Hi-Fi Rush - Rhythm brawler (out now)

[thesnwmn]

Announced and shadow dropped in the Microsoft Developer Direct this is a new rythem action game with cell shaded graphics from Tango Gameworks (Evil Within 1&2, Ghostwire: Tokyo).

 

Available on Xbox Series and PC. Also Game Pass of course.

 

 

[Keyboard Koala]

The first time I regret not having an Xbox.

[Popo]

First impressions are that it’s a bit try-hard, but kinda charming. It feels nice to play and I really like the visuals. It does that thing I’ve seen once before in the Dragonball Z fighting game, where it’s running at 60fps, but the characters animate at 24 during cutscenes to give the impression you’re watching a cartoon. 

[Majora]

I tend to think I'm pretty decent at rhythm games but I'm not finding it intuitive to attack on the beat at all. Bit of practice needed.

[Strafe]

I’m not a fan of rhythm games but this is really good. What was even better was I was playing it on my steam deck on xcloud and there’s some sort of wizardry going on to reduce or compensate for the lag. Don’t use Bluetooth earphones though.

 

If it runs well on deck I might just buy it on steam to run native.

[thesnwmn]

Not far in at all but first impressions...

 

I love the style. It looks gorgeous both in cut scenes and in play. Its probably a bit visually noisy. Picking out what matters is tricky in such detailed graphics. But hard to say when I am this in love with its looks.

 

Not a fan of the jump. So stilted. It removes all momentum from your movement when you hit the ground. Its not a platformer i guess but it has platforming and feels a bit odd doing that.

 

Really digging the sound. I like the voice acting. Yes it's all a bit "trying to be cool" but I like it. The music so far is a real highlight, got me feeling really positive all around.

 

Unfortunately, I don't like the rhythm elements at all so far. It feels really messy. It feels like I'm being asked to concentrate on something it thinks I can just feel but cannot, at all. I've set it to easy from the start because I'm not interested in that challenge.

 

I fear i basically that this would just be a much much better game (for me) if the whole beat/rhythm element was removed from the combat, or at had much reduced importance and focus and just left it as a musical and graphical tour deforce whilst i combo around smashing stuff up.

[Benny]

Does it have audio latency options to compensate for audio lag with different setups? Metal: Hellsinger had that and it is now in my opinion essential that any game based around rhythm action should have that in the options these days.

[Ry]

This is great. So damn crisp and smooth. Looks amazing. 

 

Takes a wee while to get used to the combat system but once it clicks, oh boy it's good and so satisfying.

[Strafe]

4 minutes ago, Benny said:

Does it have audio latency options to compensate for audio lag with different setups? Metal: Hellsinger had that and it is now in my option essential that any game based around rhythm action should have that in the options these days.

Yep

[Benny]

Then let the download commence!

[thesnwmn]

It commits a mortal sin of all games and takes it to a new level...

 

Clicking the sticks is part of the control system.

 

And even worse you have to click them both at the same time.

 

This is for the special attack move. Which means that during combat you should remove your right thumb from the jump, light attack and heavy attack buttons to click down on both the sticks. Which of course if your me means you move and move the camera because it is a shit input method.

 

Fuck every game that ever uses them. And doubly so for an actual combat action not an out of combat thing.

 

Given that right now I've got two triggers and a bumper doing nothing I'm amazed we've made it to "clicking both sticks" already

[Majora]

6 minutes ago, Strafe said:

Yep

 

I don't think it does actually. It has a latency check but I think this is just to make sure your input lag is within an acceptable range. If you move the cats head, leave the check and then return to the check it's back in the default position and it never asks to save your settings.

[Strafe]

I didn’t need to change it but I was asked to save other settings I changed. It’s in the actual settings menu as well as the little pop up you get at the start.

 

Thinking about it maybe I can adjust it for Bluetooth audio lag.

[Strafe]

13 minutes ago, thesnwmn said:

It commits a mortal sin of all games and takes it to a new level...

 

Clicking the sticks is part of the control system.

 

And even worse you have to click them both at the same time.

 

This is for the special attack move. Which means that during combat you should remove your right thumb from the jump, light attack and heavy attack buttons to click down on both the sticks. Which of course if your me means you move and move the camera because it is a shit input method.

 

Fuck every game that ever uses them. And doubly so for an actual combat action not an out of combat thing.

 

Given that right now I've got two triggers and a bumper doing nothing I'm amazed we've made it to "clicking both sticks" already

Double click sticks are annoying tbf, I was always triggering rage unintentionally in god of war.

[Stanley]

Commented in the other thread, I think it’s merely ok - not really a fan of rhythm based gameplay mixed with other styles, I always feel my timing is off even though performing the combos ok, the jumping is a pain in the arse. 
 

Plays perfectly with Xcloud which I was surprised by, or maybe the lag is compensating for my lack of rhythm 

[thesnwmn]

Has anyone else done the first boss yet? Its a mess to me. At each transition it just seems to pause for a second or two to load his reaction to being hit and then plays that little animation before adding the next element of the fight.

 

Clip from the fight (spoliered in case people don't want to see anything). There's just this odd animation pause before the next phase kicks in. Really ruins the fluidity and feel of the game a bit I think. (Please forgive terrible play and scores).

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

[thesnwmn]

I present bad scores for the first zone. A 48% timing rating

 

[cavalcade]

Just went past the first boss. Wonderful in many ways, but I appear to have latency somewhere between my PC and TV that's making it nearly unplayable from a purely rhythm action perspective. Seems strange it has a latency check but no option to correct, I think I'll hold off to see if they patch it in. 

 

Brilliant surprise though, elements of Sunset Overdrive, Viewtiful Joe, Crackdown, JSRF and Scott Pilgrim coming out of nowhere. Charming and confident. 

[Benny]

I'm torn. English or Japanese VO...

[pinholestar]

Well when I got up this morning I didn’t think I’d be spending my evening fighting a 50ft tall robot in a rhythm action game to the sounds of Nine Inch Nails, but here we are.

 

The general vibe around Microsoft and Xbox hasn’t been great recently (to put it mildly) but this was an awesome surprise to just casually drop onto Game Pass on a Wednesday evening.

 

I really enjoyed Metal: Hellsinger’s fusion of Doom and heavy metal and in concept this is very much in the same vein, albeit the complete opposite in terms of its boldly colourful presentation and irreverently joyful tone. Great stuff.

[Benny]

Went with English VO: it suits the Cartoon Network style aesthetic. Plus it's really good.

 

The game is really fun too. Did the first level and it's definitely going to be one worth sticking with I think. It's "simple" but has a lot of style.

 

It really does feel like playing a Saturday morning cartoon.

[shirubagan]

I like this a lot and was doing well until the third boss phase when all my timing seemed to go out of the window. That first level was far too long for an intro I feel, but it is very slick in all areas. More please. 
 

[Popo]

Can you mix light and heavy attacks? I can only seem to do light + light + light, or heavy + heavy. 
 

Admittedly I only played for half an hour last night before bed and I’m still in the tutorial phase of the game. 

[Vorgot]

9 hours ago, Keyboard Koala said:

The first time I regret not having an Xbox.

 

For me too. Love my rhythm games and this looks fun. Nice to see some decent impressions on here too, sounds like they have done a decent job 

[footle]

24 minutes ago, Popo said:

Can you mix light and heavy attacks? I can only seem to do light + light + light, or heavy + heavy. 
 

Admittedly I only played for half an hour last night before bed and I’m still in the tutorial phase of the game. 

outside of the tutorial, sure.

[Stanley]

I’m not sure you can mix them as they have different timings, but then I’m still in the first area. 

[thesnwmn]

There are a whole range of combo options with mixed attacks.

It gives you a couple towards the end of the first zone.

Then there are many to unlock with bolts.

[SuperCapes]

Really interested to see how this all opens up, but so far the style has me in 100%. 

 

Now I just need to survive work for another two days before a whole weekend of Dead Space and Hi Fi Rush. 

[Hanzo the Razor]

The Evil Within 3 please. They've even put the cat from The Evil Within 2 in this game to rub it in.

[DarhkFox]

I will have to try this soon - looks pretty great.

 

Also has two soundtracks if you turn streamer mode on.