I always have a soft spot for music-driven games. Rhythm games like Guitar Hero, Rez, or Thumper play almost unimaginably to me as someone with a background in music so I first approached Sayonara Wild Hearts in the same sense. However, when I went through the game I found that it's more than just pressing a button on the beat. Sayonara Wild Hearts not only combines music and playing together, it is also a logical love letter to both.
What starts out as an on-rails "endless runner" -the lightweight kind of collection of object morphs into a Panzer Dragoon like a Panzer Dragoon shooter, then a rid-rid-racing-wide-dimensional track racing, then it becomes a 2D platform, and then it becomes … well, I shouldn't spend too much time riding. Sayonara is a celebration of the myriad of gameplay mechanics you may have on your gaming journey, all including a simple, yet tricky, control system that includes one button and one analog stick.
Developer Simogo runs a clinic on how to wrap more player gameplay mindsets without using attachments or clear screen tutorials. This clean control scheme lets the real star of the show – the music – shine. Sayonara Wild Hearts is presented within 12-minute levels (much like a music album) with original songs offering each one. The game is set as a proper album, with tempo changes, unforgettable hooks, and humorous dream songs, thoughtful tracks.
My Sayonara play has been a thrill, longing for equal parts and longing for an ever-expanding adventure narrative, aforementioned music, and thought-provoking visuals that complement each track. Neon's vibrant city patterns melt into prey with the speed of animals entering the dense forests. It was impossible to guess where this game would take me next, so I gladly allowed it to be my favorite.
Sayonara Wild Hearts is fast and some levels have good deception, but the game will offer to help you if you fail often. I was always weird, as each difficult phase seemed to be inaccessible to my abilities, but it made sure the option was there for a simple game experience. Many of the purposes of multi-point analysis have kept me re-evaluating levels to measure routes and explore hidden pickups.
As I continue to play Sayonara Wild Hearts, this is where it begins to see how its gameplay, music and storyline fit seamlessly. This is a one-size-fits-all game, but the sum of its parts makes it unforgettable and perhaps the most unique, yet playable title I've had all year.
