novartis antiquate: Review: 'Journey' to the heart of gaming

No other game has won me over me faster than PlayStation game Journey. In less than ten minutes, I?m realizing that I?ve never smiled this much in my video game career. It?s simple, it?s creative, it?s emotional, it?s inviting, and most of all, it?s captivating.

The hooded protagonist is immediately ?ung into a land of rolling sand dunes, only I?ve never seen sand dunes this beautiful before: not in a movie, a game, a photograph, or even in real life.

Over dinner last night, I mentioned to my wife that this game is simple enough that my 2-year-old would enjoy playing it, yet it evokes so much emotion that even my wife, who is not a fan of video games, would likely be more smitten with the game than a pair of brand new Steven Maddens.

The best thing about this game is its return to the roots of video gaming, or rather, it?s journey to the place where video games should have started. Most people who know me are aware that I?m a massive fan of the Legend of Zelda series. I love the exploration, the hunting for objects, the battling of large and dangerous foes. Yet so far (and this might be heresy), minute for minute, I?ve loved my nameless hooded character?s journey more than Link and his princess hunting.

The fact that my red-caped crusader remains mute and unnamed adds to the emotion of the game. I am, for the ?rst time, my own character. I am, from the opening scene of Journey, deeply and irrevocably a part of the game, woven and inseparable instead of aloft and spectating.

Journey is not just a name; it?s a description of the experience. The landscapes are seemingly never-ending. It gives the impression that you can pick any direction you?d like and you would be ?ne to continue on your expedition of discovery, yet you always seem to be traversing the correct path at all times. There?s never a sense of being lost, which, in a game full of such vast environments, is an amazing accomplishment for both creator and gamer.

Yet I haven?t even touched on the most amazing part of this game: the multiplayer aspect. It?s not what you?d initially expect, either. Upon searching a particular area, I happened upon another crimson caper like myself. It was a ?eeting glance, and from a distance as well, but I was sure of what I had seen. I ?ung myself as fast as I could go, up and over dunes, and I found, quite possibly, love. This other character was controlled by a player somewhere, yet there was no name attached, and there was no communication between us other than simple tones with the push of a button.

We hit it off immediately, and we explored, darted to and fro, and created intricate dances reminiscent of Wall-E and EVE?s romantic scenes in space. It was, quite simply, evocative. I can only imagine that the other player felt the same way. From that point on we stuck together, showing each other our different discoveries. At one point, my partner taught me how to grasp a special objective that I, on my own, had struggled to reach. With our simple tones back and forth, I expressed gratitude, and he/she, satisfaction. Touching would be an inadequate adjective.

When it was time for me to sign off, I felt horrible abandoning my friend. We had explored much together, learned new things and shared incredible experiences. It was akin to graduating or getting a new job and leaving good friends behind, and I?m sure that my side-kick was equally saddened by my loss. My hope is that I will encounter another individual who has experienced this same loss, that we might continue together where we had left off.

The elements of simplicity, exploration, and intimate teamwork create a gaming experience that is enthralling and invigorating. The beautiful graphics and intricate designs are merely the icing on an already amazing gaming experience. Journey is, for me at least, the new yardstick by which future games will be measured.

For $15 (only available on the PlayStation Network, so far), I almost feel as though I?ve underpaid. Do the game developers have a tip jar or a donation fund? I can?t wait to see what else they can come up with.

Ryan Biggs is a regular contributor to Nerdvana, the East Valley Tribune?s science and technology website. Nerdvana focuses on the East Valley?s semi-conductor, defense, aerospace and bio-science industries as well as fun stuff for nerds. Ryan?s passion is cars.