Posted January 14, 2015
Alright, so I finished Journal yesterday.
First things first - most people wouldn't consider this a "game". It is an interactive short story. There is not really any "playing" here, and there are no puzzles. It is just storytelling. You will sometimes have options of what to say in conversations, but they don't have major consequences, other than getting a few different responses from who you are talking to.
That said, I found the story to be interesting, and well told. It is about a girl (middle-school age) whose journal is missing several pages of entries. It is known that she is having a difficult time, but the specifics are not clear at the beginning. As the game progresses, you find out why she is having a difficult time, and the journal slowly fills with words.
The way the story is told is unique. I don't know quite how to explain it... At times it feels like I was being deceived (this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.) There are some mysterious events that occur, and the girl knows the truth behind them before the player does. Sometimes it feels like the story is told slightly backwards - some things happen, or are mentioned, but you don't understand the details until later.
Overall, I found the story to be interesting and emotional. It might come across as pretentious to some people, but I didn't really think of it that way.
The artwork is unique and pretty. The game takes place inside the journal, so the art consists of pencil and marker drawings on notebook paper. The music is beautiful, and fits the tone of the game.
I have one complaint - there is a jump button that seems to have no purpose at all.
I thought it was a really great 2-hour interactive story. I'd like to experience it again sometime.
I'd recommend it, but not at full price. The normal price of $10 feels like way too much (even half of that would feel like too much.) It is 85% off on Steam this week, which feels much more appropriate.
Also - I checked myself, and it is DRM-free on Steam.
My full list.
First things first - most people wouldn't consider this a "game". It is an interactive short story. There is not really any "playing" here, and there are no puzzles. It is just storytelling. You will sometimes have options of what to say in conversations, but they don't have major consequences, other than getting a few different responses from who you are talking to.
That said, I found the story to be interesting, and well told. It is about a girl (middle-school age) whose journal is missing several pages of entries. It is known that she is having a difficult time, but the specifics are not clear at the beginning. As the game progresses, you find out why she is having a difficult time, and the journal slowly fills with words.
The way the story is told is unique. I don't know quite how to explain it... At times it feels like I was being deceived (this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.) There are some mysterious events that occur, and the girl knows the truth behind them before the player does. Sometimes it feels like the story is told slightly backwards - some things happen, or are mentioned, but you don't understand the details until later.
Overall, I found the story to be interesting and emotional. It might come across as pretentious to some people, but I didn't really think of it that way.
The artwork is unique and pretty. The game takes place inside the journal, so the art consists of pencil and marker drawings on notebook paper. The music is beautiful, and fits the tone of the game.
I have one complaint - there is a jump button that seems to have no purpose at all.
I thought it was a really great 2-hour interactive story. I'd like to experience it again sometime.
I'd recommend it, but not at full price. The normal price of $10 feels like way too much (even half of that would feel like too much.) It is 85% off on Steam this week, which feels much more appropriate.
Also - I checked myself, and it is DRM-free on Steam.
My full list.