Although not as uncommon as say, five years ago, it is rare to see a surprise immediate game release, even more-so one that has never been so much as announced before. During the Xbox + Bethesda Developer_Direct livestream early this morning, the Tango Gameworks studio announced and launched an all-new game, Hi-Fi RUSH onto the Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. This “over-the-top” single player rhythm-action game can now be enjoyed as either a standalone purchase, or at no additional charge as part of the Xbox Game Pass subscription.
Hi-Fi RUSH is set in a colourful world where everything is driven by the beat of the music – from the trees swaying in the environment to every hit landed during combat. Players take on the role of Chai, a free-spirited slacker with rockstar ambitions. During a technological procedure to receive a robotic arm, he finds an unexpected “bonus” when his music player is fused within his power unit. If that wasn’t enough, the company behind the experiment labels him a “defect,” making him a target for deactivation. With a squad of corporate overlords and an army of robots after him, Chai must defend himself through rhythmic combat and the help of a motley crew of allies to take down the company’s ruthless business leaders and escape.
Being set in such a world, combat sequences are timed to the rhythm of the music, which Tango Gameworks hope that players will find “not only exhilarating but also extremely satisfying”. Although a players moves aren’t dictated by the music – with players having the freedom akin to a standard action game – inputting actions with the beat amplifies the player’s attacks. Plus it just sounds so much more satisifying. Licensed music is also incorporated into the game, including rock tracks by the likes of Nine Inch Nails and The Black Keys.
Hi-Fi RUSH can now be downloaded via the Xbox Marketplace on the Xbox Series X|S, and via the Microsoft Store, Steam and Epic Games Store on the PC.
