The last thing I hoped for from developer Tango Gameworks was a vibrant, fun action game with a cartoony heart that I absolutely loved. While the studio is primarily known for its dark and macabre productions such as The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo, Hi-Fi Rush has a fun, youthful feel found in its engaging animation, art style and characters. full of personality. The surprising change of pace is already exhilarating, but Tango’s greatest achievement is the way it deftly executes the idiosyncratic concepts that permeate Hi-Fi Rush’s design. It’s all about the rhythm.
Right from the jump, Hi-Fi Rush establishes an homage to modern garage and alternative rock, using The Black Keys’ “Lonely Boy” to bring its cheesy but adorable protagonist Chai and its colorful, high-tech industrialized world to life. We start things off by introducing the . He lives in. Labeled “defective” by robotics megacorp Vandelay Industries after a surgical accident left him with an iPod stuck in his chest, Chai has his music running through the world around him. From that point on, almost everything ties mesmerizingly to the rhythms of the Hi-Fi Rush soundtrack, with this boyish goofball in the shape of a Gibson Flying V. Hit the Vandelay robot with the makeshift sword.
This playful setup sets a strong tone, and things only get better from there as Hi-Fi Rush layers on an awesome crew of allies, charismatic villains, and bombastic battles. It’s done with effortless humor and some genuinely warm moments.From different angles, Hi-Fi Rush is able to showcase its unique and charming spirit.
take me to tango
At its best, Hi-Fi Rush combat creates a unique, harmonious flow guided by music every step of the way. Chai always performs her attacks in time to the beat, regardless of her input timing, but by keeping the rhythm to her BPM in the BGM, she does extra damage instead of punishing missing notes. can give Using a similar foundation to Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, each combat encounter throughout the roughly 10-12 hour campaign is graded based on speed of completion, elegance, and ability to stay beat with combos, but Its constant connection to music results in a satisfaction that other stylish action games don’t.
This rhythmic system paces in a way that leaves no ambiguity in the timing of your combos and gives you room to consider each follow-up move. Use either light or heavy attacks to disrupt combo strings, dodge or parry in anticipation of incoming attacks, use grappling hooks to close gaps on targets, or let companions break shields. or stun enemies. I was overwhelmed because I was able to match my pace with the music. Don’t dwell too long on any one concept or gimmick, steadily incorporate new ideas and then put them all together to test your mastery. In other words, the basic 4/4 time signature.
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All enemy attack patterns are also played by the same rules. Whether it’s a charge-up, AoE, sword slash, or projectile, the rhythm lets you dodge telegraph attacks with confidence and approach it like a dance-his rhythm game. Sometimes that inspiration is clearer – tougher enemies and some bosses, short standalone episodes that require a series of parries to counter a last-ditch effort and deliver the final blow. Rush into a rhythmic quick-time event mini-game. Every time I had to do this, the stubborn rhythm game inside me was hyped and nodded in satisfaction as I got the perfect series of parries. In fact, one boss fight based solely on this concept remains one of my favorite encounters, even after a spectacularly bombastic fight in the late game.
my natural ability clap on 2 and 4 It just wasn’t enough to survive Hi-Fi Rush’s tough battles. Enemies evolve in gradual complexity with different attack styles, and things can get confusing in matching encounters with a mix of enemy types. It could get stuck or pulled, leaving you defenseless or being swayed by the wrong enemy. Thankfully, you have all the tools at your disposal, so changing your approach, or at least playing it safer, will save you from frustration. I was able to overcome the moment.
see the sound
Music is the driving force behind Hi-Fi Rush’s design, so anything that syncs to the beat through audio cues is also represented in clear visual cues. For example, a powerful combo finisher called Beat Hit uses colored circles to indicate proper timing. On the other hand, taking big hits will leave his AoE marker on the ground, changing color on the beat to indicate when it’s time to land. In addition, you can activate the on-screen metronome at any time to keep the time clearer. I can’t tell if it’s good enough from an accessibility perspective, but for those who struggle with rhythm games or need audio support, here are some options. It is worth acknowledging the importance and effort of including them put out to level the playing field.
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The closer you look into the world of Hi-Fi Rush, the more you realize just how deep the rhythmic spirit is. Chai’s footsteps, the snapping idle animations, the blinking light rings of his Robotic Cat 808 sidekick, the trees and rocks bouncing around in the environment, even the building infrastructure all move to the groove. action. Everywhere you look, someone or something is jamming out to the same song as you. That attention to detail is still one of the most impressive parts of Hi-Fi Rush, giving a boost to an already vibrant world.
The platforming and puzzle sections between staged combat encounters operate on the same principle, with platforms and major objects retracting and moving on the same beat. You can’t go wrong with timing. Hi-Fi Rush won’t perform cheesy tricks or hit you with mysterious difficulty spikes if you always play by the same rules. Beats establish a set of rules and dances that you understand. Timing means seeing the environment as an extension of the music. That said, while smooth on a conceptual level, movement during platforming isn’t as fluid as it is during combat. , is still a minor but noticeable inconvenience.
You Know The Vibes
The harmonious blend of rhythm and action is a standout achievement, but what makes Hi-Fi Rush truly impressive is its charismatic crew and watching the world come to life. Chai is great as all goofy and irreverent, but it’s the supporting characters that make the journey feel holistic.
Peppermint is a crafty badass who is the brains behind the operation to take down Vanderley’s band of comically evil executives. In many ways, this story is about her. 808 serves as the communication vessel for the team, but she’s also an adorable little baby tiger who will steal your heart just by doing cat things. A big softie with a lovely demeanor that contrasts with her brute force abilities. It’s a strong dynamic of a crew of lovable personalities who shine brighter than the protagonist himself – Chai, you’re cool, but you wish you could control your cooler friends on this journey!
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Hi-Fi Rush brings these characters to life with some of the best animations in the game. Cutscenes let their personalities shine brightly as they fight to the beat and express themselves in such engaging ways. I’ve always loved watching my partner’s attacks unfold. Juggle aerial combos, finish off with a peppermint partner attack, fire a huge laser beam, or ground a macaroon his pounds never get old. They’re also very effective against the toughest opponents, and really sell the idea that defeating Vandelei is a team effort.
There are so many cute quirks that they naturally bounce off each other and the villains so they don’t end up as supporting characters in the background. Voice performances enable heartwarming laugh-out-loud moments. And it’s consistent throughout the story, bringing tears to my eyes as we make our way to the conclusion. There’s also a bunch of clever little goofs and gags with a chilling satire of the work culture and the tech industry.Hi-Fi Rush effortlessly blends all these seemingly disparate elements.
rebel battle sounds
Hi-Fi Rush is packed with a ton of original music, but interspersed with licensed tracks that define key moments, like Number Girl’s “Inazawa Chainsaw” played during evocative vacations. offended some These aren’t just songs for licensing. Because we play by the rules of the Hi-Fi Rush universe, layering instruments and keeping to the beat of the world. For example, “1,000,000” in Nine Inch Nails. and “Perfect Drug” are played for each boss, and the entire song progresses as you go deeper into the fight phase. But both of these examples are far from perfect implementations of The Prodigy’s electro-punk tune, “Invaders Must Die,” and really make me tear apart hordes of robots and barrel through the end towards the end. It cheers me up. Feeling.
In between sanctioned spectacles, Hi-Fi Rush bounces off the beats of composers Shuichi Kobori and Reo Uratani’s original track, successfully recreating a modern garage rock sound. These songs tend to blend into the background. It’s catchy enough to tap your foot while playing, but it primarily serves its purpose as a guide to timing combat and puzzles rather than a standout song of its own. I don’t know if you can recall specific songs from the list. And with all the other aspects of Hi-Fi Rush so prominent, it could simply be a sign that the ‘good’ gets lost in the shuffle.
However, the aforementioned standout track comes from the late-game stages. persona vibeUpbeat acid jazz with Rhodes piano backed by sharp orchestral strings and funky guitars? Madarame, eat as much as you want. I was waiting for an original and evocative song that would perfectly frame this moment. Every layer of this engrossing track blows up in combat, but exploration returns nicely to a toned-down version, with additional elements building up as you progress through the stages. It’s a prime example of how Hi-Fi Rush uses their music, and one of the most memorable.
