When studio Giant Squid made Journey, they changed the world. For one weekend, we all held hands and surfed across the desert. After that experience, we all believed we would be so privileged to receive a Journey-like game every couple of years, but sadly, that isn’t what happened. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that ABZU and The Pathless are bad games, but they lacked the impact that Journey brought to so many. Well, I’ve got good news. The very talented people at Giant Squid heard our cries. This time, however, when we surf across the tops of sand dunes, we’ll be doing it on an actual surfboard, well, technically a sword, which is even cooler.

Though my excitement is high for Sword of the Sea, Giant Squid is trying to recreate the experience of Journey and that’s no small task. So let’s ask the question. Is Sword of the Sea a journey worth taking, or is it stuck in the mud? Guess what? It doesn’t matter. Yes, as always, I’ve got 3 awesome reviews down below, but Sword of the Sea is available on PS Plus. If you’re paying for Plus and not checking out Sword of the Sea, you’re literally throwing away money. But if for some reason you’re like “but Chris I value my time and don’t want to play something that isn’t very good,” Then I say, FINE. Here are some fantastic reviews for Sword of the Sea.

Review Round-Up:

Perhaps the only shortcoming is that I didn’t find the narrative particularly emotional. It is difficult to create moving moments between characters who don’t speak and exist in an abstract world, and Sword of the Sea doesn’t quite stick the landing. I wouldn’t define my experience with that part of the game as disappointing, but rather that the implications of the narrative didn’t quite keep up with how good the game looks, feels, and sounds. I wanted more. – Kyle Hilliard, Game Informer

And gosh is it pretty. As well as that ocean of desert you’ll float through nautical, abandoned city rooftops; scorch a line through ice; xylophone your way up giant, skeletal spines; scream across mountainsides. Sword of the Sea knows the power of putting you at the top of a steep hill and showing you the world. As it does the power of cause and effect. Of the instructional nature of play and the expressive, free-form nature of it too. It’s a game, like all of those others, about the deep, personal connection we’re able to form with the natural world by using it, being in perpetual contact with it, or simply flying through it at speed. The mindfulness of giving over a bit of control to the waves, the powder, the half-pipe’s immaculate curve and letting the world move you for once, instead of you fighting to move it. “It’s really about how movement is a way for you to connect with the world,” as Nava put it to me earlier this year. “You’re going fast down the mountain; you get to see all of the mountain very quickly. It’s the closest you can be to being everywhere at once.” Just how good do you reckon that feels? – Chris Tapsell, Eurogamer

Last but certainly not least, if you liked what you’ve read and watched, then, by all means, head on over to the PlayStation Store and Steam page to pick up Sword of the Sea. All you need to do is click the image below, and you will be taken to the store of your choosing. Also, I lied. One final, final thing, thank you for checking out the site. If you like this type of content, the Thinks of a Thoughter Games Release Radar will be doing this for every interesting game released this year.