Journey to the Center of the Earth

 PC
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 18
  3. Negative: 3 out of 18
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  1. Game Chronicles
    70
    It’s story skillfully blends some of the most famous fictional elements of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne alongside more recent faraway works like DinoTopia and Jurassic Park, with the added pleasure of cinematically orchestrated music and beautiful graphics to engage players and immerse them in a magical world.
  2. Quandary
    70
    Because of its idiosyncrasies I wouldn't recommend Journey to the Center of the Earth for novices. Experienced players, however, should have look if you want to take a fantastic journey and test your mental and moral fibre.
  3. GameZone
    70
    Frogwares has put together an adventure that offers a fun story plot, engaging puzzles and interesting dialogue. The execution is a little rough in parts, with the awkward movement cursor, the sudden appearance of actions that couldn't be accomplished before, and the whole glove thing, but these don't take away much from the overall game experience.
  5. Armchair Empire
    67
    Frequent adventure gamers who've acquired the sixth sense needed to navigate quickly through item hunts may enjoy Journey to the Center of the Earth for its engaging story and often-beautiful environments.
  6. IGN
    63
    A decent title that keeps you gaming for cheap. It's only 20 bucks and should take the average gamer somewhere between 30 to 40 hours to finish. Just know that a third of that time may be spent in utter frustration.
  7. GameSpot
    61
    Marred by bugs, design problems, low production values, and general sloppiness that usually overshadow its genuine charms.
  8. Adrenaline Vault
    60
    The visuals are pretty, the puzzles are engaging and the plot is engrossing, but this release isn’t all that it could be. The interface glitches, puny hotspots, gameplay linearity and absence of deep character development all limit its value.
  9. PC Gamer
    54
    Even with its attractive $20 price, Journey offers more aggravation than enjoyment. [Holiday 2003, p.97b]
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Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Most Shared PC Game of 2003

User Reviews

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User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 4 out of 14
  1. zxthehedgehog
    Jul 14, 2014
    2
    Journey to the Center of The Earth just feels broken. The controls are off, the visuals are bland, and the gameplay is dull. Not to mention,Journey to the Center of The Earth just feels broken. The controls are off, the visuals are bland, and the gameplay is dull. Not to mention, the protagonist doesn't seem to be able to do things that should just be simple. My top example of this is the gloves. Need to fix some wires? Nope, you need the gloves on. Need to chisel out a gem? Nope, need gloves. Not to mention, the game gives back no input on this, so you have no idea what you're doing wrong. I have the disc version, which means it has the seal puzzle. Now, I've tried the correct combination of gems on the board. IT DOESN'T WORK! I even checked 10+ online walkthroughs. The puzzle doesn't work! The story is also uninspired, but the voices... AAAAHH.… Full Review »
  2. AidanD.
    Oct 29, 2007
    0
    Do Not Buy This Game! none of the professional reviewers mentioned that there are several game-ending bugs that prevent you from solving key Do Not Buy This Game! none of the professional reviewers mentioned that there are several game-ending bugs that prevent you from solving key puzzle such as the Valley of the Spirits. It actually CANNOT be completed without a walk-through, not because it is hard but because there is a fatal error that prevents the puzzle from resetting. In addition, the game crashed twice in just an hour of game-play and the protagonist became "stuck" on the landscape several times, forcing a reload. The graphics are buggy as hell, pixel-hunting abounds, and several hotspots are missing. Don't take my word for it, read a report of the critical bugs at: www.geocities.com/ataniel/center2.htm Even if this game were complete and bug-free, it would still be mediocre; with all the bugs and glitches it is absolutely abominable. This is the worst puzzle game I have played in my life, you have been warned.… Full Review »
  3. LisaB.
    Feb 12, 2004
    9
    I can't believe this was only $20! I just happened upon it while shopping at Best Buy. I picked up the box and knew this was the next I can't believe this was only $20! I just happened upon it while shopping at Best Buy. I picked up the box and knew this was the next adventure game that I had to play. I figured this would be a quick change of pace after playing Uru for so long - but 'Journey' was soooo much better than Uru! This game scores right up there with 'Longest Journey' and 'Syberia'. I definitely got my money's worth. Hope there's a sequel.… Full Review »
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