Journey

When video game outlets post their game of the year lists, the selected titles are typically AAA affairs with bloated development budgets, incredible marketing budgets, and lots of visceral action to instantly pull gamers into their digital worlds. Journey, thatgamecompany's third Sony-funded "indie" outing, is worthy of game-of-the-year consideration despite the absence of such elements. Instead, this PSN exclusive title dazzles with subtle storytelling, minimalist art design, and environments that, despite being small, carry grand, almost spiritual weight. Note: This is a completely spoiler-free review.

The Hero's Journey
Journey keeps the narrative and control scheme to a bare minimum. The story features a lone, nameless robed character who is on a mission to reach an illuminated, distant mountain. It's only three controls let you glide, climb, and sing. That's it. Journey is the story of a faceless person on a mission.

And it's a lonely trek. I don't want to spoil the experience, but the game dispenses with the traditional ideas of video game enemies and death. You will encounter other beings, but when you do, it's an immensely powerful moment after not seeing another being for long stretches of time. It's like being stranded on a deserted island only to find another person: You want to interact with the person but have to consider whether he's friend or foe.

Journey features one of the most unique co-op modes to appear in a video game. Every now and then you'll encounter another robed figure traversing the land who happens to be the avatar of another gamer. Unlike other games in which you'd grab your guns and mow down everything in front of you in an Expendables-like moment, you simply play. You can climb rocks, glide, or sing together. That's Journey's power. It makes small moments large.

Each level is relatively short, but that's to Journey's?and gamers'?benefit. The game offers you very little direction; exploration completes levels. Sometimes the direction is too subtle and leaves you perplexed, until the moment when the puzzle elements come together in your head. That moment of discovery?it's magic.

The Look and Sound of the Journey
The environments through which you guide the main character are simply gorgeous. Deserts, caves, and other locations are arresting in their stylized simplicity; there were several moments when I stopped exploring so that I could just absorb the game's beauty. Developer thatgamecompany has crafted a uniquely stylized world that, much like SEGA's Jet Grind Radio and Jet Set Radio Future, will remain talked about years after its initial release. A powerful soundtrack, ranging from soothing to ominous, backs your play.

Should You Embark On This Journey?
In an era of sprawling plots, and developers' boasts of "70 hours worth of gameplay" it's refreshing to experience a game such as Journey that uses its strengths?tight, concise storytelling and magnificent environments?to craft one of the most refreshing titles to come along since Shadow of the Colossus. The $14.99 Journey may be short?it ends in a couple of hours?but it's one of the best gaming experiences to come along in years, making it a PCMag.com Editor's Choice. Journey is a must-buy.

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