1) Journey
Ethereal. Serene. Absorbing. Those are but a few of the superlatives I could attribute to Journey; the third entry into thatgamecompany’s indie trifecta after Flow and Flower. Devoid of a HUD, clear-cut narrative or even a firm objective, the title is undeniably unusual — idiosyncratic, even. But what lends Journey it’s raison d’être is its defining, minimalist beauty.
If the essence of video games is escapism, then thatgamecompany’s breathtaking release enthralled me like no other. It’s mysterious, intriguing and downright majestic. Jenova Chen’s vision is realised to perfection, and though Journey glided onto the ageing PlayStation 3 in 2012, it exacted some of the most awe-inspiring visuals of the last generation.
What infuses Journey with that emotionally poignant strand, though, is it’s ability to resonate with anyone. Whatever culture background we come from, all of us have been through a personal pilgrimage of our own; one that defines who we are. As such, Journey taps into that universal emotion expertly, and projects a profound experience for us to enjoy.
Without doubt, the game will mean different things to different people. There are those who believe Journey shouldn’t be labelled as a game at all — and, honestly, that’s understandable. But with some truly novel drop in, drop out multiplayer coupled with an array of potential interpretations, Journey is a unique, deeply personal experience; and that, is what this medium is all about.
-Michael Briers