Goodbye Volcano High- Videogames As Art

Goodbye Volcano High is a visual novel, music rhythm and teen drama game. The game has been on my radar ever since I'd seen the screenshots in Edge a while ago and the trailer cemented the feeling that this would probably be my bag. Having played and finished it over a couple of nights, I can most definitely say that it is my cup of T-Rex.... I'll get me coat.

It brought back waves of nostalgia for the 00s teen high-school dramas that I occasionally watched on T4. The earnestness, self belief and, yes, arrogance that you have in yourself as you feel that what you're doing is important and matters as a later teen... the feeling that this moment will last forever, is captured beautifully here.

I was never a Dawson's Creek guy but more into The OC and this hits like that. Now, I'm not saying Barking, Essex, England was anything like Orange County but the idea of a small local area where music opened up possibilities to something more than the crumbing ruin around you is something very teen. The only other game that made me feel like this was Night in the Woods as it was similarly relatable. Both games know that music soundtracks your life and moments and are formative- forever intwined in your memory.

I don't think we'll have that again as there is just so much content now but back then there was more of a monoculture. The same artists and songs would play on the radio but when you found your band, your tribe, you felt your true self. For me, it was the Manic Street Preachers' Design for Life that was formative. However, going back and listening to their previous The Holy Bible album blew me away. Well, it was this, Interpol's Antics, Arcade Fire's debut Funeral and Muse's Absolution. These albums soundtracked my formative mid to late teen years.

Anyways, the game is emotional and has enough truthiness to hit as well as being a metaphor for climate collapse so enjoy this game of existential dread and ennui mixed with camaraderie and hope.