Hi-Fi Rush Review
Summary: Although some levels are too long and the hidden secret ending that is actually the only reason for going through New Game+ is even more disappointing than the original ending, that cannot stop even the most hard-to-please gamers from loving Tango Gameworks’ latest marvel.
4.3
Labor of Love
It is hard to believe that Tango Gameworks, the studio famous for its great horror games would publish one of the funniest, most colorfully vibrant, and most joyful titles of the year out of the blue. But the sudden release of Hi-Fi proved that nothing is impossible!
Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythm-based hack & slash title about a flamboyant man named Chai who dreams of becoming a rockstar but his left arm is disabled. Thus, he enters Vandelay Technologies’ Project Armstrong to get a cybernetic arm. But just like all other mega-corporations in games as well as reality, there is always a hidden agenda and that is when Chai is involved in a corporate scheme that threatens the human race
Like most hack & slash games, the combat in Hi-Fi Rush is based mostly on melee attacks but some special powers enable Chai to pull off some ranged attacks as well. Chai uses his electric guitar made of scrap metal to fight off enemies. Defeated enemies also reward the player with scraps that can be used to purchase new combos, special moves, or upgrades. Chai can also call his friends such as Peppermint by his side for special attacks and awesome tag team finishers. The enemy variety of the game is pretty interesting and forces the players to use every tool in their arsenal.
For example, some enemies have electromagnetic shields that can only be destroyed by Peppermint’s laser pistol. As the player progresses through the game, more enemies with special vulnerabilities emerge that need quick switching between companion abilities in the heart of the battle. This along with well-designed and diverse boss fights keep the combat in Hi-Fi Rush always as fresh as its opening hours and the players on the edge of their seats.
While the story of the game is pretty generic with a really underwhelming ending and final boss, the gameplay is where Hi-Fi Rush shines brightest. I was never a fan of rhythm-based games because of how such games usually punish the players for missing the beat; making them feel ashamed of themselves. Hi-Fi Rush does the opposite: instead of punishing for missing the beat, the player is rewarded with a damage boost for keeping the attacks on the rhythm. This ingenious idea makes the game enjoyable even for gamers who are not much experienced with rhythm-based games.
The world of the game is one of the most harmonious designs I have ever seen in a game since Psychonauts 2. Literally, everything in the world of Hi-Fi Rush moves with the music beats: The trees and bushes wiggle with the music, the mechanical parts of the futuristic industrial city move rhythmically and even enemies attack on the beat. If Chai executes his moves such as dodges or attacks on the beat, there are environmental elements in each level such as street lights or giant crystalline minerals that flash; confirming and encouraging the player’s rhythmic inputs.
The characters in the game are also well-written. Chai’s friends are all named after foods or snacks just like himself. There is Peppermint who is a strong, self-sufficient woman, Macaron who is a big, strong man with the soft heart of a child, and his personal robot assistant CNMN (read as Cinnamon) who paints his face with emoji to look more sympatric and humane. The characters, the jokes and some self-aware comments about the challenges of game development make Hi-Fi Rush a perfectly balanced experience that is unique, vibrant and challenging.
Hi-Fi Rush is a great experience. Perhaps because it was unexpected and not surrounded by hype. But the harmonious and coherent design, loving characters, colorful world, anime-inspired visuals, and challenging yet enjoyable combat proves that this game is a labor of love. Although some levels are too long and the hidden secret ending that is actually the only reason for going through New Game+ is even more disappointing than the original ending, that cannot stop even the most hard-to-please gamers from loving Tango Gameworks’ latest marvel.
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