Old Man's Journey

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Old Man's Journey
Old Man's Journey video game logo 2017.png
Developer(s) Broken Rules
Publisher(s) Broken Rules
Director(s) Felix Bohatsch, Clemens Scott
Programmer(s) Jan Hackl, Stefan Kernjak
Artist(s) Clemens Scott, Brian Main, Lip Comarella
Composer(s) scntfc
Engine Unity
Platform(s) Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release
  • Android, iOS, macOS, Windows
  • 18 May 2017
  • Nintendo Switch
  • 20 February 2018
  • PlayStation 4
  • 29 May 2018
  • Xbox One
  • 4 March 2019
Mode(s) Single-player, Two-player local co-op

Old Man's Journey is an adventure video game [1] developed and published by Broken Rules. The game was released for Android, iOS, macOS and Windows in 2017, [2] the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in 2018 and the Xbox One in 2019.

Contents

The game follows the trip of an old man, who starts to travel after receiving a letter containing some news. Throughout the game, some semi-still flashbacks explain the past life of the man.

Gameplay

The player using the cursor in order to move a hill. Old Man's Journey Gameplay Screenshot.png
The player using the cursor in order to move a hill.

The player controls an old man using the mouse, clicking where they want him to move (tapping on mobile). To allow the character to progress, the player must click and drag hillocks (swipe on mobile) to modify the landscape, adjusting their height - except where the man is standing - within a certain limit. When the edges of the hillocks fit, the old man may then pass from one to the other - even if one is in the foreground and the other is in the background. Sometimes, additional items are part of the puzzles (such as sheep), which must be moved to let the old man pass. The old man conducts his journey on foot for the most part, but other means of transport are sometimes used. In this case, the player may need to solve some environmental puzzles to allow them to progress. At times, the old man will sit down to rest, and the player must find an item in the scenery that will trigger a memory in him, initiating a flashback and allowing the player to progress. Much of the old man's story is told through these flashbacks, which consist of short, single-shot animations (such as a man looking at a house in the rain) and eschew dialogue altogether.

Reception

The game received "generally favorable" reviews, according to Metacritic, a video game review aggregator. [3] [4]

Accolades

YearAwardsCategoryResultRef
2018 Bolognaragazzi Digital AwardWon
2018Emotional Games AwardBest Artistic AchievementWon
2018 Game Developers Choice Awards Best Mobile GameHonorable Mentions
2018Google Indie Games ContestRunner Up
2018Google Indie Games ContestUnity AwardWon
2018Taipei Game ShowBest Visual ArtsWon
2018Taipei Game ShowGrand PrixWon
2017 The Game Awards 2017 Best Mobile GameNominated [13]
2017Apple iPad Game of the YearWon
2017 Apple Design Awards Won
2017IGN Best of 2017Best Mobile gameNominated
2017AzPlayBest Visual ArtWon
2017Busan Indie Connect FestivalExcellence in ArtWon
2017BIG FestivalBest Art AwardWon
2017BIG FestivalInnovation AwardWon
2017 Golden Joystick Awards Mobile Game of the YearNominated
2017 Independent Games Festival Excellence in Visual ArtsFinalist
2017Indie Plus Awards1st Runner Up
2017 Sense of Wonder Night Best ArtWon
2017TapTap Game AwardsBest AudioWon
2017TapTap Game AwardsBest Indie GameHonorable Mentions
2017TapTap Game AwardsBest NarrativeWon
2017TapTap Game AwardsBest Visual ArtWon
2016 IndieCade Europe Media Choice AwardWon [14]

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References

  1. ↑ Renaudin, Clement (8 February 2017). "Old Man's Journey is a whimsical puzzle adventure game coming this year to mobile, first gameplay revealed". Pocket Gamer . Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ↑ Campbell, Colin (18 May 2017). "Old Man's Journey review". Polygon . Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Old Man's Journey for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Old Man's Journey for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "Old Man's Journey for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  6. ↑ Glagowski, Peter (20 May 2017). "Review: Old Man's Journey". Destructoid . Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  7. ↑ Gwaltney, Javy (31 May 2017). "Old Man's Journey A Poignant Adventure Through Memory". Game Informer . Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  8. ↑ Croft, Liam (17 February 2018). "Old Man's Journey Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life . Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Koopman, Daan (21 February 2018). "Old Man's Journey (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Slater, Harry (19 May 2017). "Old Man's Journey review - A trip worth taking". Pocket Gamer . Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Campbell, Colin (18 May 2017). "Old Man's Journey review". Polygon . Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  12. ↑ Dotson, Carter (18 May 2017). "'Old Man's Journey' Review – Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls". TouchArcade . Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  13. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (7 December 2017). "All The 2017 Game Awards Winners Revealed". GameSpot. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  14. ↑ "IndieCade Europe 2016 Recap | IndieCade - International Festival of Independent Games". www.indiecade.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.

Further reading

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