This new surprise jewel scrolling game looks like moshing through the battlefield

Chai is seen looking nervous about something offscreen with the cat 808 on his shoulder looking similarly nervous.

screenshot: Tango Gameworks

Have you ever found yourself walking to the beat of a song you played? If so, you will likely feel bad Hi-Fi Rush. I’ve spent a few hours playing the rhythm action game from Tango Gameworks, and I’m glad you liked how satisfied you were with a game that more or less required you to dance with your enemies even as they mowed. While it’s an accessible action game for the rhythmic challenge, since I come from a musical background, it’s incredibly rewarding to lose myself in its pulsating beats.

Hi-Fi Rush– What you can Play today on Xbox Game PassIncidentally – stars Chai, a cyborg rock star who is accidentally outfitted with a box-mounted MP3 player similar to but legally different from an old iPod. Since this wasn’t part of the plan, the company that gave him his bionic upgrade wants to get rid of him as a bug, but like Kiki D before him, Chai’s got the music in him and he’s affecting every robot sent to disassemble him. Now, he’s battling his guitar and swinging, jumping and jumping to the beat of the music in his chest.

as a retired musician, Hi-Fi Rush It clicks in every rhythmic and melodic direction I have. Where similar games like devil may cry Relying on visual cues for time and dodge attacks, I was able to get past several Chai snippets by feeling the beat of any Tango Gameworks song that marked the level or boss fight. While you’re effectively rewarded for keeping up with the music, no matter when you land your light or heavy attacks, Chai is designed to land those swings to the beat, and so are his enemies. It feels so satisfying to feel my movements and attacks in the action game like a free improvisation dance where every hit and dribble feels like it adds to the orchestra of movement and sound.

An mp3 player is seen embedded in Shay's chest via a mechanical implant.

Music is the heart Hi-Fi RushIts design is at the literal heart of its hero.
screenshot: Tango Gameworks

Some of my favorite moments in Hi-Fi Rush She comes along when she picks up the music in motion, like when Chai’s gun-wielding mate Peppermint hits her shots to shoot perfectly in triplets of measure no matter when she’s called into action. The beat of the music pulsates through every movement and animation in the game, and seeing the design of an action game intersect with the sounds of its songs made it exhilarating and emotionally expressive in a way that I think will resonate with musicians in particular.

Along with some bopping originals in its soundtrack, Hi-Fi Rush also has a identify licensed tracks which Chai strives for, which is very unique in its kind. There are some great shots here; Nine Inch Nails makes two appearances with “1,000,000” and “The Perfect Drug”. “Lonely Boy” by The Black Keys is heard in the opening, but it doesn’t feature in the gameplay as far as I got it, dig that song, so I hope it appears again later. The Prodigy, The Joy also featured tremendous names, and others, and all the songs are great, I think I would have just been interested in seeing more variety in genres. But given the game’s slapstick rock vibe and main character, this is probably the best fit tonally.

Chai is shown lowering his guitar as he jumps to attack a giant robot.

Every enemy, from ground forces to giant bosses, fights to the beat of the music.
screenshot: Tango Gameworks

While I think musicians will get the most out of it, Hi-Fi Rush It is still very suitable for players who may consider themselves musically challenged. All battles play to the beat of the music, but the player is not required to press buttons in time with it. All of the animations for Chai and his opponent are performed according to the rhythm, but people who feel like they have two left feet can still rely on visual cues to keep up and excel in the fight. The game doesn’t punish you for not playing to the beat, but it actively rewards you for doing so. Every fight and overall level is scored based on your timing and if you want higher scores you will have to swing your guitar in time with the music. Fortunately, Tango Gameworks has implemented visual elements like a metronome to help. It may not be enough for everyone, but the game at least has the awareness that some people dance like your uncle at weddings, and they might need more accommodations.

Still pretty early Hi-Fi Rush, but there is some kind of magic in every fight that feels like it could be choreographed to a piece of music. It excels in style and humor, has some great music choices, and despite being a rhythm game, doesn’t lose sight of the depth and skill you need to play an action game. I’m excited to keep going and see where Shay’s silly story takes me.

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