Music and sound effects [FIXED]

[Ryusennin]

The bugs I reported in this discussion have been fixed.

If you still encounter bugs with the latest patch, please provide video recordings of PC and console versions like I did, instead of posting silly comments like "the patch is worse" or "it sounds awful", which don't help the developers.

---

Back in June 2020, the initial Steam release of Journey was disheartening. Compared to the PS3/PS4 versions, the interactive music was broken beyond recognition. This was (unfortunately) not news. Those bugs had been around since the initial 2019 release on the Epic store.

In short, the music in Journey is made of streams that normally play simultaneously and complement each other, depending on what happens in the chapter. But in the PC port, some streams didn't trigger or they stayed locked in a loop until the end of the chapter. In some chapters, like the pink desert, the background music stopped playing after a while.

Some sound effects were also broken. For example, in the mountain chapter where you have to hide behind some headstones to protect yourself from the wind, the sound of the wind gusts was cut short before the wind actually stopped. In some chapters, the reverb was producing a constant, annoying loud rumble.

It appeared that, possibly for licensing reasons, the whole audio engine had to be rewritten on PC, and that task proved to be the hardest part of the port. Of course it doesn't excuse the fact that the situation was left unresolved for a whole year, but it's sad to say that most Epic customers never complained or even noticed.

Being very familiar with the console versions, I decided that this frustrating PC port deserved more than a passing effort and I published a critical review as well as a bug report on this forum, which gathered quite some support.

Original review: https://steamcommunity.com/id/ryusennin/recommended/638230/

I was then quickly contacted by publisher Annapurna, which (to their credit) didn't try to minimize the issues and asked me for feedback about the most glaring audio problems. Over the following weeks, I provided them with a thorough list of video comparisons to highlight what was broken and what was expected.

After testing a couple of private patches, I'm happy to report that the latest public patch released in July either fixes or largely improves most of the issues (big and small) I had reported on this forum. It is not 100% perfect, but it makes this version much more enjoyable and certainly recommended. Thanks to Annapurna and Nathan Gary for taking up the task of producing a better port despite a rocky start.

The remaining unresolved issues are:

1. The desert flower that is not correctly playing the four notes of Journey's main theme.
2. The dark piece of ground that is still visible when walking into the white fog at the end.
3. The wind sound that (sometimes, hard to reproduce) can be heard during the credits.

For the record, here's a list of several music and sound problems that were fixed or improved by the July patch.

---

CHAPTER 2: PINK DESERT

---

o Many music streams were missing, reverb was broken, music would stop.

PS4 version
https://youtu.be/So5_WUCCeb8

PC version [June release, bugged]
https://youtu.be/BEKHgAUr72U

PC version [July patch, fixed]
https://youtu.be/VDuhrs0PYEE

o Comets were not producing any sound.

PS4 version
https://youtu.be/So5_WUCCeb8?t=165

PC version [private patch, bugged]
https://youtu.be/VhTsPlnOBEo

PC version [July patch, fixed]
https://youtu.be/-FfgsQI_NMc?t=90

---

CHAPTER 3: SUNKEN CITY

---

o The guitar intro riff at the start of each of the three sections was missing.

PS4 version
https://youtu.be/aEMEMZdDpUo?t=10

PC version [June release, bugged]
https://youtu.be/4u3E48HHp2I?t=11

PC version [July patch, fixed]
https://youtu.be/TPhDKhw6Fpo

---

CHAPTER 5: MOUNTAIN

---

o When hiding behind the headstones, the wind sound was broken.

PS4 version
https://youtu.be/TM24ycxhB-o

PC version [June release, bugged]
https://youtu.be/dsCD0qulwWg

PC version [July patch, fixed]
https://youtu.be/-F6zvdPiq80

o The music theme at the start of the "graveyard" sequence was wrong.

PS4 version
https://youtu.be/uSe17b6v2jY

PC version [June release, bugged]
https://youtu.be/W41N-woRrCQ

PC version [July patch, fixed]
https://youtu.be/N24CyVwCYaY

o On the sidewalk, the wind sound was broken and the music theme was wrong.

PS4 version
https://youtu.be/gd2RzVMSmMo

PC version [June release, bugged]
https://youtu.be/XXoXiIJzHF0

PC version [July patch, improved]
https://youtu.be/LkBFOe48j80

o In the snow storm, the reverb was broken (SPOILER).

PS4 version
https://youtu.be/Q8Nmegq8r14

PC version [June release, bugged]
https://youtu.be/uV_UUy2s0jk

PC version [July patch, fixed]
https://youtu.be/A8n4m7U3Rxg

o After the snow storm, the scarf animation was desynchronized with the music (SPOILER).

PS4 version
https://youtu.be/rq4UKYhsmSI

PC version [June release, bugged]
https://youtu.be/-XFH3kyXK90

PC version [July patch, fixed]
https://youtu.be/f68XbenKr_w

o When crossing the mountain top, the reverb was broken and the footsteps were loud until the end (when they should have been silent). Those bugs have been fixed in the July patch. As mentioned above, the only remaining issue is the ground that should not be visible.

[No videos because spoilers.]

[Katanalevy]

Thanks for posting this. I was thinking of picking it up again here to see if the audio issues had been fixed since the Epic version and I'm disappointed to hear they have not.

[Ryusennin]

Here's a concrete example of how wrong the sound is in this port.

PC version [broken sound]
https://youtu.be/BEKHgAUr72U

PS4 version [correct sound]
https://youtu.be/So5_WUCCeb8

Some notes to the developers about the PC version:

1. At 0:40 there's a loud "bam" when moving forward. It's reproducible by walking back and forward again.

2. The loud sound of the big machinery (at the end of the level) is already audible around the upgrade, although you're not supposed to hear it at this distance on PS3/PS4.

3. The theme that plays when approaching the upgrade is clearly incomplete. Only the cello is audible, the rest of the music is silent. After the theme is over, the background music doesn't resume, but you can still hear the loud machinery.

And that's just one example, there are other situations like this in most chapters, especially the final one which is an audio mess. Not only the sound engine doesn't work as intended, but the PC players are actually missing big chunks of the original music.

[.gif]

Thanks. Your report is a prime example on how graphics aren't everything.

I'm itching to purchase it and see if my system has this issue... I can't decide because while I'm aware of this issue not many people seem to be complaining about it.

The sound mix on the first video is really distracting and migraine-inducing.

[Ryusennin]

I would suggest you to get it, as I can't imagine for a second that publisher Annapurna will not ultimately fix such glaring issues. The PC is an important market and they have an obligation to not only respect the customer, but also the original artists.

I was mentioning earlier the buggy sound of the Flower in the pink desert. It might look anecdotal, but it shows the attention to detail that was present in the original versions and that is lacking in the PC port.

PS4 version [desert flower, correct sound]
https://youtu.be/6RqEs7d8l5E

PC version [desert flower, broken sound]
https://youtu.be/MrYgU2zaP7E

[.gif]

Originally posted by Ryusennin:

I would suggest you to get it, as I can't imagine for a second that publisher Annapurna will not ultimately fix such glaring issues. The PC is an important market and they have an obligation to not only respect the customer, but also the original artists.

I strongly agree that the original artists' work should be respected.

So it's very unfortunate how there are examples where a game was ported and left in a broken state, or was remastered and the original art direction got butchered.

With that said I don't know how Annapurna handles the games they publish because I never played any of them yet. If I purchase Journey as it is now, there's no way to be sure that Annapurna will fix the sound issues and they'll already have my money anyway.

To make matters worse, they had a year to fix it since the EGS launch.

And to top it all, Journey was given away for free at the PS Store. The only reason I didn't play it yet is because my PS4 is currently borrowed.

I, and many others I suppose, would be grateful if someone at Annapurna acknowledged these issues.

Originally posted by Ryusennin:

I was mentioning earlier the buggy sound of the Flower in the pink desert. It might look anecdotal, but it shows the attention to detail that was present in the original versions and that is lacking in the PC port.

PS4 version [desert flower, correct sound]

PC version [desert flower, broken sound]

Thanks for the time you're taking to record this, I hope it's noticed! And soon. :)

[Useless]

this is enbarassing

[Liandri]

It looks like there are no plans to fix anything. Perhaps this is one of reasons why they went with EGS for 1 year exclusivity.

I suggest people to send reports to their official contact channels.
http://annapurna.pictures/interactive/ (bottom of the page)

Also maybe even report the game on its Steam store page for being broken.

[.gif]

Originally posted by Liandri:

It looks like there are no plans to fix anything. Perhaps this is one of reasons why they went with EGS for 1 year exclusivity.

I suggest people to send reports to their official contact channels.
http://annapurna.pictures/interactive/ (bottom of the page)

Also maybe even report the game on its Steam store page for being broken.

Thanks, I just sent a message to them. I doubt I'll get a proper answer since I didn't purchase it yet, but I really really want this fixed.

I saw some complaints on Facebook regarding audio issues when it launched at EGS last year, and it appears none were answered.

[EXPERIMENTONGOD]

Originally posted by Ryusennin:

Here's a concrete example of how wrong the sound is in this port.

PC version [broken sound]
https://youtu.be/BEKHgAUr72U

PS4 version [correct sound]
https://youtu.be/So5_WUCCeb8

Some notes to the developers about the PC version:

1. At 0:40 there's a loud "bam" when moving forward. It's reproducible by walking back and forward again.

2. The loud sound of the big machinery (at the end of the level) is already audible around the upgrade, although you're not supposed to hear it at this distance on PS3/PS4.

3. The theme that plays when approaching the upgrade is clearly incomplete. Only the cello is audible, the rest of the music is silent. After the theme is over, the background music doesn't resume, but you can still hear the loud machinery.

And that's just one example, there are other situations like this in most chapters, especially the final one which is an audio mess. Not only the sound engine doesn't work as intended, but the PC players are actually missing big chunks of the original music.

WOW
That's INSANE
I have this game on PS4 (Collector's Edition) and bought it on Steam thinking it would be the "definitive version". Boy was I wrong.

That music is BORKED!!!!

Now I understand, it's not that the music suddenly stops, the problem is that 80% of the instruments are missing!!!

So instead of the proper music you get a Cello solo!!!

How can these clowns bork a port so badly???

I got scammed!

[Akira]

This is preposterous, infuriating, it's ridiculous. Annapurna just ruined Journey completely on PC and still selling copies with impunity since the launch on Epic Store.

Of all games to ever exist, Journey for sure was the one that shouldn't be allowed to be modified and released without being perfectly compliant in every single way to the original experience.

This game does not deserve to be released on this broken state, the music and sounds are more than half the experience. It's a shame, unacceptable and disrespectful to the extreme.

And worse, since Epic's release I see people posting how the game is amazing and how they waited so long to be able to play it. They will never know how broken the experience is when compared to the original code on PS3/4.

It's infuriating and sad a damn company does this kind of butcher work and swims in money for such atrocity.

[Useless]

Originally posted by Akira:

This is preposterous, infuriating, it's ridiculous. Annapurna just ruined Journey completely on PC and still selling copies with impunity since the launch on Epic Store.

Of all games to ever exist, Journey for sure was the one that shouldn't be allowed to be modified and released without being perfectly compliant in every single way to the original experience.

This game does not deserve to be released on this broken state, the music and sounds are more than half the experience. It's a shame, unacceptable and disrespectful to the extreme.

And worse, since Epic's release I see people posting how the game is amazing and how they waited so long to be able to play it. They will never know how broken the experience is when compared to the original code on PS3/4.

It's infuriating and sad a damn company does this kind of butcher work and swims in money for such atrocity.

i messaged jenova chen on twitter you all should do the same mabe if enough ppl voice their hate theyll change it

[Wernwulf]

Damn, that's really sad, I was planning on buying it as soon as it hits Steam. Guess I'll have to wait for the devs to finally fix these issues or just take the risk. I'm torn.

I can't help but wonder, though, if the EGS version has had the same issues, why didn't they fix it? Did they really just take the cash upfront and went on, thinking the port is perfect since Tencepic has no forums or user reviews for people to rightfully complain about things like the sound being this messed up? If so, it only shows that Timmy's platform is the place where games go to languish in obscurity until they're released elsewhere.

Anyway, I agree with Akira, it really is rather ridiculous and infuriating, even more so when it comes down to the players themselves now finding workarounds and fixes for negligence of this magnitude. What a shame.

[Paradox]

Along with the desert bugs, I've noticed that once you reach the guardians in chapter 5, their ambient sounds constantly loop at random times both through chapter 6 and 7, even through the cut-scenes (Had it happen throughout the death scene once).

Not like it makes the game unplayable, but it definitely does break the immersion for some of key moments in the game, which is very disappointing considering how great the console version was.

[Mkilbride]

Hope it can be fixed, but [ probably not.

[Ryusennin]

Epic store has no technical support, no forum, no community. It was easy for Annapurna to simply ignore the problems. The only way for the customers to complain publicly was to post on Reddit, although this is not an official channel.

The release on Steam is different, it has a bigger audience and your voice can be heard. As a commercial product and as a work of art, the game can be considered broken in its current state and Annapurna (or more precisely Inline Assembly, the studio that did the port) has an obligation to fix it. That should not be hard to do since the PS4 and the PC versions basically share the same code.

That being said, I am 100% certain Annapurna is monitoring this forum. And I've personally contacted Annapurna, Sony Santa Monica and the original author Jenova Chen in order to raise awareness, because surely this situation is not acceptable.

The really sad part is that many people new to the game seem oblivious to the broken audio and will praise on the store what is essentially a defective product. It's easy to write it off as "good enough", but a quick look at my videos will show you what you are really missing (and again, that's just ONE example).