Combine that with the cel-shaded art style and Hi-Fi Rush is a visual feast, to say the least, but that idea of moving to the beat also applies directly to gameplay. The world around you constantly pulses to the rhythm - machines, light posts, and trees. Music is at the heart of everything in Hi-Fi Rush, to the point that the soundtrack itself almost becomes a character in the game. But there are deeper messages at play that turns the imaginative writing into something truly special. On the surface, Hi-Fi Rush is a feel-good romp with tons of style. There’s also an interesting metatextual layer about the state of game development at large, and how ballooning budgets and expectations can often clash with artistic vision. This is a game about fighting unfair working conditions and the soulless corporatization of everything - and it’s particularly concerned with how little regard companies have for the actual people propping them up. What’s most surprising about Hi-Fi Rush’s narrative is how relevant its overall themes feel to the gaming industry at large right now. Hi-Fi Rush often seamlessly switches back and forth between 2D cutscenes and 3D in-game graphics. There are some great gags scattered throughout Chai’s adventure, like a robot bemoaning the fact his job puts him in the rafters when he’s scared of heights, which then makes him wonder why they programmed him with a fear of heights in the first place. Hi-Fi Rush’s sense of humor is superbly tongue-in-cheek in a way that lesser games can only aspire to. While gamers generally have a high tolerance for cringy writing and dopey jokes, you’ll find none of that here. Along the way, Chai is joined by a host of memorable companions, like the outstandingly adorable robotic cat 808, or a robot named CNMN (Cinnamon) that draws expressions on his face with a dry-erase marker to seem more relatable. What I didn’t expect is a surprisingly touching tale bursting with phenomenally written characters. One glance at a trailer will show you Hi-Fi Rush’s vibrant art style and gameplay are the focus, which we’ll get to momentarily. This is the basic setup for Hi-Fi Rush’s gameplay systems, but also works as the narrative thrust that sees Vandalay trying to capture Chai because he’s a “defect.”Ĭhai is an inherently goofy character, but he’s the heart that keeps the strong story moving. Things go off the rails pretty quickly, and after an experiment goes wrong, Chai ends up with an iPod embedded in his chest and the ability to “feel the rhythm” in the world around him. Hi-Fi Rush follows the story of a young man named Chai, who arrives at Vandelay Industries to take part in their Armstrong Project, which is supposed to change lives by giving people highly efficient replacement limbs. It’s rare to see a big-budget game try something wholly unique these days, but Hi-Fi Rush is a brilliant mix of character action and rhythm games that feels unlike anything else out there.Įvery aspect of Hi-Fi Rush feels thoughtfully considered - like the way the entire world moves to the beat of the music and the surprisingly timely story - resulting in one of the most unforgettable gaming experiences in years. Just when I thought I was down for the count, my robotic cat companion jumped in and clobbered the boss with a series of sucker punches.Įvery battle in Hi-Fi Rush feels like a spectacle, a perfect confluence of style and substance.
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