Journey Is a Great Co-Op Game Despite Its Single-Player Focus

gamerant.com:

It has been 10 years since Thatgamecompany's Journey was first released on the PlayStation 3 via PlayStation Network. Games have changed a lot since then; not just in how they handle narratives, but also in how they incorporate cooperative gameplay. The medium has become a platform in which stories can be experienced by multiple players. Titles like Portal 2 and the more recent It Takes Two have taken full advantage of the cooperative nature of their games; letting players get a deeper understanding of the characters they play and their connection to each other.

Journey is unique in that its gameplay does not require cooperation. Players can complete the game without the help of another person. Puzzles that involve activities like simultaneously stepping on switches or boosting each other up to higher platforms (both of which are found in abundance in a game like It Takes Two) are nowhere to be found. Instead of forcing co-op on its players, Journey instead focuses on creating a unique experience that is better experienced with another player.

Why Journey Is Still A Masterpiece Ten Years On

Looking at things from a gameplay perspective, Journey players who come into contact with each other can do a limited number of things. They charge their scarves while in proximity to one another, allowing them to levitate. This levitation mechanic is also present in a solo game, the only difference being that the single player has to make contact with floating pieces of red cloth found throughout Journey's world.

Apart from providing their companion with a mobile charging station (i.e. themselves), the only thing co-op players can do is communicate via a series of chirps. There is no voice or text chat in Journey, and the only way