HomeFeaturesHi-Fi Rush
The RPS Advent Calendar 2023, December 13thGuitar hero
Guitar hero
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun
What’s that I hear behind today’s Advent Calendar door? A sweet guitar riff and a sick drum beat that makes me want to snap my fingers forevermore? Man, I’m tapping my toes just thinking about it!
Yep, it’s time to break out those rhythm sticks, folks, because here comesHi-Fi Rush!
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Bethesda Softworks
James:The best musical moment I’ve ever witnessed was the climax of a Biffy Clyro gig in 2010, frontman Simon Neil launching himself down the stage’s protruding ego ramp to belt outMountains’ thundering final bars. I think the highest compliment I can pay Hi-Fi Rush is that at times, it provoked the same raw, body-overtaking joy that I felt in that sticky Wembley crowd, watching my favourite band nail my favourite song.
A rhythm-action game where all your hitsautomaticallyland on the beat might sound like it defeats its own purpose – or, at least, its own challenge. But in robot-thwacking practice, timing combos with blocks and dashes is plenty stimulating. Instead, that little bit of help with on-the-beat strikes mainlly serves to make sure Hi-Fi Rush never loses its flow.
It’s weird, then, that Tango Gameworks also saw fit to break up these fight scenes with so many platforming and corridor-wandering segments. A few would make sense, sure – what is a good song without dynamics? – but there are just so many, especially around the mid-point, that I started to wish Hi-Fi Rush’s understanding of music extended to a fast-forward button. Still, there are at least of a couple of nicely creative boss fights during this otherwise quiet stretch. Some good jokes, too. Even if it’s mostly evident in cutscenes, Hi Fi Rush’s comic timing is as sharp as its musical rhythm.
And, ultimately, your reward for pushing on is a delightful, cathartic, setpiece-heavy final act, one that explodes with energy and heart like the confetti cannons at that Biffy gig. Just without the shirtless Scotsmen.
Alice0:Sorry, I’ll play it soon, I’m sorry.
