Hi-Fi Rush occupies an increasingly scarce space in the big-budget video game industry. A 10- or 11-hour running time has more in common with Saturday morning cartoons than it does with gritty prestige TV thin attempts like most triple-A games these days, and that’s its greatest strength. It’s just the best cherry that its gameplay and combat is a unique amalgamation of rhythm and stylish action games.
The main character, Chai, has big dreams of becoming a rock star. To make this dream come true, he signs up for his Project Armstrong. This is a program run by He Vandelay Technologies, a giant technology organization. Ideally, this was supposed to be a replacement for Chai’s crippled arm, but he has to fight his way out of the facility when he’s labeled defective. He meets Peppermint, who is working to defeat Vanderley. The two teamed up to form a hodgepodge of misfits desperate to end Vandelay’s monopoly, carrying various people dissatisfied with the tech giant.
Each core cast member was charming and funny in their own right, and consistently enjoyed the jokes, arguments, and different dynamics. Hi-Fi Rush is a surprisingly good game, intentionally corny, and often does it subtly. In fact, I was surprised that the story was my favorite part of this game, and really enjoyed all the characters and how they integrated into the wider group. The hilarious band work together in harmony, and the story and gameplay match up in a satisfying way.
At the heart of Hi-Fi Rush is a story about big tech, and more specifically, issues in the gaming industry. This is not the world’s most radical corporate protest. But the skewed budgets between the marketing and development teams and the level of teasing tyrannical managers who take control of their products against quality and worker safety certainly get the point. Tango Gameworks is owned by Megahi publisher Bethesda Softworks. Maybe something to keep in mind.
All of this will be deployed across Vandelay’s large corporate campus. Even when standing still, the bright cel-shaded world is always in motion. Everything in Hi-Fi Rush moves to the beat of the game’s soundtrack – everything from Chai’s running animations, industrial gear spinning, cutscenes, and even the game’s internal metronome. It was always fun to see how the game integrated Chai’s love of music into the world. Even small touches, such as swinging a weapon belt to make a guitar sound in the same key as the soundtrack of any level.
Combat is where Hi-Fi Rush’s rhythmic backbone really comes into play. On the surface, the game plays like a stylish action game. If you’ve played Bayonetta or Devil He May He Cry, you know the drill. However, a unique twist is that doing it to the beat of the game’s song will give you better scores and more effective attacks.
Fighting to the rhythm, pounding out drum snare hits and flashy animations perfectly timed to Hi-Fi Rush tunes feels as good as it looks. If you slam the button in time, it literally weighs. All surrounding aspects of gameplay lean towards the same gimmick: puzzles, platforming, and the entire nine yards. There’s an original score, but the licensed soundtrack does a lot of the heavy lifting for the game, especially during the tense and dramatic moments. Especially all the songs added from The Joy Formidable are great.
Combat is so good that it suffers from a noticeable lack of early in the game compared to later in Hi-Fi Rush. It starts slow, and in the first few levels I found myself desperately trying to tackle the next enemy encounter. Luckily, after a few hours, Hi-Fi Rush really kicked in. By the time the credits roll, it crescendos into a mess of colors and riffs, completely over-the-top and alive in spectacle.
With Hi-Fi Rush, you don’t have to fight to the beat. Animations are displayed on time even when it’s out of time, giving the same visual effect as if the players were in perfect sync. Plus, it has a visual metronome on screen to help you keep track of time. The game also maintains a relatively slow tempo for all songs, and you don’t have to keep up with super-fast rhythms. These all go a long way toward enjoying the conceit of the game for players who aren’t into the rhythm, and are all great additions.
Considering the game was announced and released on the same day, Hi-Fi Rush is one of the most amazing games of 2023. Part of it is literal. Another more important part is just how good the game is: Hi-Fi Rush is a magical suite his spot among rhythm games, stylish action, and light-hearted, character-driven platformers. and is at the top in every respect.
