Journey experience

Felt like writing this down. This was my third run, after going a second time solo to get most of the trophies.

So starting off in the bridge area, I looked around before fixing the first part of the bridge in case there was anyone around. When I didn't find anyone, I went ahead and triggered the start of the puzzle. That's when I noticed the glow at the edge of my screen, and saw the beginner red cloak flying by. We greeted each other with a series of pings before starting off.

For the most part, I followed him around, letting him play the game at his own pace than rush him trying to find all the secrets. I think he was a little confused at first, shown by how he went and climbed the bridge before even completing it, but I was in no rush. He was pretty eager to get the symbols he could find, even flying off the completed bridge just to get one he missed. While I mostly let him lead on, I helped him get a few symbols and glyphs, mostly in the sand-surfing and first part of the underground level. I think it was in those levels where we cemented a form of trust.

Speaking of the underground, he seemed to be freaking out when we encountered the machines, constantly backing out of sight to avoid getting caught. I stayed close by in reassurance, and he stuck to me like glue, letting me lead him through safety. He didn't seem to know that the last part was scripted, since he kept backing away before he could get down the slope. Once he did, I made sure to zoom ahead, getting both of the machines' attention before they hit the barrier.

When it came to the tower, I was doing my best to stay close and not lose him, mostly because the brightness on my tv makes it hard to see, even after I turned it down some. As we got to the top, I kind of freaked out when I stepped into the glowing circle first and didn't see him by my side, but thankfully he stepped in shortly before the cutscene carried out.

And thus we reach the mountain. It was here that my companion stuck close the entire way, following my cue to hide behind the pillars to avoid getting blown away by the wind in the first part, letting me lead him to a cave to find a glyph. However, we unfortunately couldn't avoid the machine's gaze, and both of our scarves were torn. He was flown back further than I was, so I ran back to catch up with him. I led him through a safer path, hugging the left side of the level, which also led to another cave with another glyph. The whole way, I felt like I was protecting him, guiding him to safety. It took a while, but we made it through without another attack, making it all the way until our scripted deaths. It was actually harder to watch with a companion beside you, as they always fall first before you, as if watching them fall makes you lose the will to go on.

Unfortunately, I nearly lost him in our resurrections, once again thanks to the absurd brightness my tv made the level look. Even when I kept pinging, I couldn't find where he was. But, thankfully, as I reached the end, I saw him landing ways ahead of me, running back to catch up to me before we both walked to the light together.

At the end of it, as I got his username, I immediately quit out so I could send him a message to thank him (or her). While this experience is admittedly not as emotional as others I've read, it's one that I was hoping to find, and hoping it sticks with them as well.