A Deeper Look Into: Hello-Fi Rush

This week’s Xbox Developer’s Direct was the primary online game showcase of 2023, displaying off upcoming titles like Redfall, Minecaft Legends, Forza Motorsport, additions to Elder Scrolls On-line, and a stealth launch of Tango Gameworks’ ardour challenge: Hello-Fi Rush. Check out our full breakdown right here. That final title is what has me personally excited, so let’s get into what this fast-paced motion rhythm recreation that’s already garnering optimistic evaluations on Steam is all about.

Guitars, Robots, & Musical Combos

From the legendary thoughts behind Resident Evil 4, Viewtiful Joe, and Vanquish, it’s not exhausting to see Shinji Mikami’s fingerprints throughout this recreation; although clearly a lot much less from his works within the horror style. From the comic-style aesthetic to the fast-paced gameplay with electrifying fight, Mikami alongside recreation director John Johanas tout Hello-Fi Rush as a rhythm motion recreation the place “your strikes and assaults assist create a residing soundtrack”, as additionally famous within the trailer description.

The trailer reveals the primary character, Chai (to not be confused with the scrumptious Indian tea), a wannabe rockstar pummelling by an array of cybernetic foes with an electrical guitar, with a combo meter that ranks up (a la Satan Could Cry) as you comply with the beats of the soundtrack. All the world reacts to the music, from platforms syncing to the drums making the necessity to time your jumps accordingly, to enemies launching crucial strikes on a beat drop. It makes for a really satisfying viewing expertise that makes me wish to leap in straight away.

Although Johanas mentions that gamers gained’t be penalized for not following the rhythm of the music, you’ll get rewarded with assault bonuses in the event you land what the sport calls a ‘beat hit,’ leading to combo chains with distinctive excessive harm finishes which are carried out with a rockstar-like aptitude. There are additionally moments within the trailer that present gamers having to resolve easy rhythm-based puzzles all through the world along with a number of the aforementioned rhythm platforming.

Time will inform whether or not the fight is extra than simply hacking your method by enemies whereas attempting to maintain up with the beat, or if there will probably be extra range in the way in which by which you strategy encounters. Transient snippets of Chai taking combos to the air, darting across the discipline with what seems to be to be a grapple shot, and freezing time to unleash a rhythm-based remaining combo hit, all level to a diverse playstyle, however we’ll have to attend and see. I couldn’t assist however really feel there was one thing Kingdom Hearts–y with how the sport seemed throughout fight encounters. Perhaps it’s simply because the primary character swinging round an enormous guitar as a sword seems to be so much like Sora and his keyblade, however however, the sport seems to be extremely enjoyable.

Already A Star

The sport has solely been out for a bit of over 24 hours as of writing, and we’re nonetheless awaiting evaluations (make sure you try our very personal quickly!), but when early Steam evaluations are something to go by, this recreation has kicked off 2023 with a stable bang.

Person Kahlraxin says on Steam: “On uncommon event, a recreation can come out of nowhere and remind you that creativity continues to be alive in recreation growth. That is a type of occasions. It doesn’t attempt too exhausting. It isn’t overly advanced. It appears constructed simply to be FUN! The artwork, the story, the humor… and naturally the music. All of it blends collectively to create one thing particular.”

And consumer MajorWipeout continues the reward by writing: “I can not overstate how a lot I like this recreation. It has been a LONG time since I’ve been so instantly and so completely enthralled by a recreation from the second it began and held there all the way in which till the credit rolled. The visuals are vibrant, attractive and well-animated. The characters are all expressive and each animation has the anticipated punch after which some with the entire wonderful exaggeration often reserved for 2nd.”

It appears Hello-Fi Rush is nicely on its option to turning into a traditional throughout the business, and a recreation that may absolutely proceed to be talked about because the yr goes on. Shinji Mikami hasn’t at all times had probably the most constant observe report, however when a recreation of his hits, it hits exhausting; and it seems to be like he and his staff at Tango Gameworks have created a gem that’s going to bolster the necessity for an Xbox Gamepass subscription much more!