks. It's artsy as hell but it works. And it has a perfect length. Any shorter and I would have been pissed off and any longer and I would have been bored.

News:

Author Topic: I bought Journey, because art (Read 3719 times)