GOODBYE WORLD

Don’t let the gloomy name deceive you: there’s more than just depression to be found in the charming world of GOODBYE WORLD. This pixelated indie title deals with some hard-hitting moments in the life of two friends who struggle to make ends meet; a touching story delivered in a beautiful retro package.

With the tendency of modern indie titles to equate their gameplay mechanics to complex life issues, GOODBYE WORLD seems destined to become an instant classic of its niche genre. Let’s see what we can expect from such a beautiful game like this once it releases later this year.

Memories of Another Life

Much like Omori, GOODBYE WORLD has the ability to take players into an almost dream-like look into a life that feels vaguely familiar – even if the experiences lived by the main characters have never happened to the players themselves in real life.

The plot of GOODBYE WORLD revolves around two creatives struggling to meet the demands of an increasingly corporate environment. Kumade, a talented graphics artist, and Kanii, a reserved programmer, have been the best of friends since college. Now, however, their relationship feels strained due to the ongoing pressure of just navigating the ups and downs of game development.

Don’t expect a title that feels or plays even remotely similar to Game Dev Tycoon, however. GOODBYE WORLD uses game development just as a means to an end – in this case, telling a touching story about two pals who’re looking for their place in a highly-competitive industry.

It’s a tried-and-true formula we’ve seen in titles like Mother 3: talent against money, or rather passion against effectiveness. In many ways, it feels like GOODBYE WORLD operates as an analogy to the modern process of video game development: pushing out as many projects as possible, quality be damned.

Gorgeous Retro Visuals

You simply cannot discuss GOODBYE WORLD without addressing the game’s outstanding pixel visuals. Unlike the rest of the classic indie games that spawned in the years since Undertale changed the face of the industry, this one uses a very unique presentation that makes it stand out from the rest of the games that, mechanically, operate on a similar level.

Everything from the quality of the sprites to added post-processing filters is designed to make GOODBYE WORLD feel like it is a lost Game Boy title. Additionally, the story segments that feature Kumade and Kanii are made in a similar style to the visuals seen in a Super Nintendo game, which, once again, might make this game more appealing to EarthBound fans.

In terms of gameplay, even though it takes third place behind character development and plot progression in this game, the basic puzzle mechanics of GOODBYE WORLD will be pleasing enough for most fans of the genre.

The story is presented in thirteen story chapters and twelve puzzle-platforming stages. This arrangement makes sense once you realize that you’re not just seeing the story of Kumade and Kanii unfold, but you’ll also be playtesting their game as you make progress through the game’s poignant plot.

Pros

• Amazing retro visuals
• Incredibly well-paced plot with tons of emotional highlights
• Fantastic soundtrack and clean presentation all around

Cons

• Some of the story beats can be downright depressing, even for a game like this