Hi-Fi Rush review: The game that made me buy an Xbox is a blast on PlayStation

Hi-Fi Rush is the game that convinced me to buy an Xbox Series X.

I should be clear before I’m accused of being a PlayStation shill* that I had always intended to pick one up eventually. I was excited for Starfield, I love Fable, and as a games journalist I also kind of need to be across every platform

But when I saw Hi-Fi Rush, the surprise indie hit from Tango Gameworks and Bethesda, I knew what had to be done. I picked up the credit card I like to not think about, and ordered an Xbox Series X.

I loved Hi-Fi Rush on Xbox Series X, and I’m delighted I finally get to review the game on PlayStation 5. There are, I’m sure, all sorts of people who are going to moan about this former exclusive coming to a rival console, but the bottom line is this: PlayStation gamers just got one of 2023’s best games, and a whole new audience gets to experience a vibrant, joyful, endlessly original masterpiece.

Hi-Fi Rush follows our protagonist Chai and a merry band of rebels in the fight against tech giant Vandelay Industries. After a surgical accident leaves Chai with a musical device that looks like an iPod but for legal reasons definitely isn’t an iPod stuck in his chest, our hero sees the world through music.

This is, of course, an excuse for Chai to smash, crash, and bash his way through a gorgeous cel-shaded cyberpunk world in which everything is tied to the rhythm of the game’s impeccable soundtrack. Enemies and obstacles all move to the beat, and successful dodges and attacks all hinge on your ability to time your button presses to that beat.

It’s a simple enough idea, but the execution is a sight to behold. Hi-Fi Rush is one of the most stylish games I’ve ever seen, and thanks to a slick combo-based combat system, getting into the flow of an encounter is so deeply satisfying you’ll almost be sorry when the level is over. A soundtrack consisting of original songs and a few surprise classics helps to keep things fresh. A special shout-out to one of the most incredible uses of The Prodigy’s Invaders Must Die I’ve ever experienced.

Hi-Fi Rush manages to keep things interesting by constantly introducing us to new ability types, enemies, and companions that can aid in battle and help you move through the world. And while combat can occasionally become a little too chaotic for its own good, it’s never long until you find your rhythm again.

With top-shelf animation, consistently engaging combat, and a fun story that zips along at a refreshing pace, Hi-Fi Rush was one of last year’s best surprises. If you’re a PlayStation gamer, I urge you to check this gem out as soon as you can to see what you were missing.

*If I was going to shill for anyone it would definitely be Nintendo. Nintendo, give me a call sometime.**

**That was a joke.

​​Pros: Gorgeous cartoony aesthetic, fantastic combat, fun story

Cons: Combat can occasionally be a little overwhelming

For fans of: Jet Set Radio, Guitar Hero, Ratchet & Clank

9/10: Exceptional

Hi-Fi Rush is available for PlayStation 5 (version tested) Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Code for review was supplied by the publisher. Find a complete guide to GAMINGbible's review scores here.

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