Journey (Review)

You have only one goal in Journey: reaching a summit of a mysterious mountain. How and when you'll get there is entirely up to you.

Journey has some of the most memorable visuals crafted in a video game. The art direction in this game creates an engaging story through the use of minimalist visuals and a memorable musical motif. Thatgamecompany has a knack for creating games that offer sublime experiences for all gamers, and Journey does not disappoint.

There's no time limit, life bars, or any HUD, only the landscape and your cloaked figure.

When beginning your trek, you'll encounter seldom structures that act as guide posts to which direction you should be traveling. As you progress, magnificent cities and strange relics start to grow within the landscape, enclosing you in Journey's picturesque and beautiful world. 

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To move quickly through Journey's vast open spaces, you're required to fuse talisman-like bits into your scarf. When you do, you can float freely for a set amount of time, but it's always dependent on how many scarf-extending power ups you've found. Exploration by floatation is encouraged, especially if you want to reach some of the out-of-the way plateaus - or if you just happen to be in an exploratory mood.

Your character has an ability to sing a libretto-like communique to summon bits onto his (hers?) scarf. This musical motive is also used to interact with the many living or dormant beings in the world, which seem to resonate and awaken to your call. You'll need to activate those living entities to make them form platforms, bridges, and sometimes use them to piggyback across vast vertical and horizontal spaces. 

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Anytime through the adventure other players may drop in via Internet and tag along the way. Crossing Journey's lands with two players presents a unique opportunity for a bonding experience. Because both characters can only communicate non-verbally, some wonderful and touching moments are bound to happen. Moments like surfing on dunes and propelling each other while soaring in enclosed canyons, or avoiding the stone dragon guardians that feast on your talisman-infused scarfs. 

For an extra challenge some players forgo extending their scarf, which makes the game more two player dependent.

Journey's fully orchestrated music centers around its titular theme. This allows the score to progress and grow, reflecting your character's inner and outer journey. The music cues to match the events happening on the screen, changing from solo instruments to encompassing synchronization, which creates a delightful, sometimes ominous, and highly emotional score. The music even changes in texture and fullness when the second player is around, revealing the entirety of Journey's award-winning score. 

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The ending to this game is truly stunning. I don't want to spoil it for you, so you'll have to partake on your own journey. I'll only say this: this is an exceptional and emotional title in which you (the payer) are witnessing something wonderful as the game progresses to its smooth conclusion. Just like Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, this game uses digital interactive media to provide the most sincere and reflective gaming experience possible. 

A must play.

If you want to get more for your buck, I recommend Journey Collector's Edition. The disk sells for about $30, has Flow, Flower, Journey, and extensive bonus features – musical scores, artwork, developer's commentary and three mini games. Not bad for the price. You can also export all the game's music and the artwork onto your PS3. 

It's a definitive buy for anyone interested in experiencing three of the most unique games ever made. Or for anyone who has been looking to answer the question: Are video games considered art?

Developer: Thatgamecompany, SCE Santa Monica Studio

Publisher: SCE

Platform: PS3

Released: 2001

Genre: Adventure/puzzle

PsyhoNauts (Review)

"You're moving like molasses going up hill, in January - with crutches!" - Coach.

This mind-busting adventure follows Rasputin (Raz): a young boy born with psychic powers, that has run away from home to Rock Psychic Summer Camp. This is no ordinary postcard hideaway -- the camp is secretly a training ground for gifted child psychics who are training to be international psychic spies.
 
Tim Schafer's comedic knack for story telling lends itself nicely this sort of stylized game. That's to be expected from the mind that designed The Secret of Monkey Island. The character voicing in this game is cleverly written, and superbly executed. All the personalities found in Rock Psychic Summer Camp are prone to dispensing witty whimsical banter.

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The campsite acts as a central hub, It's where Raz can freely frolic about and interact with an eccentric cast of characters, while delving deep into the mystery of missing brains, and international psycho-espionage.

The game really takes off when the mission to become a fully fledged Psychonaut calls for Raz to delve into psyches of the various characters he encounters within the camp. Each mind Raz enters is a stage. Each stage is a playground of discovery and danger. Unique personalities have wonderful minds, and the game's colourful graphics, imaginative design, and delightfully quirky music attests to that.

The game's designers love to play around with perception a lot in this game. This play-on-worlds shifts the title into an unique conceptual playground. Gigantic sea destroyers and war planes suspended in mid battle clutter the landscape. A multidimensional cube transforms into a platforming stage, allowing Raz to walk it in 360 rotation - while blasting away an abomination. In each mind, there are nooks and crannies that require Raz to return with a new assortment of powers, adding another layer of cranial penetration to an already massive adventure. 

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In my favourite level, The Milkman Conspiracy, Raz has to navigate a rural neighborhood, while avoiding intrusive Milkman personalities. Raz needs to find disguises to trick enemies into believing he's part of their factions. The entirety of the level is suspended in the sky, with streets and houses inverted and folded onto themselves - think Inception. Another level places Raz inside the mind of a giant Lungfish: a place where an entire island population of Lungopolis city is terrorized by a gigantic flying Luchador moth. If you're a fan of giant monster movies, you'll feel at home in this wacky level. 

Brainwalking about, you'll encounter clever puzzles, raging censors - who roam about keeping out thoughts that don't belong (Raz), figments of memories, personal demons, and even emotional baggage. With each mind conquered, Raz upgrades his psyhonaut badges and rank, which in turn unleash his impressive psychic repertoire.

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Fierce foes bogging you down? Set 'em on fire with Pyrokinesis. Buried under junk? Move it with Telekinesis. Need to reach a far off ledge? Form a thought bubble and levitate around. All the powers come in handy when trying to reach the highest rank possible. And all the unique abilities gained throughout the game will be helpful when dealing with local camp wildlife such as, levitating black bears, and pyrotechnic prone cougars. 

How do I know all that? Clairvoyance, of course!

Psychonauts will tickle your brain with a hallucinogenic toothbrush, wiping your memory cortex clean of any previous crusty gaming experiences. This crown of all adventurers is a shinning deco for your cranial plate.

"The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts." - Marcus Aurelius. 

Developer:    Double Fine Productions, Bobcat Productions
Publisher:     Majesco Entertainment
Platform:       PS2, PC, Xbox 360
Released:     2005
Genre:          Platformer

Meaningful Video Game Soundscapes

Whenever I think retrospectively about memorable video games their catchy sounds and tunes always infiltrate my ears. Think Zelda's found treasure theme... Did you hear it?

I believe music has the ability to transcend visual stimuli and reach us on a personal level like no other art form. For no other reason, but to satisfy my nostalgic auditory nerve (and hopefully yours), here are my five favourite video game soundtracks – follow the links and perk up those ears.

-Chrono Trigger-  



The tick tick of Chrono's intro clock has resonated with me since I first played this masterpiece RPG back in mid-90s. You'll shift through time carried by a melodic ebb of mystical tapestry of sound. Mysterious, peculiar and delightful.

-Mega Man X- 

 

I'll remember this game's rip-rolling intro tune until the outskirts of time. Every stage has its own signature sound. Many Mega Man games came prior, but the music in this one blasts them all away. Speedy and engaging.

-Castlevania: SOTN-



The uniqueness of this game's soundtrack eclipses many lesser sonatas. Delightfully evil. The variety and quality of this instrumental masterpiece is mystical. Inside Dracula's Castle a passionate concerto resides; leeching on lesser minds.

-Xenogears-

Xenogears is a very thematic game. Its soundtrack will encompass your senses, pulling you further into the infinity of this JRPG Mechopera. Fully orchestrated, dynamic and bold, this one needs to be heard. A total outer journey.
    
-Guilty Gear- 



The entire Guilty Gear series is known for its edgy Heavy Metal infused arrangements. This game started it all. When I first heard this game's music, I thought a livid Japanese band invaded my room through the speakers. Hyper melodic headbanger!
 
 I'll close with this: Great video game music has an exceptional ability to pull gamers further into imaginary digital worlds. The best soundtracks allow our memories to linger amongst the notes, recalling places we've been before or want to visit. Enjoy for all time, all the time.

Retro Gaming the New Cool

Do you remember that video game where you smashed into buildings with a dump truck? Can you recall what Link's Ocarina sounds like when playing to Epona?  Did you ever buy games from Toys "R" Us, by bringing a barcode ticket to the cash?

If you answered yes to even two on those questions, you’re probably an experienced nerd with a room full of nostalgic video games and old systems.

Good news! You can finally come out from your digital dwelling, because retro gaming is back in the limelight. It’s no secret that a new breed of gamers is emerging from the gaming lot: 30-somethings with a bundle of disposable cash, and a yearning for retro gaming. And the few who know how to cater to these retro-maniacs are bound to triple their score.

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“I still have my very first Nintendo and Super Nintendo systems, and I’m always on the lookout for original and rare games to add to my collection,” says Kevin Nunes, gamer.

Most retro gamers still prefer to play their old consoles over their newer counterparts, and take great care in keeping their treasured old-school systems running. Not only that, they also love to plug in their classic consoles into older CRT TV’s (those bulbous ones with extensive back-plates). Real retro gamers know HD displays and aged consoles don’t play along.  

Because of this, privately owned gaming stores are embracing the current resurgence of retro culture, and offer not only vintage games and systems, but also accessories such as video cables, AC power adapters, and lots and lots of controllers. You many even get that old Nintendo console fixed and cleaned - no furious blowing required. 

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“There’s something charming and familiar about those old games,” says Helder Martins, gamer. “Besides, somewhere between the never ending sequels and replicas the gaming industry lost its creative and daring spirit.”

Retro games may not have the best graphics, or the tightest and responsive controls. And some of the more sought after titles can be bought for a hefty price tag of up to $250. However, this does not discourage many of the old-school gamers from purchasing the elusive games they grew up with. After all, those games were made at a time when creativity was the sole driving force of the industry.

It’s not only nerdy 30-somethings that are seeking out vintage games: it’s also the younger generation. Classic and appealing characters such as Mario and Sonic have been in the spotlight for decades, prompting savvy youngsters to trace the history of their beloved favourites. And many gamers can attest that the quest of tracking down rarities is almost as fun as playing through them during Saturday mornings.

Check out these retro-filled gaming dwellings in Toronto:

A&C Games: http://www.acgamesonline.com/home/ 

Game Shack: http://www.gameshack.ca/ 

Fantastic Flea Market (Dixie Outlet Mall): http://bit.ly/17IFXJc