Journey review

I’m sitting on the sand. No this isn’t a First Choice package holiday but a lonely place. I’m surrounded by sand dunes as the wind whistles past my cape and I am alone - at least for now. This is Journey and although it’s short it’s very, very sweet indeed. It’s not so much of a game either as an experience. In fact, you could play this on an old SNES controller as there’s only move, jump and the option to play a musical note that wakes things around you and makes things happen.

I can’t really tell you the plot as there isn’t one - although you will probably read your own metaphors into the game as you walk around the sand battling wind, finding glowing glyphs that make your scarf grow longer and let pieces of ticker tape latch onto you that allow you to jump and eventually fly. What I read into the game is that you are ascending to your final destination and if you accept the terms and agreements of Sony’s online play you will occasionally also be joined by a fellow traveller from somewhere in the world who is also embarking on the same journey as you.

As you move through the land it’s not just sand that you have to trudge through. You will float through seemingly underwater worlds, fly across vast valleys and persevere through snowy valleys. There’s little exploration here and no enemies as such in the true form of the word but there’s something about it that’s compelling - mainly due to the art direction and music. Play this on a big HDTV and you’ll really benefit as it’s a visual treat. Sand moves underfoot, wind howls around you and your little adventurer has a personality all of his own that’s an air of calm. The orchestral soundtrack is also so beautiful that you could just be moved to tears as you get near to the uplifting ending.

You won’t be playing this for long but it’s an experience you won’t forget. For what it does it gets 9 out of 10.

Related: Rez HD review