Hi-Fi Rush Review: Striking a Chord

Ali Hasan February 9, 2023

It’s not very common in today’s gaming landscape to see a developer branch out of their existing forte to deliver a game fundamentally different from their existing portfolio and do it so damn well. Tango Gameworks, the developer behind the highly successful Evil Within series and most recently, Ghostwire: Tokyo has broken all conventions with its latest game, Hi-Fi Rush. This game is a stark contrast from the developer’s previous offerings and is a radical departure from their established niche.

Hi-Fi Rush combines the precision of rhythm-based games with flashy and over-the-top combat all in a colorful package to deliver a game that surprised and delighted me to no end. Endearing characters, a beautifully rendered world, clever writing, and a stellar soundtrack all meld together in this toe-tapping, laugh-out-loud, musically held-together adventure that kept me coming back for more.  

Hi-Fi Rush Features Some Incredibly Well Written and Diverse Characters

In Hi-Fi Rush, you assume the role of Chai, a wannabe rocker college dropout who finds himself suddenly fused with his MP3 player after his voluntary surgery to have a bionic arm implant goes awry. This causes Chai to feel the beat of his music in everything around him. Chai soon finds himself in the ire of the evil robotic Vandelay megacorp who starts pursuing him, labeling him a defect that needs to be removed. The plot is fairly simple and rightfully so because it is the excellent cast of characters that drives Hi-Fi Rush throughout its 12-mission-long campaign.

Each of Chai’s companions adds a bit of nuance and heart to the story in their own way. Whether that’s Macaron’s tough exterior, contrasted with his soft and caring nature, or Peppermint’s tenacity and drive, the characters play off each other quite well, the main group is enhanced and made better by an equally as impressive cast of villains.

The diverse cast of villains that Chai faces, like the protagonists each come with their own unique backstory and spectacular boss fight, a highlight for me was Mimosa which puts a fun spin on today’s celebrity culture with Rekka being a close second. Throughout the course of the game, there were genuine laugh-out-loud moments because the humor, though crude is extremely well-written and works extremely well for the world the development team has created. There are moments when it teeters along the edge of being cringy but it never actually does. I think this is a testament to the writer’s expert balancing act and restraint.

Hi-Fi Rush’s Combat is Methodical, Fun, and Challenging…

Combat is where Hi-Fi Rush shines the most and is probably the game’s strongest asset. The game employs a Devil May Cry (or Bayonetta) style hack and slash combat complete with a style meter that fills up according to the complexity of your combos and moves. This combat style is interjected with a rhythm-based timing system with music acting as your guide for everything you do. You essentially have to time your attacks to the beat of whatever song is playing in the background but the game is a lot more forgiving in its approach than other similar titles.

Timing your attacks to the beat of the song will fill up your style meter a lot quicker and will net you greater overall damage. The music is paced perfectly, allowing you time to consider your next move. Even enemy attacks are centered around the beat allowing you to pick up on attack patterns fairly quickly and plan your next move accordingly. In many ways, it reminded me of the boss battles in Dark Souls where you have to figure out enemy patterns in order to succeed but in a much easier and more colorful wrapper.

…But Extremely Forgiving

While timing your attacks to the beat of the music is important, it isn’t pivotal to your success and won’t affect your combat outcomes too differently nor will the game penalize you for it. In many cases, Chai automatically moves to the rhythm of the music, but it’s you, the player who has to remain synced to the beat. As someone who’s never really played a game of this nature before, the learning curve wasn’t too steep. Whether that was due to the game’s forgiving nature or for because I adapted to it well remains a mystery to me but either way, for newcomers Hi-Fi Rush won’t be too much of a challenge.

The game throws an increasing variety of enemies at you as the game progresses, enemies with shields, larger weapons, projectiles, and more are added to the roster, keeping you on your toes for the entirety of the game while at the same time preventing the novelty of the combat system from wearing off. Some larger enemy types and bosses will also occasionally break off into rhythm-based minigames where your button presses and accuracy determine how successful your parries will be, which once you master allows for some of the most satisfying combat situations in the game. Additionally, you can also call in your companions whenever you’re in a tricky situation, allowing for a quick respite

Although, the inclusion of a targeting/lock-on system would have been much appreciated because I constantly found myself struggling to remain focused on one enemy. This was especially cumbersome during later missions where the game tends to throw different enemies at you at the same time, each with varying combat approaches and health levels.

Platforming and Puzzles Add Variety to The Game

Music sits at the very core of Hi-Fi Rush. Whether it’s Chai, his enemies, or the environment, everything is synced to whatever track is playing in the background. In between bouts of intense combat and boss battles, the game breaks off into large swathes of platforming and puzzle solving both of which help to add variety to the gameplay. The platforming is fairly straightforward and what you’d expect it to be from a game of this nature but what sets it apart is its use of music in to add a sense of dynamism.

Different elements within levels react to the background music which makes for some very fun platforming sections. For example, there were many instances where ledges would appear and disappear in front of me synced to the beat of the music, not only did I find this very novel but it also added another layer of strategy and methodical thinking in how I approached these sections.

Puzzles are easy enough and never presented too much of a challenge for me and the game would also occasionally break off into brief 2D side-scrolling sections which I also enjoyed. If there’s one complaint I’d raise from this is the fact that Chai’s jumps felt a bit too inconsistent at times, which caused me to miss crucial targets and made me fall to my death a couple of times.  

Music Sits at The Very Core of Hi-Fi Rush

Chai loves rock music and consequently, the entire soundtrack is based on contemporary rock anthems. The Prodigy, Nine Inch Nails, and The Joy Formidable are just some of the artists that make up Hi-Fi Rush’s incredible soundtrack. The game also features its own suite of banger original tracks. The licensed music just lifts the entire game up. Taking on enemies to the beats of your favorite song or even a familiar tune is truly a pleasant process, especially when the music is woven into the very fabric of the game.

While I do wish the music selection was a bit more diverse, incorporating bands like Green Day or even some classic rock like Lez Zepplin and The Beatles, what’s on display is very solid and I imagine it won’t upset any rock fans or music enthusiasts for that matter.

Verdict

Tango Gameworks blends together two seemingly different genres in perfect harmony to deliver Hi-Fi Rush, a toe-tapping and colorful rhythm game that hits all the right notes, with a satisfying combat system and a kickass soundtrack There are a few missteps but they aren’t egregious enough to muffle the overall experience.

Pick up an Xbox Series X or Series S today through our featured ads to experience Chai’s exhilarating adventure in Hi-Fi Rush. Gameutha.com is Pakistan’s largest dedicated marketplace featuring consoles, games, and accessories across a number of systems. Gameutha.com is also home to the latest in gaming news, reviews, and updates.