Review Discussions are an initiative to talk past or beyond a review or in place of a written/video review in a more timely manner. They’re an interview-style discussion hoping to discuss specific aspects of the game in question that may or may not be included in the written review. In some cases the discussion will be the only critical conversation we put out for a game, in others it may complement a review.
Hello and welcome to the Irrational Passions Review Discussion for Sayonara Wild Hearts. A colorful musical adventure about biker gangs and heartbreak.
For this discussion, our editor and reviewer Jurge Cruz-Alvarez chats with Jessica Cogswell to discuss it.
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Jurge’s Thoughts in Summary:
Sayonara Wild Hearts exudes a vibrant and youthful energy that is deeply palpable from the second you hit start. From its opening moments to its sincerely sweet conclusion, each section of it finds wonderfully inventive ways to surprise and delight. It is drenched in blues, pinks, and purples that serve as a vibrant compliment to its striking art. It’s that beautiful, harmonious marriage of its visual style and a catchy pop soundtrack, clearly taking cues from some of the greats of pop the likes of Madonna and Cyndi Lauper to modern favorites like Charli XCX and CHVCHRES, that delivers an enthralling and tight experience. It’s also a clear tribute to the work of Japanese game developer SEGA with sections reminiscent of Outrun, Panzer Dragoon, and REZ. While it has light rhythm game qualities, Sayonara Wild Hearts is really more about the brief and intense journey, and as a fan of the genre that left me somewhat disappointed.
Collecting the game’s crystal hearts spread across its levels to raise your score and getting the timing on its quick-time-events just right to get that perfect execution, never really motivated me. While I did find myself replaying it multiple times, it was more because I wanted to relive the interactive audio-visual experience of it than because I found the gameplay of it engaging. It’s not a game where I’m interested in taking on its expert challenges, and much of its scoring mechanics blur to the periphery for me. Regardless, Sayonara Wild Hearts remains a remarkable melding of art, interactivity, and music.
This game was reviewed on a retail PS4 Pro with code provided by a PR representative of the game.
