Faisal Ghaffar 
Tango Gameworkshas a reputation of developing creepy and dark games like Ghostwire: Tokyo and The Evil Within due to which it comes as a surprise to know that the developer is also behind Hi-Fi Rush. This is a fun-loving and vibrant action game, which has a youthful and joyous personality reflected in its characters, art style and stunning animation. The change of pace will also feel quite refreshing and you will love the rhythm that Hi-Fi Rush has to offer.
The setup
Right from the start, you will see that Hi-Fi Rush highlights its reverence for modern alt-rock, as it uses ‘Lonely Boy’ of The Black Keys for introducing Chai, the endearing and cheesy protagonist. He lives in a high-tech and colorful industrialized world, where he has been labeled as a ‘defect’. This is because there is an iPod stuck in his chest because of a surgical mishap.
It allows Chai to feel and see the pulse of the music so the rhythm of the game’s soundtrack makes a big difference. VandelayIndustries is the robotics megacorpthat plays the role of the villain and Chai has to fight its robots. The setup is very playful, but it sets a strong tone and things only improve, as you will come across an excellent crew of cinematic villains, allies as well as bombastic fights. You will see some warm and genuine moments and experience effortless humor.
The combat
The combat that you will come across in Hi-Fi Rush boasts a unique and harmonious flow because there is music guiding you at every step of the way. Chai keeps up with the rhythm and attacks according to the beat, so you do not have to worry about any missed notes. Similar to the Devil May Cry, every combat encounter in the game is graded according to elegance, completion speed and your ability of staying on the beat.
The tie to the music gives you satisfaction that you are unlikely to experience with other action games. The total campaign will take you about 10 to 12 hours, but the pace is never overwhelming because you have plenty of room to decide what combos to use and just follow the music.
The enemies
You will find that as you move forward in Hi-Fi Rush, the enemies you encounter start evolving in terms of complexity, as they have different offensive styles. Things do get a bit chaotic when you come across mix and match enemies, but you have lots of tools at your disposal that help in making things interesting.
Attention to detail
One of the best things about Hi-Fi Rush is the game’s attention to detail. The rhythmic ethos run really deep, as everything just moves to the groove, whether it is Chai’s footsteps, the rocks and trees bouncing, Chai’s idle snapping animation and even the building infrastructure. Regardless of where you turn, something or someone will be jamming the same song as you.
The Verdict
With Hi-Fi Rush, you get the chance to experience a vibrant world that has endless charm and a dynamic soundtrack that can give you a memorable journey.
