My first impression of this week was that I might not have believed you would be reviewing a real contender for Game of the Year. However, on Wednesday, Xbox & Bethesda Developer Direct announced and released Hi-Fi Rush. A rhythm-based action-RPG from Tango Gameworks, the team behind Ghostwire: Tokyo and The Evil Within.
If that means nothing to you, maybe Shinji Mikami is the founder of Tango Gameworks. If that means nothing to you, Mikami directed the original Resident Evil and Dino Crisis. This is an action-RPG made by a survivor horror icon, so I was intrigued. I had been expecting the game to release in Fall or Summer 2024. My plan was to write previews of the game for the next two years in anticipation of its release. However, director John Johanas announced that it would be available that night. I’ve been meaning to utilize Game Pass better, so it’d be available then.
Now, two days later, I am (probably) halfway through the game and I still cannot put it down. It’s a nostalgic romp through a beautifully crafted world.
Review Takeaways
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This game combines old-school gameplay with modern graphics.
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While the story isn’t revolutionary, the gameplay more than makes up for it.
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There is room for improvement by adding some quality-of-life features, such as enemy lock-on toggles.
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In what I call the Rhythm Game Revival, it joins the growing list of games.
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Final Score: 9/10
Video games just aren’t as fun as Hi-Fi Rush does. It evokes an experience that we haven’t had since the PS1/PS2/Dreamcast era, and that’s just cool. It’s also my latest entry in the Rhythm Game Revival sub-genre. The development of experiences like Parappa the Rapper, one of my childhood favorites, is becoming more common. Hi-Fi Rush fits into that category in a way I didn’t know I needed. This game is like a PB&J made from Ratchet & Clank and Jet Set Radio.
Xbox Game Pass is also available for Hi-Fi Rush, which has been developed by Tango Gameworks.
