Originally published in September/2019 in cafecomgeeks.com, auto translated by Google Cloud.
Sayonara Wild Hearts was an incredible shadowdrop. The game arrived at the Apple Arcade this Thursday, September 19th, and we at Café didn’t miss an opportunity. It is an arcade game about driving bikes, skating, fighting dancing, shooting lasers, fighting with swords and breaking hearts at 200km / h.
Our protagonist is a young woman with a broken heart whose sadness unbalances the universe and is responsible for protecting and saving it. A diamond butterfly appears in her dreams and takes her to a road in the skies where she meets her other person, or her persona: a masked biker named The Fool. Throughout her journey, she, represented by different Tarot arcana, fights with other people, represented by Tarot arcana. Once she takes on a different arcana, she is transformed in the “magical girl” style and gains different powers and vehicles.
The game is conceptually simple: a runner / rhythm game that takes combat and adventure by QTE and does absolute magic. Along the map you will find, in addition to obstacles and murderous enemies, heart fragments that increase your score, which at the end of each level will give you a certain rank. The game with this becomes very arcade, greatly increasing the replayability factor.
The speed with which this game is presented is frightening, sometimes uncomfortable. Everything happens very quickly and in order to digest everything that is presented to you, you will probably have to reject the stages … which is not a problem, since each one can be unique and enjoyable to play.
The design of this game is also absolutely perfect, along with its soundtrack. All the retro-futuristic aesthetics to the sound of synthwave songs composed by Daniel Olsen and sung by Linnea Olsson combine perfectly and generate a deep immersion to the player, regardless if he is playing laptop or on TV.
Each phase addresses a different theme of retrofuturism, which is more than commendable. From virtual reality to outrun races to killer wolves, fans of the genre will be more than satisfied with that title.
In addition to an exceptionally well used theme, the gameplay is just as dense and varied. Each level gives you a new combat skill that, despite being used in Quick Time Event (QTE), is well placed and compatible with the genre, not a gameplay break.
Pros:
- Theme perfectly used and explored;
- Soundtrack absurdly well placed;
- The best QTE in a video game;
- Runner and rhythm mechanics fused with mastery.
Cons:
- Some missions end too quickly.
Score: ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ (out of 5)
Platforms:
- PS4
- Nintendo Switch
- Apple Arcade (iOS [platform analyzed], iPadOS, Mac and tvOS)
In general, Sayonara Wild Hearts can be completed in 4 hours, but it can be replayed to the contentment of the heart. As a game announced by Annapurna some time ago with great ambition, we finished this more than satisfied and consider it a title now ESSENTIAL for the genre.
