Journey is a short and nearly perfect game that gamers of any level can enjoy. The story is simple: the player is a small hooded figure in a seemingly endless, but gorgeous, desert landscape. Observing a bright light shooting out of a distant mountain and flying overhead, the player decides to travel towards the far-off peak.
On the way are magnificent set pieces, enemies and what appear to be the remnants of a once splendid civilization. More important are the encounters with other characters that can travel with the player for short periods of time, or for the entirety of the journey. Communication between the characters is only possible in unintelligible symbols. As the player progresses through the game and closer to the mountain, the rise and fall of the old civilization is revealed.
The game mechanics are incredibly accessible and simple. Any player will instantly be taken with the interactive environment. The music changes according to interactions with various objects and characters. Depending on the player's location, they may hear a lone cello lost in the wind of the desert or a swelling orchestra. The soundtrack, created by Austin Wintery, is breathtaking, and it manages to convey atmosphere, emotion and story better than any traditional form of exhibition.
When this PS3 game was first released, players were surprised to learn that the similar characters they could interact and travel with were actually real humans also playing Journey, randomly paired with them through an internet connection. The most challenging, and rewarding, aspect of the game is problem solving and progressing with another player using only the most rudimentary communication.
Players will enjoy the beautiful and complex story, which unfolds without any dialogue or narration, paired with the intuitive gameplay mechanics. Journey is available at the Prince George Public Library.
-- Kathryn Louro is a circulation clerk at the Prince George Public Library.
