Upon Rhuryc's recommendation, I picked up Journey and played through the game. It's very short, maybe about an hour long, but it tells this amazing story without a single word. You learn about the game's backstory through murals shown to your character in visions--but the actual gameplay is about the "Journey" as you head toward this mysterious glowing mountain in the distance.
What makes the game unique is the companion(s) you meet along the way. You'll meet another player who looks just like you, who also happens to be in the same stage of the game that you are. You don't know his name, where he's from, how old he is. You can't communicate, except for a wordless shout. This review puts it better than I can:
Level Save wrote:Another really interesting thing is the other travelers you may come across. These are other people playing Journey that just happen to be in the same area as you. You will not see their name and have no idea who they are. If you want to hang around and play with them then stick by them. If you do not like how they are playing then just walk away. As I was playing through the first time I ran across about six travelers. Most of them did their own thing but two stuck with me for quite some time. Even without knowing anything about them, a small friendship developed as we experienced Journey. There were times when I wished to be alone but other times when being alone was the most frightening thing ever. The game is done in such a way that having a partner is never an inconvenience and they can never really force you to progress.
My first play through, I didn't even realize they weren't AI's. My second play through, I met a player who stuck with me through the entire game. We helped each other solve puzzles and find items, and stuck with each other when the game got dark and terrifying. When I went AFK suddenly, I came back to find him waiting for me. When I got too far ahead, I stopped, so he could catch up. By the end of the game, when we finished together, I felt more emotional than I could remember being in a long time. I shared this experience with someone.
I know I sound like a nerd but the game is amazing! I've played through it like five more times. You can't even really call it a game. It's just art. The music, the stylish graphics, and the player interaction... all of it is just beautiful beyond my ability to describe it.
I'd love to know who else has played this game. Please avoid posting spoilers!
