"Cast your minds back, all the way to mid-2020. Sony unveiled the PlayStation 5 with a showcase featuring 25 games. Since then, 22 games have come and gone leaving just 3 remaining, until now. Goodbye Volcano High finally reached us on 29th August 2023. Was it worth the wait?" Paul @ Thumb Culture
VGChartz's Lee Mehr: "In the end, KO_OP's cataclysmic shortcoming comes back to the script. I'll admit: there's a serviceable gameplay foundation – especially its rhythm template – which lends it some character and sincerity; given how limited that quality typically is for a visual novel, it’s a tough sell when the context propelling the game forward typically feels disjointed and uninteresting. I know it's smarmy to say "it's more parts insufferable than endearing," but there's only so much emotion you can squeeze from its good bits in the face of wonky pacing, several empty characters, cringe-inducing dialogue, and an unearned sense of accomplishment. If our Mesozoic Era looked anything like Goodbye Volcano High, I'd say there's a bright side to their apocalypse: we got oil in exchange."
That's fair. Just to give you a comparison of other emo indie games of this style: Life Is Strange (Season One) worst parts are less insufferable than this imo. It's hella easy to throw shade at Chloe's cringe and whatnot, but at least Don't Nod's writers know to weave enough plot, character development, etc. alongside its lesser writing qualities. If you filmed me playing this like a Office/Parks & Rec mockumentary, I'd look at the camera at least once per half-hour.
Is Goodbye Volcano High worthy of the outsized amount of attention that’s been paid to it? Or is the end result a brontosaurus-sized letdown?
Kinda seems like there's not that much to see here beyond what was shown in trailers.
The presentation detailed the seven upcoming indie games that were selected by Tribeca judges to be showcased during the 2023 Tribeca Festival.
“This year, Tribeca’s games selections showcase creators who explore identity, emotion, and a sense of place through their games,” Tribeca’s VP of games and immersive Casey Baltes said in a statement last month.
“We are proud to highlight a range of cultural perspectives with exceptional artistry and storytelling from voices all around the world that will captivate audiences and stay with them long after the experience is over.”
