Software:Hi-Fi Rush

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Hi-Fi Rush
Hi-Fi Rush cover art.jpg
Developer(s)Tango Gameworks
Publisher(s)Bethesda Softworks
Director(s)John Johanas
Producer(s)
  • Masato Kimura
  • Shinsaku Ohara
Designer(s)Masaaki Yamada
Programmer(s)Yuji Nakamura
Writer(s)
  • John Johanas
  • Morten Brunbjerg
Composer(s)
  • Shuichi Kobori
  • Reo Uratani
  • Masatoshi Yanagi
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
ReleaseJanuary 25, 2023
Genre(s)Action, rhythm, beat 'em up, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player

Hi-Fi Rush is a 2023 rhythm-based action game[1] developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game was announced and released for Windows and Xbox Series X/S on January 25, 2023.

Hi-Fi Rush follows self-proclaimed "future rock star" Chai (voiced by Robbie Daymond in English and Hiro Shimono in Japanese),[2][3] whose music player is accidentally embedded in his chest during experimental cybernetic surgery, allowing him to rhythmically fight and re-perceive the world through environmental synesthesia. Labelled a "defect" and hunted by the corporation that transformed him, Chai bands together with new friends to defeat the company's executives and put a stop to their plans. Hi-Fi Rush includes licensed music from bands such as The Black Keys and Nine Inch Nails.[4]

Hi-Fi Rush received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its visual style, art direction, humor, characters, and combat, though some noted its repetition, level design, and limited soundtrack.

Gameplay

Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythm-action game where the protagonist Chai, his enemies, and parts of the environment move to the beat. Attacking on rhythm is not required, as actions automatically sync up with the music, but by timing the button presses right the players are rewarded with higher damage output and timing-based combo finishers deal additional damage. A parry move allows players to cancel enemy attacks by pressing the button at the exact moment of attacks. In addition to the beat-em-up action mechanics, there are also rhythm-based minigame elements where players repeat cues in a call-and-response fashion, or press buttons in rhythmic sequence based on on-screen cues.[5]

The game takes place across multiple linear stages, representing various divisions of the antagonist corporation. Each division is based on a particular musical style, and Chai engages in boss battles at various points.[6]

In addition to combat, the game also features some platform game elements, as well as a system of upgrades to unlock new moves, abilities, and perks, which can be purchased with gears, an in-game currency earned in combat or by exploring levels. Permanent upgrades to health and the special meter also appear in stages as collectibles.

Completing the game once unlocks bonus features, such as the ability to revisit past levels and previously inaccessible areas, a new difficulty setting, and Rhythm Tower, a survival mode similar to Bloody Palace from the Devil May Cry series.[7]

Plot

Chai, a 25-year old man with a disabled right arm and a dream to become a rockstar, arrives at the Vandelay Technologies campus to volunteer for Project Armstrong, a test program for cybernetic limb replacement. Unbeknownst to Chai, the CEO, Kale Vandelay (Roger Craig Smith / Takehito Koyasu)[3] secretly designates Chai to be a garbage collector for the company’s waste management. As Chai’s limb replacement process is about to begin, Kale throws away Chai’s music player, which accidentally falls into Chai’s chest and embeds with it during the process, causing Chai to feel a musical connection with his surroundings. As a result of the accident caused by Kale’s carelessness, Chai is labeled a defect and the facility's robotic security forces pursue him.

Chai discovers his new arm can deploy an electromagnetic grabber stick, originally meant for garbage collecting, which he uses to fashion a guitar-like weapon. As he searches for a way to escape, he encounters a robotic cat named 808. He is aided by an unseen ally, Peppermint (Erica Lindbeck / Toa Yukinari),[3] who communicates through the robotic cat, and is guided to her hideout. There, she offers to help Chai escape if he agrees to help her investigate a conspiracy---provided to her by a personal source---behind Project Armstrong, leading the two to form a reluctant alliance.

Soon, Chai helps Peppermint gain access to a Vandelay executive computer, and learn about SPECTRA, an AI-program that uses the cybernetic implants of Project Armstrong as a back-door for mind control. The two hatch a plan to access and shut down SPECTRA by securing passkeys from each of the company's executives, including Kale. As they pursue their targets, they recruit more allies, including the disgruntled and nervous former head of R&D (and Peppermint's inside source) Macaron (Gabe Kunda / Yasuhiro Mamiya)[3] and his blunt psychology robot partner CNMN (pronounced "Cinnamon") (Sunil Malhotra / Hiroyuki Yoshino),[3] and eventually Vandelay's security head, Korsica (Sarah Elmaleh / Yū Kobayashi),[3] after Kale makes an attempt on her life for discovering SPECTRA's true nature. While exploring a museum of Vandelay Technologies, Peppermint reveals that her mother is Roxanne Vandelay (Rahnuma Panthaky / Naoko Kouda),[3] the company's founder, which makes Kale her older brother. Some time ago, Roxanne encouraged Peppermint to leave home and find her own path, but she later returned after Kale's sudden ascent to CEO out of suspicion that something was wrong.

As the group pursues Kale, their final target, they encounter Roxanne, but learn she is being controlled by Kale via SPECTRA. Kale traps the group and explains that he plans to use Project Armstrong to control the users' purchasing habits and relieve the stress of consumerism. Chai frees himself and his allies from the trap as they confront and battle Kale. With Kale defeated, they use all five passkeys and Korsica's password to shut down SPECTRA, freeing Roxanne from its control. Afterwards, Roxanne is reinstated as CEO of Vandelay Technologies, Peppermint reconciles with her mother, and Chai is offered a job as the ambassador for Project Armstrong within the company, while Macaron and Korsica regain their old jobs. Later, Chai and his friends gather to look at the sunset while he practices playing guitar, so that he has a fallback career in case his new job doesn't work out.

Events after the main story reveal mysterious doors around the campus. After Chai investigates them, Peppermint discovers a secret hub room underneath Vandelay Tower, which houses a second SPECTRA unit. Once Chai passes the challenges in the room, he finds the unit, but discovers that SPECTRA was set to restart by itself, using the group's efforts as a launchpad for the endeavor. The AI, appearing as a replica of Kale, reveals that the activation was a backup plan in case Kale's plans were thwarted. However, SPECTRA is abruptly turned off after a cleaning robot accidentally pulls the power plug. Chai declares the problem solved and leaves a warning note not to touch the plug.

Development

In a March 2022 interview with Famitsu, founder of Tango Gameworks and executive producer Shinji Mikami mentioned that he wants the company to venture outside of the survival horror genre and nurture younger game creators. He also offered the first hints about their next release, stating that the next game by The Evil Within 2 director John Johanas is "the complete opposite of horror."[8]

Johanas later described Hi-Fi Rush as a "dream game" idea he had in his mind since "way, way back."[9] He initially pitched the title to Mikami after completing work on The Evil Within 2 in 2017. After that a small team created an internal demo to help pitch the game to higher ups at Bethesda. The game was inspired by Shaun of the Dead (2004) and other films by Edgar Wright.[10]

Hi-Fi Rush entered production in 2018 in parallel with Ghostwire. As part of the strategy by Bethesda, development was kept quiet, before the public announcement of the game's release. This was, in part, to avoid skepticism and unsure expectations, as the title was a big departure for both the developer and the publisher. After Microsoft's purchase of Bethesda, marketing suggested that Game Pass might offer a solution, by lowering the entry barrier and allowing the game to generate interest by word-of-mouth.[10]

Hi-Fi Rush was announced at Xbox and Bethesda Developer_Direct on January 25, 2023.[4] The game's appearance was intended as a surprise, although the title and logo were leaked online a day prior to the event.[11] After showcasing the trailer and some gameplay footage, Tango Gameworks announced that the game will be releasing on the same day for Windows and Xbox Series X/S.[12]

Music

The game's original soundtrack was created by former Konami composer Shuichi Kobori, former Capcom composer Reo Uratani, and Tango Gameworks' sound designer Masatoshi Yanagi.

Hi-Fi Rush uses ten licensed music tracks throughout the story: "Lonely Boy" by The Black Keys, "1,000,000" and "The Perfect Drug" by Nine Inch Nails, "Free Radicals" by The Flaming Lips,[lower-alpha 1] "Inazawa Chainsaw" by Number Girl, "Fast as You Can" by Fiona Apple,[lower-alpha 1] "Invaders Must Die" by The Prodigy, "Wolfgang's 5th Symphony" by Wolfgang Gartner, "Whirring" by The Joy Formidable, and "Honestly" by Zwan. Bethesda Softworks also created an official Spotify playlist with most of these tracks.[13][14]

To avoid issues such as YouTube copyright strikes, the game includes an option to replace all licensed songs with similar original tracks performed by the band The Glass Pyramids.[14]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PC) 89/100[15]
(XSXS) 87/100[16]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EurogamerRecommended[18]
Game Informer8.75/10[19]
GameSpot9/10[20]
GamesRadar+4/5 stars[21]
Hardcore Gamer5/5[22]
IGN9/10[23]
PC Gamer (US)69/100[25]
The Guardian4/5 stars[28]

Hi-Fi Rush received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[15][16]

Jordan Middler, from Video Games Chronicle, said that Hi-Fi Rush is "oozing with style and confidence", although there are "repetitive level design and some clunky platforming", scoring with a 4 out of a 5 star rating.[29] Jesse Norris, from XboxEra, praised the combat, calling it sublime, but "can become difficult to read as the screen fills up with utter chaos", scoring it with 9.5 out of 10.[30] Diego Argüello, from Polygon, called its animation gorgeous and Jet Set Radio-esque art style vivid and arresting.[31]

Giovanni Colantonio from Digital Trends was very positive in his review of the title, calling it "Tango Gameworks' most confident, stylish and surprising project to date".[17] On the other hand, Tyler Colp from PC Gamer gave a more mixed review, finding the game to be promising in its concept but ultimately average in the action genre, and thought its setlist of music was limited and dated.[25]

Sales

The game reached 2 million players by March 2023, which has been counted as a mix of both digital sales and downloaded Game Pass subscriptions.[32] By August 2023, the game reached 3 million players between purchased copies and Game Pass subscriptions.[33]

Awards

Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2023 CEDEC Awards Sound Award Won [34]
Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year Nominated [35]
Best Visual Design Nominated
Best Audio Nominated
Xbox Game of the Year Nominated
The Game Awards 2023 Best Art Direction Nominated [36]
Best Score and Music Nominated
Best Audio Design Won
Best Action Game Nominated
Innovation in Accessibility Nominated
2024 New York Game Awards Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year Nominated [37][38]
Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game Won
27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Action Game of the Year Pending [39]
Outstanding Achievement in Animation Pending
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design Pending
24th Game Developers Choice Awards Best Audio Pending [40]
Best Design Pending
Innovation Award Pending
Best Visual Art Pending
Audience Award Pending

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Covered by band Elsinore for the game

References

  1. ↑ Skinner, Tom (2023-01-26). "Evil Within studio releases rhythm-action game Hi-Fi Rush" (in en-GB). https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/evil-within-studio-releases-rhythm-action-game-hi-fi-rush-3387304. 
  2. ↑ Tomakic, Izabela (2023-01-26). "All Hi-Fi Rush English voice actors" (in en-US). https://dotesports.com/indies/news/all-hi-fi-rush-english-voice-actors. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Behind the Voice Actors of Hi-Fi RUSH" (in en-US). 2023-01-26. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Hi-Fi-RUSH/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Peters, Jay (2023-01-25). "Hi-Fi Rush, a new rhythm-action game from the developers of The Evil Within, is out today" (in en-US). https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/25/23571460/microsoft-hi-fi-rush-tango-gameworks-xbox-developer-direct. 
  5. ↑ Bailey, Kat; Valentine, Rebekah (2023-01-25). "Tango Gameworks Announces Hi-Fi Rush During Xbox Developer_Direct Showcase, Out Today" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/tango-gameworks-announces-hi-fi-rush-during-xbox-developer-direct-showcase-out-today. 
  6. ↑ Kaser, Rachel (2023-01-25). "Tango Gameworks announces Hi-Fi Rush, which launches today" (in en-US). https://venturebeat.com/games/tango-gameworks-announces-hi-fi-rush-which-launches-today/. 
  7. ↑ Leri, Michael (2023-01-30). "Hi-Fi Rush Review: Devil May Fi". https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/hi-fi-rush-review-devil-190000781.html. 
  8. ↑ Scullion, Chris (2022-03-24). "Shinji Mikami wants Tango Gameworks to make smaller and non-horror games" (in en-GB). https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/shinji-mikami-wants-tango-gameworks-to-make-smaller-and-non-horror-games/. 
  9. ↑ Hi-Fi Rush's origins. Xbox. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023 – via Twitch.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Hanson, Ben (31 January 2023). The Surprising Journey Of Hi-Fi Rush's Development - MinnMax Interview. MinnMax. Retrieved 2 February 2023 – via YouTube.
  11. ↑ Nightingale, Ed (2023-01-24). "Unannounced Tango Gameworks game leaks ahead of Xbox Developer_Direct" (in en-gb). Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/unannounced-tango-gameworks-game-leaks-ahead-of-xbox-developer_direct. 
  12. ↑ Cooper, Dalton (2023-01-25). "Evil Within Developer's New Game Hi-Fi Rush is Out Today on Xbox Game Pass" (in en). https://gamerant.com/new-xbox-game-pass-games-today-hi-fi-rush/. 
  13. ↑ Madnani, Mikhail (2023-02-03). "The Music of Hi Fi Rush – Every Licensed Song, Original Soundtrack, and More". https://themakoreactor.com/news/hi-fi-rush-music-list-soundtrack-itunes-spotify-prodigy-nine-inch-nails-ending-song/46010/. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Green, Jake (2023-01-30). "Hi-Fi Rush soundtrack and song list". https://www.nme.com/guides/gaming-guides/hi-fi-rush-soundtrack-3389246. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Hi-Fi Rush for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/hi-fi-rush/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved March 23, 2023. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Hi-Fi Rush for Xbox Series X Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/hi-fi-rush/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x. Retrieved March 23, 2023. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Colantonio, Giovanni (January 30, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush review: a new blueprint for rhythm-action games". https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/hi-fi-rush-review-xbox-series-x/. Retrieved January 30, 2023. 
  18. ↑ Nightingale, Ed (2023-02-02). "Hi-Fi Rush review - an unrepentant riot of rhythm-action" (in en-gb). Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/hi-fi-rush-review-an-unrepentant-riot-of-rhythm-action. 
  19. ↑ Hester, Blake (February 1, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush Review - Riff City". Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/review/hi-fi-rush/riff-city. Retrieved February 1, 2023. 
  20. ↑ Wakeling, Richard (February 1, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush Review - Good Vibes Only". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hi-fi-rush-review-good-vibes-only/1900-6418023/. Retrieved February 1, 2023. 
  21. ↑ West, Josh (January 31, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush review: 'An undeniably wild ride that shouldn't be ignored'". https://www.gamesradar.com/hi-fi-rush-review/. Retrieved January 31, 2023. 
  22. ↑ LeClair, Kyle (February 1, 2023). "Review: Hi-Fi Rush". https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-hi-fi-rush/436745/. Retrieved February 1, 2023. 
  23. ↑ Higham, Michael (February 2, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush Review". https://www.ign.com/articles/hi-fi-rush-review. Retrieved February 2, 2023. 
  24. ↑ Oloman, Jordan (January 30, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush review: a shockwave of creativity". https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/hi-fi-rush-review-3389232. Retrieved January 30, 2023. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Colp, Tyler (February 2, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush review". https://www.pcgamer.com/hi-fi-rush-review/. Retrieved February 2, 2023. 
  26. ↑ Zamora, Gabriel (January 31, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush Review". https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/hi-fi-rush. Retrieved January 31, 2023. 
  27. ↑ O'Reily, PJ (January 30, 2023). "Review: Hi-Fi RUSH - Tango Gameworks Drops A Beat-Bopping Banger On Xbox Game Pass". https://www.purexbox.com/reviews/xbox-series-x/hi-fi-rush. Retrieved February 14, 2023. 
  28. ↑ Parkin, Simon (February 4, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush review – a brawler set to the beat of a drum". https://www.theguardian.com/games/2023/feb/04/hi-fi-rush-tk-xbox-review-a-brawler-set-to-the-beat-of-a-drum. Retrieved February 4, 2023. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Middler, Jordan (January 27, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush is a stylish, loud and messy first album full of potential". https://www.videogameschronicle.com/review/hi-fi-rush/. Retrieved January 27, 2023. 
  30. ↑ Norris, Jesse 'Doncabesa' (January 26, 2023). "Review | Hi-Fi RUSH". https://xboxera.com/2023/01/26/review-hi-fi-rush/. Retrieved January 26, 2023. 
  31. ↑ Argüello, Diego Nicolás (January 27, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush arrived at the perfect time". https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23574584/hi-fi-rush-review-game-pass-xbox-series-x-pc. Retrieved January 28, 2023. 
  32. ↑ Carter, Justin (March 1, 2023). "Hi-Fi Rush rocks out with 2 million players". https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-i-hi-fi-rush-i-rocks-out-with-2-million-players. Retrieved March 2, 2023. 
  33. ↑ Xbox, Pure (2023-08-16). "Xbox Exclusive Hi-Fi RUSH Has Now Surpassed 3 Million Players" (in en-GB). https://www.purexbox.com/news/2023/08/xbox-exclusive-hi-fi-rush-has-now-surpassed-3-million-players. 
  34. ↑ Stenbuck, Kite (August 25, 2023). "Nintendo Affiliated Entities Dominated CEDEC Awards 2023". https://www.siliconera.com/nintendo-affiliated-entities-dominated-cedec-awards-2023/. 
  35. ↑ Loveridge, Sam (2023-11-10). "Here are all the Golden Joystick Awards 2023 winners" (in en). https://www.gamesradar.com/golden-joystick-awards-2023-winners/. 
  36. ↑ Stewart, Marcus (27 October 2023). "Here Are The Nominees For The Game Awards 2023" (in en). Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/11/13/here-are-the-nominees-for-the-game-awards-2023. Retrieved 2023-11-13. 
  37. ↑ Kerr, Chris (2024-01-04). "Alan Wake II and Baldur's Gate 3 lead 2024 New York Game Awards nominees". https://www.gamedeveloper.com/console/alan-wake-ii-and-baldur-s-gate-3-lead-2024-new-york-game-awards-nominees. 
  38. ↑ McEvoy, Sophie (2024-01-24). "Baldur's Gate 3 wins big at New York Game Awards 2024". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/baldurs-gate-3-wins-big-at-new-york-game-awards-2024. 
  39. ↑ "27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Finalists". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. https://www.interactive.org/awards/27th_dice_awards_finalists.asp. 
  40. ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (2024-01-16). "Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3 top GDC Award nominations". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-baldurs-gate-3-top-gdc-award-nominations. 

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