Hi-Fi Rush Review

Well, this game was a pleasant surprise! Hi-Fi Rush honestly caught me completely off guard. As someone who's been religiously devoted to the Devil May Cry series, Ninja Gaiden, and pretty much every hack-n-slash title under the sun, I wasn't expecting much when this game essentially got shadow-dropped by Microsoft of all companies. What made it even more intriguing? It came from Tango Gameworks, a studio known for churning out horror experiences like The Evil Within series. We're talking about the team led by former Capcom legend Shinji Mikami, the mastermind behind Resident Evil, God Hand, Dino Crisis, Phoenix Wright, and countless other classics.
So yeah, I've got some thoughts on this one, and I'm honestly buzzing to share them. Let's dive into this review and see what makes Hi-Fi Rush tick!

Background/Synposis

Hi-Fi Rush holds a special place in my heart because of how it completely subverted my expectations. I'd heard the hype a few years back, watched some gameplay footage, and honestly? I thought it would be decent at best. But when I finally sat down and played it myself, all I could think was: "Wow, what an absolute ride."
Look, I'm usually pretty skeptical when games blow up on social media. Most of the time, the hype doesn't match reality, and I'm left wondering what all the fuss was about. But Hi-Fi Rush? It genuinely took me by surprise. The way it fuses traditional hack-n-slash mechanics with rhythm-based gameplay is genius. Everything about this game from its vibrant art style to its presentation just oozes personality. Even the voice acting, which is delightfully cheesy in that early 2000s cartoon kind of way, hit me right in the nostalgia. Playing this felt like uncovering some lost cartoon from my childhood that somehow got turned into a video game. Plus, it actually made me laugh out loud more than once, which is rare for me with games these days.

Rhythm Heaven!

The gameplay loop here is genuinely fascinating. Hi-Fi Rush really encourages you—no, practically begs you to time your attacks with the beat of the soundtrack, and trust me, it feels incredible when you nail it. Boss battles, while occasionally turning into damage sponges (which, yeah, can get tedious), each have their own unique flair. Even the QTEs sync perfectly with the rhythm of each track, which is such a cool touch.

Every stage throws you into these massive, colorful arenas swarming with enemies that you, as the lovably cocky protagonist Chai, need to demolish in style. The combat gets even better with the variety of team attacks you can unleash with your growing crew of companions. Sure, there's some light platforming and environmental puzzles sprinkled in, but it never feels like a slog. The music? Absolutely stellar. It keeps you locked in from start to finish.

The combo system ranks your performance from D (lowest) to S (highest), judging you on combo variety, total score, and most importantly how well you sync your attacks with the music. One feature I really appreciated was the accessibility option for a "beat assist bar," which gives you a visual cue for when to press buttons during combos. It's a lifesaver, and I'm not ashamed to say I used it throughout my entire playthrough.

Pure Aesthetic

Can we talk about how gorgeous this game is? Hi-Fi Rush rocks this cel-shaded style that I'm an absolute sucker for. It perfectly complements the cartoony art direction, and the transition from 2D concept art to 3D gameplay is seamless. The whole aesthetic screams western comic book vibes mixed with anime influences; think Avatar: The Last Airbender but cranked up to eleven. The attention to detail really brings this world to life.

Even the cutscenes use this intentionally choppy, low-framerate animation style that's clearly inspired by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Considering when the game came out, the influence makes total sense. Combined with the witty voice acting, everything just clicks. Sure, the story is pretty standard "stop the evil corporation" fare with a predictable plot, but honestly? I didn't care. The character designs both heroes and villains are so good that they carry the narrative. The sheer soul poured into this project is palpable, and it's no wonder people fell head over heels for it when it dropped. This is the kind of stylized, personality-driven experience that feels like a breath of fresh air in the hack-n-slash genre and gaming in general.

Final Verdict

Hi-Fi Rush feels like a genuine love letter to gaming's past—not just video games, but pop culture and media as a whole. The amount of passion baked into every aspect of this game genuinely shocked me, especially considering Microsoft apparently didn't have much faith in it. In an industry obsessed with cinematic blockbusters, it's refreshing to play something as arcadey, charming, and unapologetically fun as Hi-Fi Rush.

The core experience is a blast, and the challenge modes? They're the cherry on top, giving me plenty of reasons to jump back in for completion. I'm so glad I gave this game a shot. If you're a fan of hack-n-slash titles, this absolutely delivers in that department. The combat feels snappy, responsive, and watching enemies ragdoll in perfect rhythm while you rack up high scores never gets old.

This game made me realize how much I crave more experiences like this. It feels like only Nintendo and a select few indie devs are making games with this kind of heart anymore, which is honestly a shame. I'd recommend Hi-Fi Rush to anyone who loves DMC and similar titles without hesitation. Part of me is desperately hoping for a sequel in the future—this world and these characters deserve more time in the spotlight.