Journey really was the conceptual apotheosis of ThatGameCompany and everything the alumni have made since has been more or less a total dead end huh :( The few new ideas here (mmo-esque interactions and gacha game purchases) feel totally confused or spiritually incongruous w/ the intended vibe of playful communalism. "journey but in the clouds and you're like a toddler maybe" does not make for a very compelling new identity. Pretty but unsurprising, and so slight.

also as someone who has vibed considerably with the "graphically-stylized culturally ambiguous traveler(s) tenderly exploring the ancient ruins and uncovering lost secrets in glowy wall frescoes" genre: can we pls do something the fuck else

Extremely funny that this game tries to do the sort of intentionally directionless/barebones "the player will intuitively figure it out" tutorialization of Flower and Journey while at the same time being a mobile game with like 4 currencies and a dozen completely obtuse systems. As a result nothing seems to have any clear purpose. But don't worry they also wrestle the camera away from you every 2 or 3 minutes for a slow, awkward cutscene with none of the emotional punch their prior games have.

Was getting by on the fact that it at least looks and sounds nice. Then I finally waded through enough of the game's BS to realize one of it's currencies quite literally monetizes the idea of connection and making friends. I'm out. Just depressing.