Review cover Hi-Fi Rush (Xbox Series X|S)
Official GBAtemp Review

Product Information:

  • Release Date (NA): January 25, 2023
  • Release Date (EU): January 25, 2023
  • Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
  • Developer: Tango Gameworks
  • Genres: Rhythm-based action
  • Also For: Computer

Game Features:

Single player
Local Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Co-operative
Tango Gameworks recently made a surprise launch Hi-Fi Rush that deviates wildly from its former games. How does this new rhythm-based action venture fare?

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After a dubious experiment conducted by megacorp Vandelay on the enthusiastic volunteer Chai went sideways, fusing his music player with his heart, our protagonist was labelled as a defect destined to be "recalled". Not waiting to figure out what this means, Chai employs the new abilities that this very experiment equipped him with to find a way out of the establishment.

As the true (wannabe) rockstar that he is, Chai will make his progress while fighting to the beat of soundtracks as he faces each department head and their robotic lackeys.

A marked change in tone for Tango Gameworks

When you hear of games studio Tango Gameworks, you’d think of sombre-looking titles such as survival horror The Evil Within or the more recent supernatural first-person action game Ghostwire: Tokyo; afterall, studio head Shinji Mikami is the father of Resident Evil. So when a lighthearted, colourful and loud title such as Hi-Fi Rush comes out of the blue from the same studio, it’s only expected to turn heads; and Hi-Fi Rush does so in a good way.

Bethesda’s surprise drop merges colourful cel-shaded aesthetics with cartoon cutscenes to make for a joyful experience that feels like playing a cartoon itself. The original setting and plot add to the presentation that makes for a memorable experience. Not to forget some banging soundtracks from bands such as The Prodigy, Nine Inch Nails and The Black Keys that elevate the experience further to new heights.

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Saving the world, one beat at a time

Rhythm-based games are not a new genre but have had a sort of renaissance lately with titles mixing up genres like Metal: Hellsinger and BPM: Bullets Per Minute that FPS with rhythm shooting. However, in the latter case, the learning curve was steep and shooting to the rhythm proved to be challenging. Hi-Fi Rush jumps on this renaissance bandwagon but strikes the right chords to ease players into its mechanics.

It merges platforming sessions and fast-paced battle sequences with rhythm-based mechanics. While actions are executed similar to any other action title, you’ll have to jump, dodge, and attack to the beat to execute more powerful actions. In fact, the environment itself is moving to the beat, which helps you to catch the rhythm and hit buttons at the right time. If you need additional hints, the game features a handy rhythm visualiser that you can toggle on-the-fly to help you with the controls.

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While it did take me some time to get in tune with the rhythm, the result is that of a fun, fast-paced action game that feels satisfying after every successful sequence. The combat mechanic progressively evolves to enable various approaches with different attacks and combos on top of unlockable skill and upgrades; while the gameplay is mixed up with light exploration, platforming sessions and QTE-like sequences to keep things fresh. It’s not unlike Devil May Cry with the ranked combats interspersed with exploration; but with a more diverse approach to the gameplay.

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Learning curve to rockstardom

For those who are tone-deaf like myself, the learning curve to hitting buttons to the rhythm can be challenging. However, the execution is fair overall and the gameplay feels  satisfying once you’ve got the grip of the controls.

Nevertheless, some pesky aspects to the need to hit to the beat persist. For instance, I found parrying in particular to be tough. In addition, Some of the QTEs can feel particularly unforgiving with only a small sliver of opportunity to hit the correct button to the beat.

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Get in tune!

The drastic shift in tone and gameplay for Tango Gameworks’ latest title is surprising to say the least but the result is an original, well-executed rhythm-based action game that can get even the tone-deaf hooked.

Hi-Fi RUSH | Official Launch Trailer

Verdict

What We Liked ...
  • Fast-paced fun
  • Well executed rhythm-based action mechanics
  • Colourful, lighthearted and original presentation
What We Didn't Like ...
  • Some QTEs can feel unforgiving
  • Learning curve to master controls
8
Gameplay
Hi-Fi rush executes the right balance by merging its rhythm-based mechanics with combat, exploration and platforming to keep players hooked
9
Presentation
The cel-shaded aesthetics and cartoon-like cutscenes have a distinctive and unique touch that often makes the experience feel like playing a cartoon itself.
8
Lasting Appeal
Despite the learning curve and some persisting challenges, the satisfying feeling of hitting to the beat and getting combos right feel justified.
8.5
out of 10

Overall

With Hi-Fi Rush, Tango Gameworks crafted a groovy rhythm action title that will even get the tone-deaf among us hooked.
Denuvo, and being from bug-thesda, are big detractors. Which irks me, because this looks like a rhythm centric take on no more heroes. And by all other accounts, I should be all in on it.
 
I hate Denuvo as much as the next guy, but as long as there's only one person out there cracking it, and it takes them over a year per game, it's going to end up being included with every new AA and AAA release. I wouldn't recommend using it as an excuse to miss out on great games like this one, especially when they're reasonably-priced and free from major bugs/performance issues.
 
I hate Denuvo as much as the next guy, but as long as there's only one person out there cracking it, and it takes them over a year per game, it's going to end up being included with every new AA and AAA release. I wouldn't recommend using it as an excuse to miss out on great games like this one, especially when they're reasonably-priced and free from major bugs/performance issues.
Which is why I would say it is the Perfect time For not only Gamers But Xbox to go Game Pass hard. I would of never BOUGHT HiFI Rush, and " Some People" would just Pirated it. But Gamepass allowed SO Many People to play it willingly and legally.
There is no Way in Hell this game would have gotten so much talk if it was released traditionally
 
Which is why I would say it is the Perfect time For not only Gamers But Xbox to go Game Pass hard. I would of never BOUGHT HiFI Rush, and " Some People" would just Pirated it. But Gamepass allowed SO Many People to play it willingly and legally.
There is no Way in Hell this game would have gotten so much talk if it was released traditionally
As great as Game Pass is to try before you buy, publishers/developers are still gonna base success on actual sales numbers. Thankfully the game did do really well on Steam (and I'm guessing on Xbox too), because I want more reasonably priced surprise drops like this as opposed to half-assed $70 games like Forspoken.
 
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Reactions: NeroAngelo
Bethesda as only a publisher is nothing to worry about. It's not like Doom and Doom Eternal are known as buggy messes.
What are you talking about? Eternalj was a bug-ridden mess for me. 2016 I crashed a grand total of two times through the entire campaign, and in no time did I have to redo any progress. Eternal forced me to replay levels so many times, it was unreal.
 
What are you talking about? Eternalj was a bug-ridden mess for me. 2016 I crashed a grand total of two times through the entire campaign, and in no time did I have to redo any progress. Eternal forced me to replay levels so many times, it was unreal.
I mean bugs in those games were nothing compared to Skyrim, and literally Bethesda has nothing to do with any Doom bugs you may have come across. That'd be like blaming the producer of a movie for how poorly it was directed or written.
 
I mean crashes in those games were nothing compared to Skyrim, and literally Bethesda has nothing to do with any Doom bugs you may have come across. That'd be like blaming the producer of a movie for how poorly it was directed or written.
Except you should blame them because it's often their decisions that foul up the final product. Again, what are you on about? :unsure:

I doubt any programmer at id/bethesda/microsoft willingly put Denuvo in the games. Considering the initial release to platforms of 2016 famously lacked the code to reference to it is in its own way, evidence of this. It's the Producer (in this case, bug-thesda) that would demand such disgusting practices be in place.
 
I was thinking the one downside of this game would be how short it is, but then I finished the main story and it opens up like three new modes to you, along with the ability to play any story segment over again. Objectively it is like an 8.5 or 9, but it's a 10/10 for me personally, and an early GOTY candidate.
 
Review cover
Product Information:
  • Release Date (NA): January 25, 2023
  • Release Date (EU): January 25, 2023
  • Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
  • Developer: Tango Gameworks
  • Genres: Rhythm-based action
  • Also For: Computer
Game Features:
Single player
Local Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Co-operative

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