These days, few games stray from “group A kills group B for X reason.” “Journey,” thatgamecompany’s third installment on PS3, breaks away from that norm and shatters the boundary between games and art. The goal is simple – reach the light at the top of a distant mountain. But “Journey” is about just that, and it’s the best part of the game. While traveling through a gorgeous, sparsely decorated desert landscape, other players come into view. They’re real people, playing somewhere else in the world, connected seamlessly to the game – no lobbies, no match-making. The downside of “Journey” is its length. At 2 hours, it’s easily beatable in one sitting, and that’s how it’s supposed to be played. The $15 price tag is expensive for a game as short as “Journey”, but its beauty and overall experience more than make up for it.
Grade: A