You may have heard of Journey. It was only widely regarded as the best game of the year in 2012, and earned perfect or near perfect scores from a large majority of outlets, including our own Journey review. Even three years ago, we said of the PS3 version, “with perfect music, gorgeous visuals and powerful single and multiplayer experiences, Journey is the PlayStation Network’s must own magnum opus.” Now that experience has arrived on the PS4, is it worth dusting off the red cloth, standing up out of the sand, and taking the journey again, or even jumping into this world for the first time if you somehow missed its first outing?
If you’re an owner of the PS3 version of Journey, the PS4 version is yours. It’s cross buy, so your original purchase means that you get to experience the emotion all over again on your PS4. If you had it on PS3, you already know what Journey is about, and undoubtedly have determined whether or not you want to make the download on your PS4, which looks phenomenal in its upgraded state. For those of you that did’t have a PS3 — the only proper excuse for not having played Journeypreviously — I’ll try to tell you what your getting into.
It’s More of a Feeling
Journey is difficult to describe, because in many ways, it’s a very personal experience. Sure, the general layout of the game is unchanged from person to person, but the key lies in the uniquely anonymous social aspect. While I’ll tell you a little about my experience with the PS4 version, keep in mind that your mileage may vary, though that particularity is largely the point of the experience.
Arising in the middle of desert, I begin making my way towards an enormous mountain with a light shining from the top, though it’s hazy and the distance to my assumed destination is a guess at best. I move through the dunes until I come upon some ruins. One of the game’s very minimal and few prompts directs me to press circle to emit a ping. Quick presses result in quick small pings, and longer presses charge the ping into more of a shout. Releasing a flurry of trapped bits of cloth, I gain a small scarf, which grants me the ability to briefly float through the environment.
Jumping a little further ahead in my journey, my scarf is now longer, allowing me to fly further distances. I recognize this new area. I’m supposed to create a bridge by freeing various trapped pieces of cloth in the environment. As I begin my quest to create the bridge, I notice a small glow across the sand that vanishes as quickly as it appeared. A ping. Another traveler! I frantically ping back, trying to get their attention as I move in their direction. The desert can get lonely, you see, and having a companion makes the going easier.
The Power of Companionship
When two travelers stand close enough together, they are able to recharge the energy each other’s scarves. Without the ability for either of us to say a word to one another, we head up the half completed cloth bridge. Leaping over the final two massive gaps, we use each other to maintain our energy and make our way to the other side. It’s only on reflection of the moment that I realize we just accomplished something pretty incredible without ever speaking. The moments like these with your companions are what make Journey.
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