Journey Soundtrack (Austin Wintory) - 17. Apotheosis

My friend you have no idea how these words touched me. People have been consistently writing some moving words for the past year of JOURNEY's release and it never ceases to leave me speechless. You have deeply affected me today. I must say I don't think I can lay claim to your experience. At best, I created a doorway, but ultimately you walked through it. You felt what you did because it was already inside, lying dormant. I am honored to have helped in some way, but you did it all yourself.

The only multiplayer that makes you like the person on the other side.

Journey : The first walking simulator to make me cry

It's not all about the destination it's all about the journey

That moment when you see another player for the first time, and you are both jumping around each other without saying a word, and you can tell they are just as happy to see you as you are happy to see them. The connection you share, together fighting and traveling along trying to stay with each other till the very end. You don't even know their name, gender, creed, religion, etc. It's just you and another random person sharing an experience you will never forget. An adventure in cyberspace, the internet, with no stats, no scores, no leaderboards, no killing, just an adventure with your and another person making your way to the top of the world. What a feeling, as tears of joy, pour down your face and you feel like you have done something so special and enjoying the music and the scenery passing by in instants, evading dangers, and the sense of joy you feel as you experience this with another human being, without even seeing their face, you know they are feeling the same sort of joy. Masterpiece.

I am not sure how to describe the feeling of playing through this game with someone that I will never know.

To the first companion I've played with, we may never see each other again but know that you will always find me at the top of this mountain....

The artists gave the game its beauty, but the soundtrack gave the game life. 

I had the honor of hearing this be played live conducted by Austin Wintory himself. It was an indescribable experience. I sobbed through the whole song. This truly is one of my favorite music pieces I've ever heard.

to everyone leaving their stories in the comments: you remind me that people can be wonderful and beautiful and kind. Thank you. to austin wintory: every time this track ends i cry. every time. thank you so much.

It took 30 years but i finally played a game that made me cry. I am so lucky the first time i played this i found someone who obviously also didn't play the game and wanted to explore. What a beautiful game.

I’m not even joking when I say this, I cry every single time I listen to this. This is easily my favorite track in any video game because the emotions that it brings are so powerful.

This is literally one of the most powerful games ever created, and one of, if not, THE best games ever made

I wish I could forget this game just to experience it for the first time again.

When I was a little red cloak, I met a stranger garbed in white. He showed me everything: the hidden places of all the glowing symbols, the most breathtaking views, how to ride the cloth fish ... and he was sooo positive the whole time. Every time I got a new glowing symbol he'd chime and run in circles around me like no one in the world could possibly be any prouder. And when we came to Apotheosis, spinning in flight around each other, finally reaching the top ... he drew a heart for me in the snow. And I chimed so excitedly, retraced his heart, ran around him as he chimed back and spun around me. Like I wanted to cry, he was the best stranger I've ever met ... I didn't want to walk through the light because I knew that would be the last time I saw the stranger. I swear, this game can end wars if it tried. I miss my companion, I don't remember his username exactly, it must've been something like M3TAL_HEAD, haha :) So wherever you are buddy, you're the best, luv ya.

I was going through a bad spell of depression when I decided to play Journey for the first time, desperate for some form of escape. It's impact on me was surreal, from the gorgeous visuals to the breath-taking music. I still remember connecting with some random player and feeling like we had some connection. Journey honestly made me fall in love with video games again.

I have just played Journey for my first time. I have gone through my first journey. When this song played, I was left speechless by the immense beauty. Everything was just so breathtaking, no words could justify describing anything... just... reaching your destination after all hope is lost... being able to fly again... to enjoy the light... to fly with dragons... to soar majestically into the light... We were complete strangers, and we may end up being complete strangers, but I do have to thank the stranger online who helped me through my first experience with Journey. We never spoke, and we probably never will, but thank you for being a great companion through my travels. It meant much more to me that we have traveled together. I'm sorry I was such a troublesome beginner traveler, but you and I have made it. We've done it. Thank you, friend.

I strongly believe that this is one of the greatest pieces of music ever written.

One of the best games I've ever played. Truly magical beyond words.

I hope I hear this music when I eventually see my Dad again. I miss him.