Ahead of you are four masked enemies they strike a group pose, and then, right as the drop hits, their three-headed wolf tank appears and the mini-boss-like sequence begins. During the buildup, you ride your motorcycle through the forest, weaving between trees and picking up hearts while all is calm. My favorite level, Dead of Night, closely matches the music with the action and, as a result, the song has impact. When this all works together, it really works. And yet all of them, even at their most bright and exciting, are tinged with melancholy, largely due to the heartbreak-infused pop soundtrack-it's the kind of music that, if it were to come on in a bar, would make you feel incredibly lonely but also kind of like dancing. Some levels are bathed in electric neons, while others are more pensive, dark blue interdimensional affairs. Dodging an attack becomes a balletic leap, a flurry of punches culminates in an explosion of color, and even punch-induced vomit (in one level) is so colorful and abstract that it flows seamlessly with the overall aesthetic. The scripted moves, which often come during fight sequences against brightly colored antagonists, have a distinct magical-girl flair. Initially, the dreaminess of Sayonara Wild Hearts is enchanting. This all lends Sayonara Wild Hearts a dreamlike feel you are both participant and observer, somewhat in control but mostly just along for the ride. The camera and forward movement, including your speed, are automatic, too, leaving you to move only from side to side with rare exception. Timed inputs are reserved for flashier moves-big jumps, deft dodges, graceful attacks-and these sequences are all scripted, so all you have to do is hit the button somewhat on time and then watch as the moves play out to the music. Crystalline hearts line the paths you ride (or fly) through, and often, following the hearts is the best way to get through a level safely without scrambling to avoid oncoming obstacles. The main goal is to simply flow with the music, rather than hit a series of precise rhythm-based inputs or dance along to beats.

It came through in a few standout levels, but for most of the game, I found myself on the verge of falling in love with songs only to fall short of that high.

But it's also fleeting, and I spent the majority of my time playing Sayonara Wild Hearts chasing that feeling. When the art, the movement, and the music all come together in a track, it's absolutely captivating. Playing Sayonara Wild Hearts' best levels is an intangible, hard-to-describe feeling.

Sayonara wild hearts game