In June 2020, Sony Interactive Entertainment hosted a Future of Gaming livestream, anticipating the release of the PlayStation 5 later that year. This event was significant not only for unveiling the console’s design and highlighting key first-party titles but also for showcasing a variety of third-party games. Among these were not just the heavy-hitting AAA titles, but a few captivating indie projects. The standout for me was the unveiling of Goodbye Volcano High, an anime-style, narrative-driven, visual novel experience that sought to immerse players in its world by using live animation, comparable to that of Steins;Gate ELITE a couple of years prior. It marked a significant leap for the developer KO_OP, with this being by far the largest project they have undertaken. Outside the technical aspects, the game promised a unique twist on the typical high school drama genre, leaving a lasting impression.
Originally slated for a 2021 release, the game experienced delays but eventually made its debut on PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 digital storefronts in the second half of 2023. Reflecting on the initial excitement and the delayed release, one might wonder if the wait was justified. The answer is a resounding yes, as Goodbye Volcano High not only met but in my opinion, exceeded its initial pitch.
Goodbye Volcano High is set in the quasi-modern society of Pangea, a world inhabited by humanoid dinosaurs instead of humans. The story revolves around Fang, a non-binary pterodactyl navigating their final year of high school. Fang is the lead singer and guitarist of the long-time up-and-coming band ‘Worm Drama’ and is grappling with ambitions of success, personal identity, and complex relationships. However, what begins as a series of mobile outages lead to reports that an asteroid may or may not hit the planet. As the fate of the dinosaurs appears to be more locked in stone, things get complicated as the characters face their demise, someone anonymously professes their love for Fang, and the time to hit those bucket list items becomes shorter and shorter.
Reflecting on my high school years, which are now distant and fuzzy thoughts, my memories predominantly consist of the relentless pressure of exams and the inevitable exhaustion from striving to meet my own lofty expectations. These memories aren’t particularly fond ones. Despite this, I have a deep appreciation for narratives that can capture the essence of high school life, embodying the diverse student personas and experiences in a way that is both unique and nostalgically appealing, ultimately representing an experience I wish I had during my youth. Goodbye Volcano High achieves this brilliantly. The game presents a modern, well-rounded cast that mirrors the diverse blend of personalities, cliques, and orientations one might expect to find in today’s youth. Furthermore, many of the characters fit within the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, and I appreciate and applaud the writing team for giving those who are members of these communities a voice, using this facet of their identity to empower, grow and develop the character. But they don’t make this the sole trait of the character, making it one element of emotionally rich character development.
The narrative of Goodbye Volcano High is meticulously crafted, starting with a gradual buildup that allows the story to unfold at a comfortably measured pace. While some may find the game shorter than expected, possibly a result of its high production values, it compensates with a deeply emotional journey and robust character development. Despite having only a singular ending, which is cleverly incorporated into the very first choice you make, players are given access to different paths based on the responses and mental states they opt to give Fang. Many players, like yourself, might initially gravitate towards the ‘nicer’ options in the game. However, the narrative’s complexity and depth encourage replayability, offering a different experience when opting for less conventional responses. The ending is one you will expect, although the tone is very different from the combination of chaos and naysaying that would probably befall humanity should such an event occur.
The gameplay in Goodbye Volcano High, despite its visual novel format, goes beyond merely navigating through dialogues. The game engages players actively by offering choices in Fang’s responses, with certain options being influenced by the character’s mood. This feature adds a layer of complexity and realism to the interactions, in a similar way that emotions would affect our decisions in real life. Beyond dialogue choices, the game incorporates unique interactive elements that enhance the player’s engagement. These creative moments range from selecting lyrics for a song to designing marketing materials for the band and even choosing poses for a senior school photo. These tasks, though infrequent, contribute to the immersion of us as the players into the role of Fang. It also demonstrates the development team’s commitment to creating a rich and engaging experience, instead of putting in half the effort and relying on simple CG artwork or non-interactive imagery. Plus as you progress, a few more surprises await.
But where Goodbye Volcano High shines is in its many gameplay segments. Whether it is Fang on the guitar, piano and/or jamming out some vocals, GVH features an approachable rhythm system that combines simple button presses with joystick movements. Nothing anywhere near DanceDanceRevolution levels of chaos, but enough to balance providing challenge while still being able to enjoy the music. The music in Goodbye Volcano High is a standout feature, with a soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. The game boasts an array of memorable tracks featuring the voice talent of the cast, especially Fang’s voice actor Lachlan Watson and the character’s song vocalist Brigitte Naggar. Despite some uh… creative song name choices in Fang’s use, the songs are consistently strong but in line with the story and do get catchier and memorable as the story continues, giving it a sense of progression. The final song, titled ‘Pretty Heroes’, is particularly moving – and featured in the game’s launch trailer, epitomises just how great the vocal songs in GVH are.
The voice acting in Goodbye Volcano High complements its high-quality music. The English voice cast is a diverse blend of talent, featuring actors with backgrounds in video games, anime, and predominantly stage and film. This mix brings richness and depth to the character portrayals. Those who are recognisable names in the video game scene include Mark Whitten as Reed, Ozioma Akagha as Trish, and Allegra Clark as Naomi, but even those with no or minimal gaming experience seamlessly flow into their roles well. Each actor in the game embodies their character with a sense of authenticity. Their performances go beyond mere line reading – they truly personify their characters. In my opinion, this commitment from the voice actors enhances the player’s emotional connection to the story and characters, making the experience more immersive and engaging.
As highlighted earlier in this review, Goodbye Volcano High boasts anime-style visuals presented in a live animation format. This approach ensures that the game unfolds in a visually engaging manner, allowing players to both watch and interact with the story, the main exception being during bonus sub-stories which are rendered in a comic book style. The quality of the animation is impressive, and outside the occasional quirks in facial expressions and mouth movements, it was immersive and pleasing to the eye. Further enriching the experience was the decision to cast every character as an anthropomorphic dinosaur. This creative decision, granted required given the context of the game, enabled a rich diverseness in character designs – with characters main, secondary and incidental boasting a wide array of body shapes, colours, hairstyles, wing styles, and dinosaur types. This variety not only makes each character visually distinct but also aligns their appearances with their personalities and natures.
Goodbye Volcano High could have easily been a melancholic tale about young dragons struggling to save their planet from a catastrophic meteor impact. Under the guise of an RPG or action game, that would work. Instead what we receive is something richer and more layered, distinguishing itself from the crowd in both video game and visual novel genres. The game weaves a coming-of-age story, focusing on humanoid dragons striving to make their mark with their band against the backdrop of a looming existential threat. This unique blend of themes and settings might not resonate with every gamer, but it carves out its own niche and delivers a captivating read complemented by great music, solid rhythm gameplay and an approach to design I hope to see revisited by KO_OP. Definitely a game worth picking up.
Goodbye Volcano High – Final Score
Goodbye Volcano High is now available digitally on the PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
