The difference between PlayStation and Xbox in past Generation Plus isn’t just the amount of exclusive content, it’s also the quality.Microsoft has some valuable exclusives Jeez, which in itself was a big problem. Worse, not only good wonderful It’s embarrassingly small.So last week’s surprise Shadow drop as soon as it appears Tango Gameworks’ rhythm action game Hi-Fi Rush was huge for Xbox. It was a surprise, a delight, a viral hit. Exactly what Xbox needs right now.
Rhythm action games are nothing new. But they aren’t really “hit” games either. We have enjoyed their meals steadily over the past few years. It’s probably from the game developer, like many gamers, mourning the seemingly permanent death of the plastic instrument genre that Guitar Hero and Rock Band pioneered in his late 2000s. While many of the new-age rhythm-action games have been great (last year’s Metal: Hellsinger was a deep dive into that theme and a lot of fun), Hi-Fi Rush is much more approachable and engaging. There is a thing Perhaps it’s the literal cartoon art style, and the equally cartoonish plot, in which a teenager sets out to replace his disabled right arm with a functioning robotic limb at Vanderley Technologies. A wrongly acquired iPod gives you rock star power. It was fused to his chest in an automated factory-like procedure.
Hi-Fi Rush rewards humor, liberal use of the entire color palette (reminiscent of past Xbox cult classics like Jet Set Radio Future and Sunset Overdrive), and pulled combo moves and special attacks The gameplay makes this ridiculous premise sing. To the beat of its fantastic soundtrack, which includes cuts from Nine Inch Nails and The Black Keys – but, crucially, it won’t punish you for failing to keep the rhythm. Even parts of the normally boring environment flap to the beat as Chai, the star’s avatar, snaps his fingers or taps his feet, making every moment literally a joy. Diverge.
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The result is an instantly beloved game that is fresh and has taken the gaming community by storm.and Bethesda knew it had something specialEveryone has been talking about Hi-Fi Rush this past week, and for good reason. It is also the beneficiary of great timing. The only other significant work released around the same time was the Dead Space remake. extraordinary, are rarely aimed at the same audience. Dead Space and Hi-Fi Rush are polar opposites when you try them.
Plus, frankly, both Microsoft and the Xbox community needed this. I thought cloudy days were gone forever in 2021but last year the dark skies were back, even Xbox boss Phil Spencer admit Lack of exclusive game releases in the last 12 months. Xbox not show at all The Game Awards in December only tested the fans’ patience further.So the fact that Microsoft has not provided a release date for the critical first half limited edition at the time A recent Developer_Direct broadcast But Xbox also released a kick-ass new game that was just that day a jolt of positivity, enthusiasm, and sheer fun that was lacking in much of the early part of this new console generation.
So where are we now, entering the second month of a pivotal year for Xbox? Forza Motorsport appears to have been pushed to the second half of 2023, and Starfield still seems like a question mark when it comes to release dates. But for now, Xbox fans are having a good time thanks to a fun, completely out-of-out. A surprise from one of the studios he acquired to solve the problem of first party games. Excuse me, but I have other evil corporate bosses to beat with my robotic guitar arm…
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews and host of IGN’s weekly Xbox show. podcast unlockedas well as the monthly (ish) interview show, IGN UnfilteredHe’s from Northern Jersey, so it’s a “Taylor ham” rather than a “pork roll.” Discuss with him on Twitter @DMC_Ryan.
