Shaun M Jooste 
Hi-Fi Rush Review PS5 | Exciting Guitar, Music, Action!
Welcome to my official Hi-Fi Rush review! Read about the story, gameplay, sound, graphics, and what I enjoyed about the game the most.
Operating System: PlayStation 5
Application Category: Game
4.9
Welcome to my official Hi-Fi Rush review. While the game launched in January 2023 for Xbox and PC, it finally found its way to the PS5 on 19 March 2024, thanks to Tango Gameworks (developer) and Bethesda (publisher). It’s a rhythm-based action game where you fight enemies and solve puzzles to the beat of the music.
While I never played the PC nor the Xbox version, I’m happy to finally get a chance to experience it on PS5 for my Hi-Fi Rush review. It also includes the Arcade Challenge! Update!, featuring two additional gameplay modes: BPM Rush! and Power Up! Tower Up!
Disclaimer: I received a free code for Hi-Fi Rush on PS5 from the publisher. Still, this review is based on my personal experience of the game and is not impacted by the gift.
Story Review | Music from the Heart
As a starter course for my Hi-Fi Rush review, let me begin with the story. Now, Tango Gameworks and Bethesda love delivering excellent storylines. For the latter, we’ve especially seen this is my favourite Elder Scrolls title, Skyrim. Let’s see what they deliver in this rhythm action game.
Meet Chai and his musical heart
From the start, Chai seems like a fun-loving, humorous person who’s ready for his rock n’ roll stardom. His first encounter with the robotic corporation Vandelay Technologies is for Project Armstrong. With a disabled right arm, he’s hoping to take part in the cybernetic limb replacement program on offer. However, his small music player somehow becomes lodged in his chest, which sets the scene for the rest of my Hi-Fi Rush review.
The war against the robotics corporation
With this new instrument in his chest and a magnetic garbage collector for an arm, Chai is now labelled a defect by the corporation. Every robot is now after him, which is when Chai discovered that he could use his arm to collect metal waste from the area to make a guitar as a weapon. Also, the environment seems to beat to the same music in his chest, which empowers him further.
Making friends along the way
The first ally he meets is a robotic cat called 808, owned and managed by a later human ally called Peppermint. He’ll meet more friends along the way, but these two are the main ones. 808, aka Peppermint, teaches Chai how to fight to the beat of the music to make the impact and damage more powerful, which leads to rhythm-based action for the game.
A hideout to relax
One of my favourite parts to write about in my Hi-Fi Rush review is the hideout, a secret lair if you will. Here you can chillax, check out your missions, speak to 808 and Peppermint, change your wardrobe, and scope your collectables so far. I almost felt like a teenage mutant ninja turtle and was half expecting Master Splinter to appear at some point.
AI is the enemy
The core crux of the story is SPECTRA. It’s an AI program that uses the cybernetic implants as a way to control the minds of humans. With Peppermint guiding Chai, it’s your mission to end this vicious plot, but that’s all I’m sharing in my Hi-Fi Rush review. I don’t want to spoil the story for you further.
Extra arcade modes
When you want to spend time outside the main game, the Hi-Fi Rush PS5 version includes the Arcade Challenge! Update! DLC added to the PC version at a later stage. It has two new modes:
- BPM RUSH! lets you face waves of enemies with increasing speed in music to see how long you can last
- Power Up! Tower Up! Introduces tower play with boosters, multipliers, and more between each level.
Each mode lets you spend more time in the game, which I enjoyed playing for my Hi-Fi Rush review, even though I forgot to record gameplay for it.
How long to play Hi-Fi Rush?
The length of gameplay if you just play the Hi-Fi Rush storyline is between 11 and 13 hours, depending on how well you do with the missions and bosses. However, gamers have clocked in over 60 hours by navigating every area and extra modes to make sure they covered everything.
Final Thoughts on Hi-Fi Rush Review PS5 Story Elements
There’s plenty in the story to keep you interested in what will happen next. It’s not as simple as taking down SPECTRA, and there are many more secrets to uncover along the way. Chai is a lovable character, and having 808 by your side through most of the journey made my cat-loving daughter happy. Excellent work by the developer.
Gameplay Review | Fighting to the Beat
The next part of my Hi-Fi Rush review covers the gameplay mechanics. The rhythm action forms the basis of combat and the crux of gaming in this title, as you will learn further down. So let me show you what it’s like to play the game.
Learning how to play Hi-Fi Rush on PS5
So, the action-adventure game quickly teaches you how to play in a fun way. There are hidden levels that look like a stage where you can practice your basic and new moves, especially combos that you’ve unlocked. These are essential for defeating massive bosses and bots later. You can also review them later in your hideout.
Fighting to the beat of music
The core mechanic I’ve had to master for my Hi-Fi Rush review is the music-combat system. Basically, the environment and the music in your chest play to a specific beat. If you can hit your action buttons on this beat, you increase damage and also use specific combos. There’s a variety of ways to combine action keys, which you’ll learn along the way. I love how innovative this system is, letting you decide how you would like to deal with the enemy.
Solving puzzles and opening doors
Even solving some of the puzzles revolves around this mechanic. Hitting buttons at the right time with the beat means opening massive gates or getting passed a challenging area. While you’ll spend more time fighting enemies than solving puzzles, it’s still a nice touch to the game.
Unlocking new combos and abilities
As mentioned earlier in my Hi-Fi Rush review, you’ll unlock new combos and abilities along the way. There are also super abilities within your guitar, which you build up after completing successful combos. You’ll need to keep these powers for the right moment, especially when dealing with boss fights. Also, you need to decide which abilities you want to keep on you in some cases.
Finding parts and potions
Defeating enemies and breaking crates release parts and health potions you can use to your benefit later on. I encourage you to search areas for boxes and items you can break for extra parts, as there are quite a few of them lying around. However, it means spending more time in the game if you only intend on playing it quickly to complete the story.
If I impart any words of wisdom in my Hi-Fi Rush review, it’s this: don’t be a button basher. There have been many times when I didn’t care about the music and just hit away, wanting to get rid of all the bots. You miss out on combos and proper damage, which means you won’t be as effective. If you find yourself out of sync, just take a breather, listen, and get back into it.
Scores per round
As you fight each round in the game, it keeps score of how well you tap those buttons in sync with the music. The better you perform, the higher your score. It’s one of the best incentives for making sure you tap on time, if not simply looking cool and defeating the enemies the right way.
Final Thoughts on Hi-Fi Rush Review PS5 Gameplay Elements
I felt the musical gameplay was the core mechanic of the game. While the combinations and timing of attacks become more complicated, you’ll learn to master them in time, unless you’re not into rhythm-based games. If you’re one of those who can’t tap their feet to the music, you may find it a struggle to enjoy. I loved it, every step of the way, especially since I’m a guitarist.
If I have to really find a downside to mention in my Hi-Fi Rush review, it’s that the minion boss fights become a bit repetitive after a while. Yet, it’s not significant enough to bring the game down. It’s still highly enjoyable.
Audio-Visual Review | World Attuned to Music
The audio and visual elements are the final segment to cover in my Hi-Fi Rush review. Since the music gameplay is the heart of the game, there are quite a few components to discuss. Let’s hop into it.
Beautiful artwork
First of all, let me talk about the artwork. The cartoon-style designs are lovely, leading to fun animations along the way. I feel it’s perfect for the game, and a more realistic style wouldn’t have made it better. The developer made a great choice of the central design theme.
Stunning locations
The artwork also does a great job of delivering stunning locations. There are too many to mention in my Hi-Fi Rush review. However, one part I did love was how it switches from a 3D gaming view to a 2D platformer at times when jumping across areas. This was an awesome touch!
Exciting music to play to
Of course, what would a rhythm-action game be if it did not have music? There are plenty of fantastic tracks to enjoy along each level, and different ones when you fight bosses. The track selection is simply brilliant.
Haptic feedback and controller sound
You’re PS5 controller vibrates and warns you when you are in trouble, and it also syncs to some of the music and sound. Some of the noises also appear from your controller’s sound, which is something I wish more PS5 games would do more often. As a matter of fact, Hi-Fi Rush’s controller sound seems clearer than most games I’ve played that make use of it.
Streamers are protected from copyright issues
Here’s an aspect I wanted to make sure I covered in my Hi-Fi Rush review. When you start the game, it asks you if you plan to stream on Twitch or YouTube. Now, content creators and influences like Celenic Earth Publications know very well that you can get banned for copyrighted music found on your channel. Fortunately, selecting the option of being a streamer will ensure the game only plays music that won’t be marked for copyright. Alternatively, you’ll have access to all tracks available.
Excellent voice acting
The voice acting also needs some praise in my Hi-Fi Rush review. There are so many indie games that don’t add this feature, forcing you to read dialogue text throughout the gameplay. Not only does Hi-Fi Rush have voice acting, but it’s also superbly done, especially for 808/Peppermint.
Final Thoughts on Hi-Fi Rush Review Audio-Visual Elements
You’ll have plenty to enjoy when it comes to visuals, sound, and haptic feedback. The best part is that you can adjust what you don’t like with many features, especially if you can’t handle too much happening on the screen. Full marks for this segment from me.
Hi-Fi Rush Review PS5: Final Verdict
You’ve reached the end of my Hi-Fi Rush review. I’ve loved the experience the game offers on the PS5, and I plan to play more of it in time to come. At the moment, I’m enjoying some of Bethesda’s other titles, such as Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76. Still, I don’t feel you can go wrong with the music action title on console, especially with the extra modes.
Is Hi-Fi Rush worth buying?
Yes, you should seriously consider getting your hands on Hi-Fi Rush for PS5. There’s plenty to enjoy, especially for music fanatics. However, if you can’t hold a rhythm to save your life, then your talents are probably best spent elsewhere.
What other games are like Hi-Fi Rush?
If you enjoy music-based games like this, there are actually a few others to try. Here are a few other action games I can think of:
- Metal Hellsinger
- Tinykin
- Sunset Overdrive
- Melatonin
- The Artful Escape
- Friday Night Funkin’
What I liked and didn’t like about Hi-Fi Rush
Finally, here’s a recap of what I loved and disliked about Hi-Fi Rush:
Pros:
- Exquisite boss battles
- Lovely cartoon-art style
- Enjoyable music to fight to
- Love the player’s lair!
- Lengthy gameplay
- Outstanding PS5 haptic feedback
- Engaging story, adventure, and companions
- Various gameplay modes, views, and puzzles
- Includes additional content
Cons:
- Basic enemy battles become repetitive
Enjoy Our Fantasy and Mystery Novels!
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