Shadow releases in the video game industry are a rarity and defy conventional product launch practices. Typically, game companies want to build hype by announcing the game is coming, then showcasing its logo, displaying gameplay, and finally releasing a launch trailer a week prior to the release date. Examples of sudden releases include games like Fallout Shelter at Bethesda's 2015 E3 press conference or Electronic Arts announcing Apex Legends on Twitter just to release it the same day. There was even been an entire console launch that was shadow dropped when Sega of America announced the North American launch of the Sega Saturn at E3 1995 and released the console at the same time. The latest in video game shadow drops comes in the form of Tango GameWorks' recent release: Hi-Fi Rush
Hi-Fi Rush at the core of its DNA combines the stylish action of Devil May Cry with the rhythm game genre. This game represents a significant departure for Tango GameWorks, best known for their work in the horror genre with The Evil Within series. The studio’s bold step out of their comfort zone has resulted in a vibrant and imaginative game featuring a likable cast of characters, rewarding gameplay that supports growth without punishing failure, humor that is both refreshing and authentic, and stunning animation that only becomes more impressive as the game progresses.
I was concerned about the rhythm aspect in the combat system of Hi-Fi Rush. As a fan of the rhythm game genre, I sometimes struggle with staying in time with the beat. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how the game's combat rewards players for staying on beat but doesn't punish those who struggle. The combat mechanics start simple, with a light attack and a heavy attack, both of which have different timing to the beat. The game gradually introduces combos to the gameplay, adding variety to the combat and increasing the player's score at the end of each "verse" - the game's equivalent of battle arenas. The game then evolves further by adding dodge and parry techniques and support from the player's teammates.
The only drawback I experienced with the combat is the parry timing, which was a constant struggle for me as the game progressed. The timing felt out of sync with the visual cue I used to stay on beat and could not find a fix to make it feel smooth. Despite these minor issues, I was able to stay around 60% on beat for most of the game and have a blast doing it. There is a lot of action in every single battle area, but the game keeps it varied with different enemy types, so it never becomes repetitive. Once everything with the combat clicks, it becomes this addicting harmonious flow.
One of the hardest things to capture in a video game is humor. The usual humor that is found in video games is overt and loudly screams “this is supposed to be funny” repeatedly. The success that Hi-Fi Rush finds in the comedy arena is how subtle the humor comes across. There are many moments during cutscenes where a look between characters or a pause that lasts just long enough shows the developers understand what was needed.
The humor in the game succeeds due to the fantastic dynamics between the characters. Chai is a lovable idiot who has an earnest heart, Peppermint exudes confident in her mission but is insecure enough in her ability to see it through, Macaron is a gentle giant who is upset about the direction of the company, and Korsica was led astray by the message of the Vandelay corporation and is aiming to correct that wrong. How these main characters play off one another made me feel like I was watching an established anime already running for multiple seasons. Add in the antagonists and the various robots you interact with going through levels, and you have a world that feels fully realized. The playful tone, humor, characters, and world all combine to create a delightful gaming experience that invites the player to stage dive head first into it.
Visually this could one of the most impressive games to come out this year and we are only one month into the 2023. The transitions between 2D and 3D, how seamless it feels going from watching a cutscene to gameplay and back again is the game’s most impressive feat. The cel-shaded style that invokes memories of Jet Set Radio has a vibrancy of color that jumps off the screen. I was constantly at awe of what I was looking at, thinking it could not get better but it always did. The game has style deeply ingrained into its bones and that does not stop at the visuals. The music in the game, from licensed tracks by Nine Inch Nails and the Black Keys to the original music created by the team of former Konami composer Shuichi Kobori, former Capcom composer Reo Uratani, and Tango GameWorks’ sound designer Masatoshi Yanagi. The merging of these two elements works in tandem to create a style that is uniquely Hi-Fi Rush.
If there is one negative that I could point out about the game, it would be the in-between moments going from battle to battle. This is where the majority of the platforming gameplay is found, and while it is not bad it seems to have been an afterthought. The areas are overly straightforward, with most having giant arrows pointing exactly where to go next and all the paths are overly linear. You can deviate from the path some, usually to find one of many collectables the game has which is how it offers upgrades to the health and special meter for the player. Staying on beat being such a core principle for everything else in the game, I wish that they could have found a way to integrate that more into the platforming.
Even with this slight hiccup in the design, Hi-Fi Rush is a remarkable game that is stylistically impressive both visually and musically. It feels like a game that came out in the Dreamcast or GameCube era that was lost till now. The game has a joyous cast of characters that help solidify the tone and humor the game wants without overstaying its welcome. Seeing this game come from Tango GameWorks makes me so happy, because we see so many times how developers get pigeon-holed into one genre or one type of game. Being able to come out with a shadow released game that is such a departure from previous works and completely nail it is wonderful to see. If Hi-Fi Rush provides a glimpse of the developers’ creativity and innovation when allowed to work outside the horror genre, then I am eager to see what their encore will bring.
