The Longest Journey PC
  • Publisher: Funcom
  • Release Date: Nov 16, 2000
Metascore
91 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 26 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
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  1. IGN
    93
    This game does more than just recreate the nostalgic experience of old school adventure gaming, it actually reinvents how stories can be told in the medium, and gives us a glimpse of what we can expect in the years to come.
  2. GameSpot
    93
    One of the best adventure games in years.
  3. GameSpy
    92
    The powerful story affects you as it unfolds and by the end you will be drained--your life will never be the same again. This game could do to adventure games, what Doom did for the FPS. A must buy for anyone and everyone.
  4. GamePro
    100
    It's got great graphics, superb dialogue, and unforgettable characters, but the genre-bending story will keep graphic adventure fans glued to the screen.
  5. Eurogamer
    90
    An engrossing and highly entertaining adventure game with characters that you can care about, an involving storyline to keep you hooked, and settings and characters that are both beautiful and bizarre.
  6. Game Revolution
    91
    A masterful adventure game. Although not incredibly impressive technologically, it encapsulates all the elements of a good adventure and is an absolute must-have for any adventure gamers out there.
  7. Yahoo! Games
    100
    An adventure masterpiece...the best adventure game I've ever played.
  8. PC Gamer
    90
    The pinnacle of classic, point-and-click adventure gaming. [Feb 2001, p.97]
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  9. TotalGames.net
    93
    The first thing that strikes you about this game is the feeling of sheer quality that runs throughout it.
  10. Computer Games Magazine
    90
    For those who would rather explore than shoot, this game is cause for celebration.
  11. My Gamer
    88
    Make no mistake about it, whether you’re an adventure gaming junkie who misses the days of old, or a wet-behind-the-ears adventurer eager to see why this genre is (still) one of the best, The Longest Journey belongs in your collection.
  12. ActionTrip
    90
    It would be a real shame if it ended up as unnoticed as "Grim Fandango."
  13. Adrenaline Vault
    90
    It is utterly rife with quality in all areas, as the graphics, sound, music and gameplay all mesh in near-perfect unison to create one of the single most immersive and addictive adventure offerings, ever.
  14. Happy Puppy
    95
    From the jaw-dropping opening sequence--really, my jaw did drop--to the production extras rewarding you for your efforts, TLJ will likely impress any adventure gamer and even some who'd shun the label.
  15. Daily Radar
    100
    The best adventure game in years. That's one of the easier ways to describe The Longest Journey. It's also the longest, the most rewarding and the most mature.
    All this publication's reviews
  16. Adventure Gamers
    100
    Who would expect a previously unknown Norwegian developer to create such an absorbing and compelling adventure game? The Longest Journey is, quite simply, one of the best adventures ever made.
  17. CNET Gamecenter
    90
    Offers an astounding 50 hours or so of gameplay, and when it was over we wanted more.
    All this publication's reviews
  18. Just Adventure
    100
    Top-notch writing, memorable characters, beautiful 3D animations against 2D backdrops, and a musical score that is more complementary than ornamental all unite for a once-in-a-lifetime gaming experience.
  19. Four Fat Chicks
    100
    A magnum opus. Even though it does have some small flaws and a couple of things I would change, it is absolutely breathtaking in all respects. They just don’t get any better than this.
  20. Quandary
    90
    TLJ is a masterpiece and one of the best Adventures to be released during the past few years. Unfortunately it should be avoided by people who are violently repelled, for themselves or their offspring, by some extremely crude language.
  21. Evil Avatar
    100
    Even after you've finished the game, you'll be imagining and wondering the answers to characters' motivations, backgrounds, and futures.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
9.0 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 218 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 65
  3. Negative: 5 out of 65
  1. CarlosTheBear
    10
    Masterpiece! This game is over 10 years old and could teach nearly all modern developers how to tell a story. Sod next-gen physics and fancy graphics, this is engrossing. No game since Ico has had me actually caring for characters like this one has. Even if you don't like the genre (I myself am a racer/fps guy) this is a must buy.… Full Review »
  2. DantheMan
    6
    If you're looking for a balanced review of the game read on. Fanboys just downvote me and move along. The highlight of the game is the way the story and voice-acting haul you into the game and create a compelling atmosphere to find out what happens next. Every character is well-developed and the art assets all converge in a convincing way to support the text. The story is one of the best in any adventure game. On the downside the graphic resolution is poor and is a major distraction. The character animations are laughably bad. Moreover, the pacing of the game plays very very slow. Many of the puzzles are obtuse or simply inane. If you read the user reviews the common theme of those who rate this game a 10 is "great story" and it's true. The story is great. The common theme for those who dislike this game are "poor game" and that too is true. The design of this game is below average. Personally, I played this game all the way to the end to see how it ended. But unlike those blinded by nostalgia I won't pretend this the super awesome game because it's not. It's a great story that covers up a rather poor game.… Full Review »
  3. WoutT
    3
    One problem with the game is that it is extremely lineair: If you figure out hints before the game wants you to, you still have to click the right thingy or start the right dialogue to continue. About 60% of the dialogues is extra reading not needed to understand the story or the assignments, which is a pain because the store is rather boring, certainly not intriguently sophisticated or intelligent like Myst. Characters have a deep level of depth, but share out a lot of unneeded information. Puzzles are often unlogical and relay heavy on trial and error. The biggest problem however is the fact that the playstyle is slow to the extreme. Click item 1, walk map A (15secs) map B (20 sec), click item 2, walk map C (20secs) etc etc. Just trying out one idea might take you more than three minutes. If you add dozen lines of text, you can see that the game was created for the story, rather than the other way around. This is bad, because you tend to figure things out faster than the game let you play.… Full Review »
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