Hi-Fi Rush

This game got shadowdropped and it is absolutely brilliant. The main character, Chai, gets a sort of license or application to be part of a cybernetic limb replacement project. As he sneaks ahead of everyone to get his arm replaced, his MP3 player drops on his chest and it gets fused with him and his arm. Now his heartbeat is essentially music.

It's like they put incredible art design, great comedy, fluid combat, and a bunch of great music into a blender and mixed it into a video-game smoothie. It does everything it tries well, and it's one of the most entertaining games I've played in a long time. My only dislike about it is that the jumping is a bit wack.

This game is one of the most fun games of the 2020s, it has a fun story, great rhythm gameplay that is easy to learn but hard to master, a quirky and fun cast of characters. I also have the highest praise for the art style, which is one of the most unique I have ever seen. The level design was a bit repetitive, and it's a little short, the other aspects are so strong that is doesn't matter. This is the Xbox Series' best game, even though I played it on PlayStation, but Xbox did what every stupid person would do and shut down Tango Gameworks, who was a solid development studio that made good games, Ghostwire Tokyo excluded, but they were headed in an interesting direction with Hi Fi Rush, but Xbox ruined that with their poor management and business decisions. Good luck selling consoles after this!

When I first laid eyes on the trailer for Hi-Fi Rush, it captured my attention instantly-imagine the vibrant style of Jet Set Radio melded with the fast-paced, brutal combat of the classic God of War series. As someone who's a fan of both the art and the developers, Tango Gameworks, the allure was undeniable. However, I hesitated to jump in initially, primarily due to my preference for the PlayStation controller, especially for a rhythm-focused game. My excitement reignited when it was announced for the PS5, and I finally dived in after Microsoft closed down Tango Softworks, eager to experience this unique title.

The story follows Chai, a 25-year-old who dreams of being a rockstar but instead finds himself embroiled in turmoil at Vandelay Technologies during a cyborg limb replacement program. Rather than simply becoming a test subject, an unexpected turn of events grants him powers, thrusting him into a battle for his freedom and the liberation of others in a sprawling technological metropolis. I won't spoil anything else-I'll just say that this narrative provides a compelling backdrop for the stunning visuals and engaging gameplay that follows.

Hi-Fi Rush is essentially a platformer with robust combat mechanics that brilliantly incorporate rhythm. Players are encouraged to time their attacks to the beat of the music, which adds an engaging layer to the combat. Fortunately, you don't need to hit every note perfectly to deal damage, a relief for someone like me who struggles with rhythm. The game offers plenty to explore, with hidden collectibles that unlock upgrades while you traverse vibrant, beautifully crafted levels that get better as you progress. Each area is filled with a variety of robot enemies, each presenting unique challenges and mechanics, which keeps combat fresh and engaging throughout.

While the combat is reminiscent of earlier God of War titles, it's tempered with a playful style that never feels overly violent. Still, I found myself challenged by the dodging mechanics, which require precise timing to avoid enemy attacks. There are moments where quick-time events come into play, and I often found myself grappling with their precision. These segments can feel a bit punishing if you're not quick on the draw, but they do ramp up the excitement.

What truly sets Hi-Fi Rush apart is its narrative and the companions that accompany Chai on his journey. Each character is well-written, sporting distinct personalities and motivations that make you genuinely care about their development throughout the game. The interactions during downtime in their hub serve to deepen immersion, creating a palpable connection between the player and the game world. It's a heartfelt experience that stands out; in an age of many solid titles, this one truly shines for its emotional weight.

Visually, the game employs a cel-shaded art style that gives it a hand-drawn feel, helping it stand the test of time aesthetically. The soundtrack deserves special mention, too-its importance within the game cannot be understated, setting the perfect tone and enhancing the experience. I was pleasantly surprised to find contributions from artists like Billy Corgan, which further elevated the enjoyment. The sound design, from sound effects to voice acting, is top-notch and complements the gameplay seamlessly.

The game spans about 12 hours, a length that felt just right for the experience it offers. While it's unfortunate to see what happened to Tango Softworks, I'm relieved to know the studio was bought by another company, and I sincerely hope for a sequel. If they continue in this vein, I would be eager to buy it without hesitation.

Overall, Hi-Fi Rush is a remarkable title that brings together a rich narrative, engaging gameplay mechanics, and an impressive artistic style, all infused with heart. I'm awarding it a 9/10.

This game is one of the best games i have ever played, the only reason anyone would have something bad to say is if they arent a fan of the combat. This game plays alot like DMC and Bayonetta, you have a light attack and heavy attack, and you can pair those attacks together that form special combos that deal massive damage. But the catch is that these said attacks go along with the beat, even your enemies attacks are on beat, hell EVERYTHING is on beat. When you are out traversing the games many platforming sections, when you loom around, you can see the environment jamming out to the beat. I aslo want to mention this game bossfights, the bosses attacks and environment match perfectly with the characters personality, and they are so action packed, except for one, but it has impressive animation and satisfying moves so i forgive it.

Aside from the combat, the game does have a story, and it accomplishes exactly what it wants to, the story is fun and the writing goes along perfectly with the story as well. It has a ton of one liners but it never gets annoying because they fit perfectly with the characters.

This is a game that doesnt take itself seriously, and because of that, "Everything just works". It turns what should be cringy and weird in other games but because the game is so goofy like this, it works well, like most of the games lines.

Naturally with a rhythem based game, the soundtrack has to be good, and its incredible. Its stylish and catchy and super satisfying how your attacks affect the song when you land a hit on the enemy.

And need i mention the style, its like a mix of sunset overdrive with animation similar to the Persona games , its like what you would see out of a modern 3d anime, a recent example is Dragonball super: super hero.

Overall, Hi-Fi Rush is an incredible game that came out of nowhere. If you like good music based combat and fun enjoyable characters with a great style, this game is perfect for you.

Starting out, this game felt like a great fresh take on a rhythm game. With bands like "Nine Inch Nails" and "The Black Keys" filling up the first 30 minutes I thought this game had great potential.

Unfortunately as time went on it was quite the let down.

Mechanics are fun, and the concept of hacking away to the rhythm was entertaining. This idea got very stale after a few hours of gameplay though.

Unfortunately those hit songs at the beginning that get you hooked in don't fill the roster of the entire rest of the game. To me this was a huge let down. You hook me in with some of my favorite songs, then never give me a taste afterwards? It's a very bait-and-switch move to get people to finish your game without them being excited to do so.

Outside of the rhythm of the game, the story was overall very cliche and I didn't find myself being attached or interested in any characters.

This game is highly regarded as "slept on" or "underrated" as an exclusive. Which is why I played it. However I beg to differ and think if you're looking for a rhythm game that you want to actually enjoy the music to in the process, I would look elsewhere.