Sayonara Wild Hearts
I bought Sayonara Wild Hearts on little more than a whim. There was a sale going on and I figured, why not? The game is published by Annapurna Interactive who is known for other great titles like Florence, Journey, and What Remains of Edith Finch. The only thing I knew about the game before buying it was that it was an arcade-style experience so I expected to use it in between other more time-intensive titles. Then I opened it. My eyes and ears were assaulted by a cacophony of light and noise. The main screen was flushed with bright flashing colors while high tempo pop music pumped through my headphones. If you or someone you know has a history of epilepsy or seizures I wouldn’t recommend testing it with this game. Despite that, I had a feeling that I would be in for a good time.
The game starts off telling the story of a young woman whose heart broke so violently it made the universe shudder. The story is, on one level, about her finding and putting those pieces back together. You play as the young woman’s avatar named The Fool, after the tarot card, and use just about every card in that arcane deck to help her collect those pieces. This could mean using one to swing a sword, drive a motorcycle, or fly towards the goal.
The levels are all music-based and this is where the game really shines. The music itself is a combination of pop and electronic music which can be a little jarring at first when presented with the pulsing lights and ever-changing perspectives of the various levels. But once you let yourself enjoy it and fall into the rhythm the game’s beauty really shines through. The gameplay is relatively simple, make your way to the goal and avoid any obstacles. The game runs on a rail system with the player having to do little else besides getting The Fool to the end. Despite that simple-sounding premise, the entire game isn’t just one level similar to any mobile running arcade platformer you may have played on your phone. Not only does the player’s perspective shift dramatically throughout the game but the levels themselves offer other challenges in the form of classic games that help shake up the pace throughout the experience. On one level, you use a bow to shoot down enemies in quick succession, and in another, you avoid and destroy obstacles in a way reminiscent of 2-D Asteroid or Galaga. The levels themselves aren’t that long, but there are puzzles to solve, gold rank trophies to collect, and plenty to keep you coming back for more if you so choose.
I’m not sure how else to say it but this game is pure art boxed up neatly inside a video game. If you enjoy any of that then do yourself a favor, and play this game. You can buy Sayonara Wild Hearts for around $30 online.
