I did struggle to get into the groove of Hi-Fi Rush’s combat rhythm games and I don’t always mix well, as I’m less likely to enjoy them if I’m forced to play in a way that doesn’t come naturally to me. Little things like second boss Rekka meticulously taking off her gloves one finger at a time just to throw them at Chai, or how one of the enemy types sounds a lot like Arnold Schwarzenegger, give the game a comedic flair that makes it all the more entertaining. And the interaction between characters feels hilarious, especially when it comes to bosses and enemies. The only way to lose out on points and damage is to fail to hit the beat, which makes the moments when you do manage to get in touch with the rhythm all the more impactful. Music permeates every aspect of the game, from the way some platforms move, to how small parts of the environment jump and rock, and you can sync your attacks and movements to the beat for added points. As a rhythm game, Hi-Fi Rush steps outside the norm set by games like Crypt of The Necrodancer and Muse Dash by allowing for fluidity and the opportunity to change up your play style depending on how you perceive the beat, rather than conforming directly to it. I haven’t played a game with as much character as Hi-Fi Rush since Gravity Rush (odd coincidence since they both include “Rush” in their name), and its charm enlivens even the game’s central mechanics. Unfortunately, that same procedure also fuses his MP3 player to his chest, throwing Chai into a riot of music and rhythm where he’s now being hunted down and marked as “Defective.” In a world full of cybernetic enhancements and technology, you play as a man named Chai who undergoes a procedure that grants him a robotic arm.

Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythm-based platformer/action game developed by Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda Softworks. So you’ll have little trouble both fighting and moving to the beat, as you whack enemies with your guitar made of scrap. Its environment is entirely infused with the music you hear and vibe to. Rhythm games come in all shapes and sizes, but surprisingly few games manage to incorporate rhythm as well as Hi-Fi Rush does.

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