What is this game about?

[n13e86]

I'm not talking about some deeper meaning, or anything like that.
I am talking about the beginning.
What am I supposed to do? Why am I supposed to do that, specifically? And how does the game communicate that?

[Corvid79]

You are suppose to just follow the story. You begin in the tutorial section essentially, collect the white symbols to grow your characters scarf and this allows you to fly for a bit. Use the flying cloth remnants to provide scarf energy so you can proceed through the game a bit quicker. You're suppose to do this specifically because the ultimate goal is to get a scarf as long as you can, learn the historical past of the wayfarer and journey through the present.

[Zapprex]

There is a giant mountain with a beacon of light shining into the sky dominating every landscape, go there.

[fox]

你在起点的时候，只需要跟着感觉迈开脚步，不要在乎目标，想去哪里就去哪里，想做什么就做什么，没有什么是必需去做的，没有什么是不允许做的。最终，我们会在终点看到你。

[n13e86]

Originally posted by free:

你在起点的时候，只需要跟着感觉迈开脚步，不要在乎目标，想去哪里就去哪里，想做什么就做什么，没有什么是必需去做的，没有什么是不允许做的。最终，我们会在终点看到你。

That doesn't work for me.
I -need- a goal.
Otherwise, there's no reason for me to engage with whatever this game is trying to do.

[Onion Budgie]

Originally posted by n13e86:

Originally posted by free:

你在起点的时候，只需要跟着感觉迈开脚步，不要在乎目标，想去哪里就去哪里，想做什么就做什么，没有什么是必需去做的，没有什么是不允许做的。最终，我们会在终点看到你。

That doesn't work for me.
I -need- a goal.
Otherwise, there's no reason for me to engage with whatever this game is trying to do.

Your goal is to reach the top of the mountain. Think of it as a journey through life. You start out knowing nothing, happy, blissful. Gradually, through the levels, you learn experience, and life knocks you, sets you back. By the time you reach the foot of the mountain, you're jaded, struggling, you know what has to be done and you're not sure if you can do it. Then you ascend. Will you travel with one companion all the way through? Or will you travel with many? Will you choose to travel alone? It's the journey of life.

[n13e86]

In case with life, I have to take actions in order to stay alive.
With a game, playing it is a choice - and I can choose otherwise.
So, not a suitable analogy.

[Onion Budgie]

Originally posted by n13e86:

In case with life, I have to take actions in order to stay alive.
With a game, playing it is a choice - and I can choose otherwise.
So, not a suitable analogy.

This is really not the game for you, then, if you're analysing playing it to this degree. It's supposed to be a relaxed, contemplative, joyful experience. Get a refund, my friend, and find something more suited to your taste.

[Corvid79]

Originally posted by n13e86:

In case with life, I have to take actions in order to stay alive.
With a game, playing it is a choice - and I can choose otherwise.
So, not a suitable analogy.

It's not for us as players/enjoyers of the game (s) to sell the game to you. Unless you purchased the game with never any intention of playing it, you obviously had an intention of playing it. Maybe because the "hype" because it's well known or because you are in fact curious as to the point of the game, the moment you hit that "buy" button you had an intention of playing. Journey is a very impressive game to me, but it might be a bore to you, either way the community is large enough it's really no skin off our teeth whether you play the game or not. My only suggestion is like Onion Budgie said get a refund and find something else, but in addition to that maybe decide before you buy.

[n13e86]

I had, indeed, an intention of playing.
Before, I only knew that it has a great soundtrack, and a vague idea that it involves little (none at all?) words and some, well, journey.
What I encountered inside, however, did not feel like a game at all.
Or, at least, it was definitely pushing boundaries of what it has to include to be still considered a game.
(I did get a refund, in the end. And I am grateful for the suggestion - I wouldn't think of it otherwise)

[Corvid79]

Originally posted by n13e86:

I had, indeed, an intention of playing.
Before, I only knew that it has a great soundtrack, and a vague idea that it involves little (none at all?) words and some, well, journey.
What I encountered inside, however, did not feel like a game at all.
Or, at least, it was definitely pushing boundaries of what it has to include to be still considered a game.
(I did get a refund, in the end. And I am grateful for the suggestion - I wouldn't think of it otherwise)

There are many different genres with games and when it comes to video games it's definitely not one size fits all. I play a variety of games (especially considering I'm an old school gamer). Journey is truly a different kind of game that is best if you have someone that accompanies you along for the ride (or sand surfing). True it's not your shoot them up or jump platform type game but it's still a game that had many developers working hard to ensure a well meaning experience and beautiful game play. In fact Journey originally was released on the Playstation years ago. It did push boundaries, you are right about that, but it pushed boundaries in new ways. First "silence is golden" do you need to have dialogue or text for it to be considered a game, no and it proves that. Second "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" the game didn't hit the right spot for you, but for many it did. I feel sorry that you didn't get the same beautiful experience most people did, which brings me to number three "to each is own".

[n13e86]

"Personal preferences" often feel like a refusal to answer.
And they usually come down to - which parts you enjoyed, and how much of the negative side you personally can ignore and still get that enjoyment.
My attempt to play this game was marked by the constant feeling of discomfort, not knowing why I'm even doing what I'm doing. And it increased significantly when I found out it was, by default, multiplayer - knowing that someone else is seeing me trying to figure out the game felt unpleasant.
What other side of it I missed? What else is there that I was supposed to experience instead (and either like or not like)?

[Corvid79]

Originally posted by n13e86:

"Personal preferences" often feel like a refusal to answer.
And they usually come down to - which parts you enjoyed, and how much of the negative side you personally can ignore and still get that enjoyment.
My attempt to play this game was marked by the constant feeling of discomfort, not knowing why I'm even doing what I'm doing. And it increased significantly when I found out it was, by default, multiplayer - knowing that someone else is seeing me trying to figure out the game felt unpleasant.
What other side of it I missed? What else is there that I was supposed to experience instead (and either like or not like)?

The premise of the game is simple, yes the first time (not sure how many times you played it or if you even finished the game) is wandering around this vast open world like post war atmosphere figuring out the history behind what happened through scenes with the ancestor while attempting to make it to this mountain which is the goal. You're born, you die, you make it to what I consider heaven and then you are reborn to do the same all over again. The other person just as confused from the start as you is suppose to be a source of comfort as you figure out together what the game is about. Each time you play you get more experience and your robe gets more tiers (prints on it) up to four. If you collect all white symbols you get the pretty white robe. If you practice you can get very well at flying and some break the boundaries of the game and go out of bounds. There are highs/lows the whole way just like life. If you had the chance to play with me you might of enjoyed the game more as I am a very fun goofy little traveller. At least you admitted it is in fact a game lol!

[n13e86]

I haven't played it to the end (finished after the underground passage?).
It remained as "mysterious" as at the start.
Was I supposed to figure something out from those cryptic cut scenes?
I really don't like wordless narratives. They make me feel like I am missing something, and unsure if there is even a narrative in the first place.

[Corvid79]

I will say this, you seem like a an intelligent person that doesn't like time being wasted which is important this earned you a heart-warming award on your profile from me to you, have fun and just stick to the games you enjoy! 😊

[n13e86]

Originally posted by Corvid79:

I will say this, you seem like a an intelligent person that doesn't like time being wasted which is important this earned you a heart-warming award on your profile from me to you, have fun and just stick to the games you enjoy! 😊

And that's the problem - I was sticking to the games I enjoy for so long, that now that I'm trying to find something new, everything feels wrong.
Games are either extremely difficult, or just weird.