A Different Side of Journey
by FEMAELSTROM, HSM team writer
By know, we all know of or have played the game Journey. The amazing game by That Game Company. It has shown what a real gaming experience can be like. In Journey one is not simply handed a weapon and told to slay hordes of this or that. One is on a journey, one must travel and see the world of Journey. and uncover what it is all about. At this point, I will hold back from telling anything about the end, to keep from spoiling it. But I will say this: the game in it’s entirety, is an amazing…well, journey.
One facet that really moved me, and this came to me as I sat, having just logged out of Home, is one element that I felt needed to be told to those that are in our realm. It is one of the most important parts of any game, and it can literally make or break it. And that is the music.
Austin Wintory composed the score for this game and did an absolutely gorgeous job.
The man behind the music. Austin Wintory
It is the job of the music composer to help set the the mood of the game. A good piece of music can set a mood like nothing else can, really drawing you in and engage you, just like bad music can spoil a mood. There are plenty of games that have good scores, and more that have poor scores, but the work of Austin Wintory in Journey surpasses simple video game music and is on par with music scores from movies and classical music as one might hear on a radio station.
The music is sad, and very absorbing. It definitely has a calm and peaceful feeling, if not a little melancholy. A sample of the music can be heard if one goes to the Journey public space and simply roams the area, especially the deeper one goes into the space.
Anybody familiar with the game has to agree that the music is such a grand part of the game as there are a lot of parts that are solo player and quiet, save the sound effect and the music. A note to those unfamiliar to Journey: it is not like other games, with long cut scenes and dialog. This game is rare and unique in that there is no narrative spoken or available to read. One simply has to render the story from the few cut scenes that are given. This music, though, does help to draw all the tapestry of the game together in a magical way.
The soundtrack is lush and amazing, containing eighteen tracks, ranging in time per track from 1:06 to 7:06, and to those familiar with the game the tracks titles are:
That music in your head when you see this, yeah, he pegged it.
- Nascence
- The Call
- First Confluence
- Second Confluence
- Threshold
- Third Confluence
- The Road of Trials
- Fourth Confluence
- Temptations
- Descent
- Fifth Confluence
- Atonement
- Final Confluence
- The Crossing
- Reclamation
- Nadir
- Apotheosis
- I Was Born for This
There are a few noteworthy items to state here. First, though the soundtrack is available in the PlayStation Store, that would pretty much be expected, but it is also available in iTunes. This means it is available to a much larger audience as a serious piece of work, not just some little piece of a ‘game’ as people outside of gaming may trivialize it to be. Another fact that has to be observed as significant regarding this soundtrack is that it is the first soundtrack to ever be nominated for a Grammy award. As well as this, it is featured in the Video Games Live concert; that by it’ s own website says that it features only the best in video game music. One of the finest accolades doled out to date has to be the win of the SpikeTV VGA awards. It took home the best original score award, as well as two others.
After winning a VGA award, he’s up for a Grammy, first game to ever do that.
What does all this mean to the rest of us? It means simply that the experience we all share of gaming is a little more validated because a composer like Austin Wintory made an outstanding soundtrack that has reached farther than the confines of our console system. It means that by extension, we are all a little more recognized not as “those” people that “play” games, but as people that accept video games for what they are: a modern art and entertainment form that effect so many people on a daily basis.
As a fast side note: I was recently given the book that covers the art of Journey. The hardbound book is filled cover to cover with concept art and illustrations that show the genesis and evolution of this game.
This game has fast trickled out of what is a smaller developer and has become a phenomenal presence, so much so, that I was amazed to see on a night as I strolled through the public space, there were some twenty or so avatars doing the float trick, inside to the left of the canyon. I approached the group and came to discover that they were friends all of which live in Japan and lamented the fact (at the time in case it has changed since) that there was no public Journey space there. This group of friends made North American accounts so they could simply occupy the space, across the Pacific Ocean. Journey meant that much to them as a group.
Austin Wintory at work.
As for Austin Wintory, he has given the players of Journey an amazing game an amazing gift by way of the touching and stirring soundtrack he composed. For those that have played the game, it serves as an awesome backdrop that highlights the perfect visuals. The soundtrack is currently available in the PlayStation Store for a mere $4.99 and at the risk of sounding like a corporate shill, I believe that everyone who was touched by the unique nature of this amazing game, owes it to themselves to put this on their PS3 and enjoy hearing it over and over.
I can’t wait to see what both That Game Company and Austin Wintory have in store for us next. I’m sure it will be amazing.
January 14th, 2013 by FEMAELSTROM | 5 comments
FEMAELSTROM came to Home in June 2011 and never wanted to leave, even at weekly maintenance when he usually gets booted. The sand box environment appeals to the explorer in him and often is out and about as he ‘geeks’ out dressed like some sort of sci-fi character, while he people watches in popular public spaces. An artist and writer, FEMAELSTROM loves making friends and meeting people. He loves sci-fi and decorating Home estates and loves to respond “here” when people ask “where are you from?” in public places.
Nice read. I once read an interview with a game musicc composer ( sorry -- I forget who exactly) who said that if you’ve done your job right, people won’t notice the music. I think they were referring to the usual loops you get in most games though.
You can buy the sound track to Flower as well ( I think) and maybe even flOw too, which are also fantastic scores to their respective games, but there is something about the music to Journey, I’d say it’s a large part of the game. An integral part of it. We’ve had dynamic/context sensitive music in games for a while now but again, Journey just seems to have such a perfect marriage between player movement and music it hits nerves as you play. It’s truly amazing.
I’d say Journey is a definite experience, rather than a “game”.
I just recently bought Journey and have played it through three times already. I find it to be an extremely calming experience and the music is awesome. I am glad it is being recognized by people other then the gaming community. The music is an integral part of this game, it sets the mood and provides much of the feelings you get while playing. Nice read Strom.
I love this soundtrack and got it on iTunes. When I bought it the soundtrack was in the hot 100, so many of us who love it as well! Great article!
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I just recently purchased the game Journey and there are no words that I can say that can express the way I feel about this game. Each time I play it I am overcome by emotional and spiritual feelings which lasts up to an hour after I play it!
I researched, “ThatGameCompany” and found a video of “Macadonia Radio Symphonic Orchestra” which blew me away. The music is unbelievable and love the way they intergrade it along with actions you do while you are playing the game.
I then reasearched more on “ThatGameCompany” and found another game called, “Flower.” This was emotional for me as well since I am a lover of earth and beauty.
All I can say is that this video game company is not like any other. They use classical music in their story lines. I can’t say there is no sadness in them (such as other video games that target war and violence), but there is a reality in good and bad, happy and sad, righteous and unrighteous in their games, which does relate to real life events and experiences.
I would like to find more of what they have out there for I am now a new fan to “ThatGameCompany,” or whomever put out Journey and Flower.
Update: Austin Wintory did not take home the award for best soundtrack sadly, but his accomplishment is not diminished at all. He put a video game soundtrack in the running at the Grammys, and that alone is worthy of a standing ovation. (clap clap clap). Thank you Austin Wintory for a grand soundtrack that was well deserving of such high praise.