System: PS3
Dev: ThatGameCompany
Pub: Sony
Release: March 13, 2012
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p

While I have been praising the game's seemingly open interpretation structure and mesmerizing artistic style, one simply could not feel any of the things I have described without the melodic music echoing throughout the game. From the opening menu to the final score, you are engulfed in a deep calm. So much, in fact, that many could use the soundtrack from Journey as a lullaby album for an infant, or even for oneself. Mix the wondrous music with the realistic sounds of walking through sand, fabric flapping in the wind, or the random sounds the "fabric creatures" make, and Journey has one of the strongest audio presentations this year so far.

After so much praise, you might assume there's nothing wrong with Journey. You'd be right to a certain degree, if length wasn't a factor. However, the game is incredibly short. Yet on your first playthrough you will find yourself immensely satisfied with the amount of content, because after completion you will most likely begin a new journey immediately. This is a testament to the game's play value.

Not once in my repeated playthroughs did I find myself disappointed with the experience. Each time, I was absorbing more of the surroundings and more of the spiritual essence of the game. It's because of this that playthrough time might not be a true factor in the overall value of the game. Ten bucks for a game that potentially may show you a different side of the gaming industry as well as yourself? I think that's more than paying for itself.

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I have had the privilege to enjoy many different types of video game experiences in my lifetime, from the mundane to the gorgeous. Yes, there have been experiences like Journey before, but it has been far too long since we've seen one. If thatgamecompany continues to deliver games that challenge boundaries and give players a deep understanding of their own selves, then I will always be among the first to sing their praises.

By Matt Walker Editor-In-Chief @slypstream Date: March 13, 2012