Journey is an adventure game developed by Thatgamecompany and was initially launched for PlayStation 3 through PlayStation Network in March 2012. Later on, it was also made available for PlayStation 4 in July 2015.

Gameplay

In Journey, the player assumes the role of a hooded character in a desert. The game starts with an introduction where the player sees the hooded figure sitting in the sand with a mountain in the distance. To reach the mountain, which is the ultimate goal of the game, the player must move through various sections in a linear manner. The player can walk in the levels, control the camera, and jump with one button. Additionally, the player can make a wordless shout or musical note with another button, which varies in length and volume depending on how it is pressed. The controls are shown pictorially at the beginning of the game. Notably, throughout the game, except for the credits and title screen, there are no spoken or written words.

Story

Journey tells a story without any words through its gameplay and visual-only cutscenes. The game begins with the player’s character standing near a small sand dune in a vast desert. Upon reaching the top of the dune, the character can see a large, mysterious mountain in the far distance with a glowing crevice that splits its peak. As the character approaches the mountain, they discover the ruins of a once-thriving civilization that has been eroded by sand over time. At the end of each area, the traveler can rest on scattered stones and have visions of meeting a large, white-robed figure in a circular room. The walls of the ruins are adorned with artwork that depicts the rise and fall of the player character’s civilization, which also mirrors the player’s own journey. Venturing into the remains of a once sprawling city at the base of the mountain, the player must also deal with roaming, ancient, and hostile automaton weapons left over from a war that ended the civilization.

How long is Journey?

When it comes to the primary goals, Journey typically takes about 2 hours to complete. However, if you’re a dedicated gamer who wants to explore every aspect of the game, it might take you approximately 5 and a half hours to achieve 100% completion.

Reception

Journey achieved great success both critically and commercially around the globe. Upon its launch, it quickly became the quickest-selling game ever on the PlayStation Store in both North America and Europe. Prior to its release, the game won multiple awards for the best downloadable game at the E3 2011 from respected sources such as 1UP.com, GameSpy, and GameTrailers. Following its publication, the game was extensively recognized at the end-of-the-year awards.