Hi-Fi Rush PS5 Review: Rhythm-Based Game Still Going Strong Year After Release

A year after Hi-Fi Rush was released for PC and Xbox in January 2023, the rhythm-based game is still going strong after it was made available on PlayStation 5 on Mar. 19, 2024.

The first thing that new players need to know about Hi-Fi Rush is that you take control of Chai, a rock-star hopeful who becomes a test subject for Vandelay Industries. However, during experimentations, a freak accident fuses Chai's body with his music player, becoming a "power source."

Hi-Fi Rush PS5 Review

After the protagonist learns that Vandelay Industries has plans to enslave all of humanity, Chai decides to use his newfound power to bring the company down and prevent evil from taking over the world.

After Chai meets 808, a robotic cat that can talk, the player finds out that the voice of the animal is Peppermint, who is an underground hacker who is also looking to stop Vandelay Industries.

The game's story continues and has the player discover others who join the cause, including Macaron, a disgruntled employee, and his robotic assistant CNMN, pronounced cinnamon, according to Cinelinx.

Hi-Fi Rush is filled with likable characters, an engaging plot, and a continually impressive art style. It is also an easy game to enjoy more than once and even a year after its initial release, it still competes fairly well against recently released titles.

While there are some people who might be put off by Hi-Fi Rush because it is a rhythm-based game, it shouldn't be considered a deal breaker. The idea of matching your attacks with the beat may sound difficult but there are a lot of accessibility features that significantly help players get used to the gameplay.

On top of the amazing visuals and gameplay, Hi-Fi Rush offers a beautiful soundtrack, which is particularly important because it is a rhythm-based game. Players are also given the ability to attack foes using the sounds of bands such as Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys, Prodigy, and many others.

A Beautiful Rhythm-Based Game

While the early stages of the game may feel somewhat simple, as essential moves are locked out until later in the story, players will unlock more and more skills and abilities. All of these blend together to become a beautiful harmony of timed button presses, skillful dodges, and satisfying combat that set the tune of glorious rock, said The Gamer.

Beyond the game's basic gameplay of attacking to the beat, the game holds its own as a character action game due to its engaging enemies and a wealth of combos. However, the focus on keeping with the music allows it to stand tall as one of the greatest in the genre.

The game also added DualSense support to the PC version of the game, which adds more to the overall player experience. During cutscenes, there are subtle vibrations that go along with the action seen on-screen.

The additions to the controller also make some aspects of the game a little bit easier for players to navigate through. There are some sound effects that will come out of the controller, such as when they enter a parry duel, that isolates the sound, making it easier to hit the timing just right, according to Gaming Trend.