To fix what is a very bland gameplay loop on the surface, every single level changes things dramatically without adjusting the fundamental mechanics. You dodge projectiles and obstacles at the very last second to get a higher score, blah blah blah.

The core gameplay is simple. You dash forward towards enemy bosses while collecting as many hearts as possible without getting killed. However, I waited a few days and played the game again on the Nintendo Switch and iPad just to make sure it was as good the second time around. Admittedly, this may sound like hyperbole, especially considering the fact that my first impressions were on a plane with nothing else to do. Instead, I got a gameplay experience that, even after I finished the game, I couldn’t wait to try it all over again and again. Going into this review, I was expecting nothing more than a quick way to pass the time on a 4-hour flight from Los Angeles to Orlando. It’s the perfect blend of music, light narrative, incredible visuals, fun, and evolving gameplay, all wrapped up in the perfect on-the-go friendly package. Sayonara Wild Hearts is so much more than it seems at the surface level. With Sayonara Wild Hearts, I think we've found a prime candidate. Despite that, it's been difficult to pick out a singular “killer app” on the service. Apple Arcade’s initiative to bring quality offline-capable games to their mobile devices has been nothing short of stellar during its first few months. While there's always been a decent amount of solid mobile experiences every year, there was definitely a time where most games available on your black mirror were nothing more than glorified slot machines or hurry up and wait simulators. Mobile games are on quite an uptick lately.

Sayonara wild hearts