“You are a strange species. Not like any other. And you’d be surprised how many there are. Intelligent but savage. Shall I tell you what I find beautiful about you? You are at your very best when things are worst.”

I took it to mean that when a disaster happens or if there is some definable progress made in human development it is because people actually put aside their differences and work together.

I guess this is something I experienced when I was sailing -you don’t have to have a personality to get things done. When the ship was in a storm and it was “all hands” It really did not matter if you liked someone or not, you worked together to adapt and overcome. And weirdly enough I began to feel this thing that is maybe deeper and more abstract than friendship or liking someone because of their personality. And at the end of it -when you are exhausted to the bone and you have been up around the clock for god knows how long… there is this moment when you come out the other side and you feel a sort of unified sense of accomplishment -and you feel it for and with everyone no matter your personal differences. It opens the door for an undefinable connection to another person that goes beyond who they are.

I mention this because Journey sort of taps into this for me. And I guess I was hoping the next game that Santa Monica Studios came out with would provide the same multiplayer depth that Journey did. TUS doesn’t have it and I miss it.

As far as the paint I imagine there would have to be some level of communication with another player coming on board to coordinate paint splatters but it might be fun to lob some stuff at each other

Maybe the next game they will create something like that- A game where you get to decide how to make the other person’s avatar from the ground up and they are subjected to whatever you decide for them.

I know some people that might be really good at a game like that.

Heh.

I loved the Unfinished Swan! These games coming out of the San Monica Studio are really setting the bar very high lately. The blending of a very good story and exploration are the key I think to this I think. Keep the great articles coming!

I agree that there is a certain M.C. Escher quality to this game especially when you consider some of his skewed and disorienting perspectives and of course his maze work. It is visually quite stunning.

After playing in black and white for a while one gets a tantalizing exposure to color which explodes on the senses after a long absence… the deprivation indeed makes you appreciate what you have been missing -and it certainly has made my heart grow fonder.

Kudos for Thatgamecompany’s involvement -they are by far my favorite. Namaste Jenova Chen.

Nice to see your second article here and cannot wait to read more of your insightful reviews.

A fan
Riff