REVIEW: Journey 

There are a few games that captivate you to the point of not letting you put the controller down, literally forcing you to finish it in one sitting. Journey is such a game. I cannot express the sense of immersion that I felt while experiencing this masterpiece from start to finish. This is one Journey that every single Playstation 3 owner should take.

Game Details
· Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
· Developer: Thatgamecompany
· ESRB Rating: “E” For Everyone
· Genre: Adventure
· Pros: Immersive and emotionally compelling
· Cons: short playthough, linear levels

Upon starting Journey, the player is given absolutely no idea about what to do or how to do it. ahead of them, there is a massive mountain peak that beckons the player forward, thus starting the journey.

The beauty of the aptly named Journey is in its simplicity. Although the developers could have easily tried to use every button on the controller to give you more actions to perform, this was not the route that they took. Like thatgamecompany's last game, Flower, the player uses only one button along with the sixaxis tilt controls to navigate the world. This time they have added one more button that you can press to chat, or chirp, with another player that you may or may not meet on your quest.

sony computer entertainment

There is never any instruction given to the player about how to play the game, never even any dialogue in a known language (reminiscent of Ico).  This lack of hand holding adds to the feeling that this is an experience that YOU as the player are having. It works beautifully in creating an instance sense of immersion that never lets you go.

Along the way, you may encounter other players that are working on their own journey. You can choose to stay with them to solve puzzles more quickly, or go it alone and find your own way. It is interesting how simply seeing another active player in the desolate landscape is instantly creates a sense of teamwork and excitement.

A Graphical Voyage
The design of the world of Journey as well as the characters within it is excellent. I love the contrasting color pallettes of the red cloaked figures against the harsh desert yellows and the icy blues that come later. There are definitely those "Wow" moments while playing that you just want the action to stop so you can look at the artistry of what the studio has created. For a downloadable game... it is the most beautiful game that I have seen since Trine.

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An Emotional Trip
Throughout the course of my Journey I experienced emotion around every corner, whether surprise when seeing another player, fright at encountering an enemy, or success at reaching the end.

The sound like Flower is very subtle and beautiful. It enhances the experience and never gets in the way, only adding to the emotion that culminates as you reach the mountain's summit. The cello's theme throughout the game create a sense of both sadness and hope that is difficult to express otherwise.

An Epic Yet Brief Excursion
Although I did love every second of my play-through of Journey, I know that many players will rant about how short it is. From start to finish the game takes only 2 hours tops, which is very short by today's standards in games. However, when you consider that we pay 15 dollars to go see a movie in the theater that lasts only 90 minutes, it really isn't so bad. I would much rather have an incredible experience over two hours than a mediocre one that injects "filler" just to make the playtime longer. By making the game shorter thatgamecompany created an experience that can be experienced in one sitting, never taking you out of the world. In fact, although you unlock levels that you can go back to, there is no actual save option in the game. you start from the area that you left off in, but you will do so without the player that you met previously.

Although there is definitely the sense of discovery on your way up the mountain, gameplay in Journey is very linear. This serves to focus the player on the forward path, but players that want to take time to explore may be disapointed.

After you finish Journey, there really isn't much replay value. Although you will meet new players along the way, there are not new areas to explore or items unlocked. Unless you want to get trophies or compete in a Speedrun, there really isn't much to do.

There and Back Again
Despite the game's short length and the linear gameplay, I have to say that I loved every second of my time with Journey. Thatgamecompany again shows that by keeping the gameplay simple and visuals beautiful you can create an amazing experience for the player that is both relaxing and emotional.

Although my Journey is over is it a trip that I will take again in the future? Definitely.

sony computer entertainment

REVIEW: Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception

 Sony Computer Entertainment

When the critically acclaimed Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was released back in 2009, many players, including myself, wondered if the franchise could possibly get any better. Now, with the release of Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception, developer Naughty Dog once again proves to us that it can.

This third outing for Nathan Drake and crew is an outstanding achievement in interactive storytelling and it is truly one of the most beautiful, cinematic, and immersive games that I have ever played.

Game Details

· Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
· Developer: Naughty Dog
· ESRB Rating: “T” For Teen
· Genre: Action Adventure
· Pros: Engaging Story, Incredible graphics
· Cons: controls still need some minor tweaking

Story

   Sony Computer Entertainment

Uncharted 3 follows Nathan Drake and his fellow fortune hunters as they search for an artifact that will guide them to a fabled lost city, or so-called "Atlantis of the Sands." In their way is the sinister Katherine Marlowe, a wealthy adversary from Drake's past who goes in search of the city’s secrets with her own personal army in tow.

The biggest difference in this third chapter is the scope of the action. Whereas the first two games took place mainly within jungles and ruins, this game takes you on a much larger journey, from wet London streets to the blistering Sahara desert. Don’t worry, there are still many spider-infested caves, decaying crypts, and dilapidated ruins to crawl through as well.


General gameplay

Closely mimicking the gameplay formula of its predecessors, Uncharted 3 may feel a little too linear for some tastes, giving the player only one obvious path to follow. Thankfully, there are numerous breathtaking moments that keep the path ahead fresh and exciting - whether you are outracing a horde of deadly spiders, or engaging in a high speed pursuit via horseback, the game always keeps the player looking forward to what may happen next.

Granted, action does get repetitious at times. Whenever you enter a new room, you almost always are required to kill everyone in it and then find a way to climb out of it. Do you see a chandelier or a hanging platform in the room? Guess what... you will be dangling from it at some point. While the level's artistic direction is impressive I would say that the design mechanics are getting to be borderline archaic. We did these same things with Lara Croft over 15 years ago.

The puzzles and problem solving seem to have taken a back seat to the action, which is unfortunate. During Drake’s previous adventures I remember racking my brain to decipher glyphs and scouring my in-game journal for clues. This time, the puzzles seem to be mostly recycled and generic, never requiring much brain power to progress past them. This keeps the action going but takes some of the intelligence out of the equation.


Combat

   Sony Computer Entertainment

Sadly, combat is the one area in which Uncharted 3 could have been improved.

For some strange reason, the developer felt that it was important to add extra animations to Drake’s movement as he is navigating the world. As a result, his control feels less precise than the previous games, giving him an almost “floaty” quality.

The shooting control, which has never really been a series strong point, still feels as loose and problematic as ever. It takes far too long to move the crosshairs when shooting, which means that you have to exit back to third person, move to face the new direction, and then go back into shooting mode again. As you can imagine, this can be a real problem when enemies are constantly in the process of surrounding you.

In another strange design decision, the ability to switch between over the shoulder views by pressing the R3 button has now been removed. In the past games I found this very useful during firefights since it allowed you to easily see around corners. While not a huge issue, it would have been nice if they had simply left it in.
General Info

The main event here is of course the single player campaign which is easily finished in one to two good sittings. This is not necessarily due it being too short, but rather because the plot’s pace will leave you not wanting to put the controller down. As a result, the average player will be able to complete the entire game in less than 6 hours.

As if the main story wasn’t enough there is also a fantastic multiplayer game which lets you go head to head online. These days it seems like games “throw in” a sub-par multiplayer aspect in order to sell more copies, but this multiplayer mode is actually a fully fleshed-out gem. Great map design, lots of characters, and tons of weapons make this one of the best run and gun multiplayer events on the system. Kudos goes to the developer for fine-tuning this addition, adding a great deal of playability even after the main story is finished.

There are again numerous hidden treasures to find throughout the quest, adding to the replay value for all those completionists out there. I did notice that these items were much easier to find than usual, which reinforces the fact that the designers really didn’t want to include anything that would distract the player from the plot’s fast pacing.

Throughout progression, you will unlock excellent bonus featurettes and artwork that chronicle the making of the game. For anyone interested in game creation and the industry in general, this is a huge plus.

Presentation

  Sony Computer Entertainment

Although there are some pesky control issues that plague the game, you will soon pardon these as you become lost in the game’s world. Never have I felt so immersed in a game’s world. In fact, more than once I caught myself leaning over in the direction of the action that was taking place on screen.

Graphics

The Uncharted series is known for its ability to continually push what is graphically possible and with Uncharted 3 Naughty Dog has raised this bar yet again. There are many moments throughout the game where you will want to just stop and look around at the beauty and artistry of what was created. Specifically, there are some truly amazing environmental effects with water and sand that do nothing less than amaze.

Specifically, I found the lighting in the game to be spectacular. The most amazing modeling, animation, and acting would be meaningless without being properly lit and Naughty Dog nails this every time. Whether it is light filtered through tree tops, moonlight on the ocean, or the relentless sun baking down on the Sahara, you will feel as if you are there.

Sound


 Sony Computer Entertainment

The cinematic score that accompanies the action does a superb job of highlighting the epic sense of adventure. As you go up against seemingly insurmountable odds, you will feel like the action hero that you have always wanted to be with your own musical theme backing you up. Next to Skyrim, this is the best music in games this year.

The voice acting, with the likes of Nolan North and Claudia Black, doesn’t get any better than this. The humorous and at times touching script allows for them to give a wider range to the characters that they know so well, creating moments of pathos rarely seen in games thus far. From Nathan’s witty quips in the heat of battle to an emotional farewell with a loved one, you will feel for these characters.

Overall Score

Despite a few minor flaws, Uncharted 3 is a stellar game that ranks up there with the system’s best. It is the kind of game that is played for the cinematic experience, and if you enjoy the adventure of an Indiana Jones film or the action of "The Bourne Identity" you will have a blast. Naughty Dog has once again crafted an immensely satisfying experience that blends the best parts of movies and games together in a seamless package of thrills and emotion.