Released Date: January 25th 2023
Developed by: Tango Softworks
Published by: Bethesda Softworks
Available on: Xbox Series S/X, PC
I have become a massive fan of shadow drops; it’s as if a stranger has jumped out of a hedge and given you an ice cream rather than some soon to be repressed memories. Hi-Fi Rush was one such treat that was recently unveiled during Xbox’s Developer Direct, only to become available on Game Pass soon after.
The game starts off with an animation explaining that you’re playing as Chai; a labrador minded manchild with dreams of being a Rockstar and little else to occupy his thoughts. The animation is superb and by the time you take control of your character, you realise how closely integrated the game engine is to the cutscenes. flitting between the two so smoothly, it feels like one seamless product.
Chai has enlisted into Vandelay Industries “Project Armstrong ” which seems to be a mixture of prosthetics and robotics. The Island or Campus where the company is based is full of people who are volunteers to be the cybernetic guinea pigs of this life changing technology. Chai’s slinged arm soon gets replaced by a mechanical substitute, but during this procedure, accidentally gets his portable music device infused into his chest. Equipped with his Audiovascular enhancement, he is branded a “Defect” and must fight off the forces of Vandelay’s Mechanoids trying to dispose of him. Chai has been assigned for Garbage Collection rather than being a rockstar, his magnetic wand for collecting scrap metal becomes his primary weapon. A glorious Junk Guitar made of various bits of scrap and debris.
The music is definitely the focus of this game. The surroundings pulse with life in time to the soundtrack. I caught myself standing idle in areas surrounded by setpieces that created a symphony when combined. It’s remarkable. Chai himself keeps the beat at all times, runs in time, attacks to the tempo and even when idle, snaps and taps to music. The original compositions fit the world flawlessly, the sound team deserve a standing ovation for what they’ve created here. I found my foot tapping and controller bobbing in an involuntary reaction to the game’s soundtrack. There are some copyrighted songs in the mix, which can be turned off in a “Streaming Mode.” Each track used is so well implemented, the use of headphones is nearly a requirement rather than merely a preference.
The enemies are all designed by the big bad evil corporation and come in several variations with different abilities. Their interactions outside of battle are priceless, the green unit that shouts Arnie one liners was a personal favourite. There are also mechanoids designed by the previous CEO of the big bad company. These units you never engage with in battle thankfully. They all live in fear of being replaced by the newer models, even though they seem to take care of most of the tasks in the compound. The interactions with these units fill the areas between battle arenas to keep traversal from going stale and it’s surprising how endearing the little units are. The little hoover bots especially.
The Combat is heavily focused on sticking to the rhythm; now, like many people reading this, If our families had any sense of rhythm, we never would have been conceived. Chai’s attacks land to the beat no matter when you press the attack button. The game will not punish you for missing inputs or being out of time, however, you are rewarded for landing your strikes in time with extra damage and extended combo options. By pressing the view button “or select” a metronome style bar opens on the button of the screen. Some people may find it easier to time hits by visual prompts rather than sonic cues. Even timing your button prompts as your previous attack lands can lead to success in combat. 808 flashes in time with the music; the game has multiple options for people that may find themselves struggling.
Speaking of struggling: the Parry system caused a bit of frustration when it was first unlocked. Once you begin meeting larger enemies, they will have battle segments which require precise inputs to defeat them. I initially found it difficult to get a handle on the parry system, but eventually I became relieved when it came up. A successful parry segment usually resulted in destroying that particular opponent. I can picture people getting frustrated at this particular mechanic however. Similar issues arose with the platforming; until twigging on that Chai raises and drops to the beat. A double jump and dash are there for a reason. Use them. You are rewarded with collectables and upgrades for exploring your surroundings. The areas are so well designed; which naturally made you want to go for a wander and find the cleverly tucked away segments. The upgrades in game can be pricey so the extra gears will always come in useful.
The biggest issue going into this game was the writing, it seemed incredibly cheesy. The sort of media that made the player flinch so hard, it would cause a hernia. The game is incredibly self aware, it knows what it is and isn’t ashamed of it. Chai is a blend of Ichiban from Yakuza Like a Dragon and Fry from Futurama, he’s an adorable idiot with a heart of gold. He is paired with 808, a robot cat companion and possibly the greatest sidekick we’ve had in a game for a long time. Chai’s happy go-lucky attitude suits a character that just wants to smash enemies with his junk guitar and not worry about the larger picture. His clashes with the bosses are especially memorable. Their exasperation at his sheer confidence and lack of awareness was always engaging.
The biggest shock in the game is the character development. You unlock several characters who end up joining your gang, for roughly the same goal. There is an evil corporation and they help Chai bring them down. As you adventure through the campus taking down the bosses making your way up to the big bad; your characters open up to each other, they really develop and bond as you progress. The sarcastic quips and puns gave way to genuine moments of concern, encouragement and some genuine laugh out loud moments. I have no doubt that the game’s music will be talked about for a long time in conversation. I hope the writing gets the same love as they really went above and beyond delivering a heart warming experience that even the most misanthropic of players can get the warm fuzzies from. I have my fingers crossed for a sequel set in this universe, I have started a replay as soon as the credits were rolling. Tango Softworks have made a title that is a joy to play and it’s nice to have a reminder every now and again that videogames are fun. One of those titles where you never want to put the controller down.
Hi-Fi Rush opened 2023 with a very promising start and it’s hopefully a sign of things to come in the future. There are several difficulty options available; so don’t be afraid to drop it if you aren’t having fun. For fans of Viewtiful Joe, No More Heroes or the various River City titles, you will definitely find something to love here. The Audio and Visuals stand up on their own. The Story is better than it has any right to be. The combat seems simple on the surface, but has so much variety and depth the more you experiment. If you enjoy Hack ‘n’ Slash or Beat ‘em up titles, you’ll find a deep well of enjoyment and replayability here.
-DeadbeatpunK
