The Big Journey

The Big Journey is a charming, cute platformer inspired heavily by the LocoRoco series, where players control a round cat named Mr. Whiskers on a quest to find his friend Mr. Choo. The game features bright, colorful 2D art, adorable characters, and a relaxing soundtrack that many players find enjoyable. Gameplay revolves around tilting the world left or right and jumping to collect dumplings, bugs, and meet friends, with a simple control scheme designed for casual play.

However, several reviews highlight significant issues with controls, especially on PC. The tilt mechanic can feel unresponsive or floaty, often leading to frustration. Bugs such as falling through maps, stuck physics, and input problems further detract from the experience. Additionally, level design is criticized for repetitiveness and lack of variety, with many levels feeling similar despite different biomes. The soundtrack, while initially pleasant, is noted as repetitive over time. Achievements and some gameplay elements also suffer from glitches. Overall, the game is enjoyable in short bursts but may frustrate completionists or those expecting deeper mechanics.

Highlights

Players praise the adorable, colorful art style and the cute character design, especially the chubby cat protagonist. The soundtrack is generally described as pleasant and relaxing, contributing to a wholesome atmosphere. The gameplay mechanic of tilting the world to roll the cat is seen as a fun, fresh approach reminiscent of LocoRoco. Many enjoy the casual and accessible nature of the game, making it suitable for all ages. The inclusion of collectible friends, photos (Catstagram), and unlockable skins adds charm and replay value.

Overall, the game is recognized for its visual appeal, relaxing vibe, and nostalgic homage to classic platformers.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include repetitive and uninspired level design with little variation across the multiple biomes, making progression feel tedious. The controls are frequently described as floaty, unresponsive, or glitchy, especially regarding the tilt mechanic and jump inputs. This leads to frustration, particularly in later, more challenging levels and the Wonderland bonus stages. Several players report bugs such as falling through maps, stuck characters, and input drops. The soundtrack, while initially enjoyable, is repetitive and can become irritating. Achievements are sometimes bugged or require excessive grinding. The game’s reliance on tilt controls makes the PC experience less optimal compared to mobile or Switch versions, causing motion sickness for some. Lastly, the story is minimal and not emotionally engaging.