Tag: journey

Next spring many of you will begin adventuring through the fully three dimensional world of Termina! Some will be adventuring there for the 100th time, while many others will be having their first taste of it. And what an experience awaits those first timers! Majora’s Mask is a game that has really managed to connect deeply with a lot of people. For me personally, Majora’s Mask ranks as the most emotionally involving game I’ve ever played, and I know I’m…

The Zelda series is loved by many for its adventurousness and compelling storylines. I doubt that anyone would argue with the statement that any one of Link’s numerous journeys can be called a quest. But what few know is that the concept of a quest is so prevalent in stories from all around the world that a set structure has been made which outlines the stages of the quest. The majority of the Zelda games fit perfectly into this pattern,…

“Goal-oriented gameplay and environmental presence exist in unavoidable tension. In moderation, sense of purpose can make a place come alive. But when we focus on moves, strategy, puzzles, and other performance-oriented tasks, we’re left with little cognitive room to appreciate the surrounding environment.” – Douglas Wilson, “Look Before You Warp”1 The above quote is from a chapter in The Legend of Zelda and Philosophy: I Link Therefore I Am (a collection of essays, edited by Luke Cuddy) in which Wilson…

Following the tremendous critical acclaim of Flower, its developer Thatgamecompany released Journey as a PlayStation Network exclusive earlier this year. Almost immediately, Journey was met with an even greater degree of critical acclaim, with many reviewers praising the game as a must-play experience. Having played the game myself, I agree entirely with the praise. Journey‘s gameplay amounts to one thing: movement. There is no combat, there is very limited puzzle solving (and the puzzles all revolve around moving forward), and…