Goodbye Volcano High

 PC
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 23
  3. Negative: 7 out of 23

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  1. mayuri_
    Sep 2, 2023
    10
    Personally I really enjoy the game, loved the characters especially fang, I can understand if some people don’t find the game as appealing but I think some are overly critical to it.
  2. FurroRigo
    Sep 4, 2023
    9
    Art: I found all the concepts and colors used very beautiful in addition to the well-structured scenarios.

    Music: Likewise, the music for my taste has a good rhythm and is soft/relaxing. Characters: The truth is that the contribution of the characters in relation to their personality and behaviors got a little out of hand Gameplay: A lot of dialogue as in TWD or AU and they only passed    Art: I found all the concepts and colors used very beautiful in addition to the well-structured scenarios.

    Music: Likewise, the music for my taste has a good rhythm and is soft/relaxing.

    Characters: The truth is that the contribution of the characters in relation to their personality and behaviors got a little out of hand

    Gameplay: A lot of dialogue as in TWD or AU and they only passed 5(6?) Music scenes, but when they passed they were long enough to entertain.

    History: I liked it in general, but if there was a little filler in the dialogues that was a little unnecessary in addition to leaving the end a little to the imagination for not showing the collision of the asteroid itself.

    Ending: It was good only that there were some points that became a little ugly both of the ending itself and of the characters and frames used, but it was a good ending

    Conclusion
    In itself the game is well developed since to be a game that has just come out it does not have as many errors or bugs as others that in the future they will surely fix, just like this cool that it is a one shot type for not having dlc or any downloadable content and not dealing with the issue of transgender, lesbian, gay, etc. as we all thought they were going to exaggerate it. Recommendation: don't play Snoot Game first, if you want play Goodbye Volcano High    … Expand
  3. mlana
    Sep 7, 2023
    10
    "Nonbinary Arabic Teenage Pterodactyl battles the end of the world with music" sounds like the setup for a joke.

    Instead, it's the best game of the year.

    A fully-animated and voiced visual novel that feels like you're playing an anime, with a story that any open-minded person will find inspirational and shoegaze-powerpop soundtrack you'll find hard to get out of your head.
  4. Volkodlka
    Sep 4, 2023
    10
    To be honest, I have no idea what to say. I just really liked the game. Perhaps in style (I love 2d drawing), the music is really very good. I liked Fang as a character. Although the genre is not my absolute, but for some reason I liked this game. There was a lot of cringe at some points (Trish), but I enjoyed the game.
  5. dreesha
    Sep 3, 2023
    10
    Best story in a video game ever. Best of the genre.

    Goodbye Volcano High is a cinematic story game I have been eagerly waiting to release for nearly a year. Having now played the game through beginning to end twice, the wait was worth it. The memorable soundtrack and music mini-games help to keep the story tight. Fang's main passions in life are their musical career and their    Best story in a video game ever. Best of the genre.

    Goodbye Volcano High is a cinematic story game I have been eagerly waiting to release for nearly a year. Having now played the game through beginning to end twice, the wait was worth it.

    The memorable soundtrack and music mini-games help to keep the story tight. Fang's main passions in life are their musical career and their friends, and sometimes they have to decide. I immediately connected with Fang and empathised with their struggles.

    The game takes about 6.5 hours to complete, but has definite replay value. There is new content to be discovered on the second, and even the third play, if you make different choices along the way.

    Goodbye Volcano High is a fantastic game. There have been, and there will continue to be, comparisons drawn between this game and Night in the Woods. In a world of mediocre furry-themed visual novels, Goodbye Volcano High has unseated NITW as the finest ever made. It's earned a permanent place in my heart.    … Expand
  6. Racoony
    Sep 8, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The good:
    The graphics. I know they're a little bugged but they great anyway. I love its 2D animation and the graphic design overall.
    The music ls OK too.

    The bad:
    Everything else. Poor story, poor characters, bad dialogs. There's no gameplay, replay value or accomplishment feeling. Choices are useless.

    The meh:
    Everybody here is LGBT but that doesn't effect the plot. There's some romance but not a single kiss.

    Buy this game if:
    You have no expectations

    Get away from this game if:
    You enjoyed Snoot Game.    … Expand
  7. kezzyhko
    Aug 31, 2023
    10
    ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍
  8. Cibermesias
    Aug 30, 2023
    2
    The good:
    The graphics. I know they're a little bugged but they great anyway. I love its 2D animation and the graphic design overall.
    The music ls OK too. The bad: Everything else. Poor story, poor characters, bad dialogs. There's no gameplay, replay value or accomplishment feeling. Choices are useless. The meh: Everybody here is LGBT but that doesn't effect the plot. There's    The good:
    The graphics. I know they're a little bugged but they great anyway. I love its 2D animation and the graphic design overall.
    The music ls OK too.

    The bad:
    Everything else. Poor story, poor characters, bad dialogs. There's no gameplay, replay value or accomplishment feeling. Choices are useless.

    The meh:
    Everybody here is LGBT but that doesn't effect the plot. There's some romance but not a single kiss.

    Buy this game if:
    You have no expectations

    Get away from this game if:
    You enjoyed Snoot Game.    … Expand
  9. Foxwarriorplus
    Aug 31, 2023
    3
    I was looking forward to it and it's made for people like me, I loved NITW and I liked Life if Strange but this....
    I'm sorry but the worst thing that can happen to a video game is that it's not entertaining.
    There are some interesting songs and cute backgrounds but that's about it, the decisions are fake and the characters are totally forgettable, I more than most people wanted it to be    I was looking forward to it and it's made for people like me, I loved NITW and I liked Life if Strange but this....
    I'm sorry but the worst thing that can happen to a video game is that it's not entertaining.
    There are some interesting songs and cute backgrounds but that's about it, the decisions are fake and the characters are totally forgettable, I more than most people wanted it to be good but I can't even recommend this to people who like Snoot Game or Sea LGBT being part of this community, it's really not worth it, just listen to the ost on yt and that's it.    … Expand
  10. Yarl0
    Aug 30, 2023
    6
    The game is basically a movie you can play, its not that bad, but in a few moments its feel slow in the narrative, the principal thing thats is perfect is the music, the soundtracks and the songs are beatiful in their own way, but its just that the general story its slow, or even simple without any chance since the begin of the game, and yeah, the majority of choices are pretty useless,The game is basically a movie you can play, its not that bad, but in a few moments its feel slow in the narrative, the principal thing thats is perfect is the music, the soundtracks and the songs are beatiful in their own way, but its just that the general story its slow, or even simple without any chance since the begin of the game, and yeah, the majority of choices are pretty useless, but the game its good if you need to chill for 5 hours, not too bad, but the people of internet made a great job actually.… Expand
  11. Djizksjsksmsns3
    Sep 8, 2023
    0
    Its just awful,the most terrible game i ever played its soooooooooooooo boring
  12. Jonathan_Mother
    Sep 10, 2023
    3
    Goodbye Volcano High is one of the worst videogames I have completed. The game suffers from numerous issues. Most characters have no nuance to them, the setting and visuals are extremely dull for approximately 80% of the game's runtime, the backgrounds are detailed but the characters are extremely flat visually. The story has no semblance of conflict and the game often butchers its ownGoodbye Volcano High is one of the worst videogames I have completed. The game suffers from numerous issues. Most characters have no nuance to them, the setting and visuals are extremely dull for approximately 80% of the game's runtime, the backgrounds are detailed but the characters are extremely flat visually. The story has no semblance of conflict and the game often butchers its own pacing to such an extent I simply couldn't help but be bored. The runtime is 6 hours - and I am not joking when I say this - a third of that is spent in three separate D&D games (played by the characters in game) which do not tie into the plot in the slightest and which make the game's story come to a screeching halt, this is an absolutely baffling decision narratively. These segments also aren't voice acted or animated, they are painfully apparent padding in a game that already struggles to keep the player engaged.

    Furthermore, the game is lacking even the most barebones of features, No save/load system, no text log to read back conversations, skipping forward in dialogue breaks animation, these are basic features that even the lowliest of VNs include without fault. The game is also filled to the brim with embarrassing and amateurish mistakes - voice lines for example cut immediately after the characters stop speaking, meaning that often there is a noticeable cut when the voice of the character should still be ringing. The story is not without continuity errors either, the game insists that the plot runs its course throughout eight months, despite the fact that there are segments in the game which imply otherwise, these are all at the start of the game, so my guess is that the developers didn't bother to edit the script and reanimate the scenes after deciding to rewrite the plot later on in development, whether my suspicions are correct or not, the existence of continuity errors at all is regrettable. In addition, the music minigames have no bearing on the outcome of any scene, you can miss every input or play perfectly and the characters don't so much as acknowledge it.

    In essence this is one of the most disappointing releases I've played. A handful of respectable voice actor performances and setpieces don't make up for the myriad opportunities the game fumbles. Ironically the music is perhaps the most pleasant part of the game, which was completely outsourced to Dabu, whom are great artists. This review is coming from someone who was very much looking forward to the game, I've been following its production for quite some time, and I felt inclined to warn anyone who checks this page not to play Goodbye Volcano High. It is a hollow, shoddily crafted and unimaginably boring waste of your time and money.    … Expand
  13. ggscv
    Sep 5, 2023
    10
    This is a fantastic game, with a short but very sweet story and some nice music based mechanical gameplay. I had zero issues with any bugs or glitches and the game ran flawlessly for me, almost perfectly. Play this game with an open mind, without any expectations and you will be rewarded for sure.
  14. HeliosHarbour
    Sep 10, 2023
    10
    The game tells a sincere emotional story and makes it immersive by picking and choosing elements from different genres of games (like rhythm game and visual novel) and applying them in ingenious ways, while giving the feel of an animated movie.

    The game stars a cast of cartoon dinosaurs that live their lives mostly like our own, but much like in our own world a meteor is set to hit the    The game tells a sincere emotional story and makes it immersive by picking and choosing elements from different genres of games (like rhythm game and visual novel) and applying them in ingenious ways, while giving the feel of an animated movie.

    The game stars a cast of cartoon dinosaurs that live their lives mostly like our own, but much like in our own world a meteor is set to hit the planet and likely cause a world-wide extinction event. How do these sentient dinosaurs cope with the uncertainty of their future while being expected to keep living their lives as if nothing has changed? That's the question the game wants us to answer by putting us in the shoes of the protagonist, an aspiring-rockstar pterodactyl named Fang.

    When the game gives you a choice to make, the options don't actually reflect what the protagonist is to say or do, but what the protagonist is THINKING. This is important:
    -Choices that are harder for the protagonist (due to anxiety for example) require more effort by pressing more buttons for a longer period of time.
    -Choices that represent the protagonist giving in to emotions have different animations and sizes to reflect it.
    -Some choices will be made unavailable by the protagonist's intrusive thoughts, represented by sudden static and a change of text.
    -If the protagonist is overwhelmed, the confusion will be represented by the options suddenly switching between each other at unpredictable intervals.
    This is all by design, meant to make us feel in tune with the protagonist even when it comes to anxiety and screwing up. The choices affect different aspects of the playthrough (mostly the relationships and unlocking scenes) but choosing is NOT a black & white matter. Respective to the above:
    -Choices that are better may feel harder than they are worth, or may incorrectly come across as bad, meaning the player has to commit and put effort
    -Choices that feel positive or negative only reflect what the protagonist feels and don't necessarily mean they will have good or bad results, it depends on the context wether the characters (protagonist included) get to speak their minds or not (the former being preferable).
    -Choices that are quickly made unavailable may lead to the happier outcome (the protagonist's anxiety got the better of them, and the player waited too long), or may come across as rude (the protagonist and the player should have thought it out before picking it).
    -The player may accidentally pick a choice they didn't mean to, with the protagonist's ensuing action feeling like an unconscious reaction they nonetheless have to live with.
    Rather than getting the "right" playthrough, or completionism, the game offers the player to live through the protagonist, with struggles, making mistakes and catharsis included.
    Story wise, the protagonist Fang wants to become a rockstar and go on tour with their band and best friends before the meteor hits, but their friends may have changed priorities with the news of the asteroid, and it's up to the player and protagonist to balance their wants and needs with those of everyone else involved.

    When one pauses the game, one of the options is the in-universe equivalent of Twitter. This dino-twitter updates frequently along with the story, the player being able to read all sorts of posts from different background characters. At first everyone is living their routine, mostly making jokes. Then the news of the asteroid hit, and while people never stop making jokes, the player can feel the fear, confusion, scepticism, denial and even desperation hiding behind the tweets. With social media being a recurring element in the story, this feature is very fitting.

    The rhythm game segments are very satisfying but not very difficult to perfect. As of this review there isn't an option to play them separately, sadly. Being a story about a rock band, the music segments happening is important, but I didn't notice any change depending on my performance. I found the music excellent and a highlight of the game.

    The characters have great designs, and are very fun and endearing. The dialogue feels natural, teenage awkwardness included. It was a relief that it didn't consist of constant quips and witty one-liners like it has become the norm in most media. The game is very honest, straightforward and mature with some of the characters' identities (instead of going the easy way and leave it ambiguous or using the fact that they are dinosaurs as some kind of metaphor), wich felt like a breath of fresh air.

    The more emotional moments worked for me, in no small part due to the aforementioned aspects contributing to the immersion.

    I came across some visual bugs, including some notable ones during the rhythm segments, but the developers (EDIT) have since fixed them (/EDIT). None of the issues affected gameplay.

    A single playthrough may last around 6 to 8 hours, all of which I was fully invested. I highly recommend it and I will play it again.    … Expand
  15. lixalich
    Sep 5, 2023
    10
    Great game! Really liked the music with QTE elements, visuals and design! But "Snoot Game" is still better!

Awards & Rankings

72
#72 Best PC Game of 2023
64
#64 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. GameCrate
    Oct 2, 2023
    75
    Goodbye Volcano High is rough and uneven, but it still contains some of the best individual moments I’ve had with a game all year.
    Read full review
  2. Digital Spy
    Sep 20, 2023
    70
    At its best, Fang and their friends' journey is affecting and thought-provoking, and while their time threatens to be cruelly cut short, the time we spent at Volcano High was mostly well-spent.
    Read full review
  3. Gamers Heroes
    Sep 15, 2023
    65
    For a game about dinosaurs and the end of the world, Goodbye Volcano High’s coming of age tale ironically plays things far too safe. Those looking for a comfort tale akin to an anime will enjoy its trappings, but those who have already graduated have no doubt seen what this title has to offer.
    Read full review
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