Hi-Fi Rush - Rhythm brawler (out now)

[metallicfrodo]

@thesnwmn his attack is timed. You need to release the button at the right point (there is a circle indicator on screen).

[thesnwmn]

I've finally done it.

 

But I've now got a very sour taste about it.

 

As much as I love the visual style it's so very very noisy for me I just don't see that thing. The game also never makes sure you see it and understand it if there is some timing thing. It always seemed off to me..I was failing at those rocks earlier. But it never pops up to say why I might be struggling. It never gates your progress on it to confirm understanding. It also offers no aid once you're in that situation. Just repeated death loops.

 

Its a shame. I love so much this game does. But I won't be forgiving it that when I look back.

 

It reminds me why videogames are so inaccessible to so many people (including me as a very low skilled action game player). Its not that games cannot be hard. But there's no excuse for them not determining what you're struggling with and proving access to assistance.

[PikaStu]

I had my first go of this tonight. It looks absolutely stunning IMO, and feels fresh while also serving up a whole lot of nostalgia.

In the same way that Dirt 5 made me feel like I was a teenager again, playing Sega Rally, this game makes me feel like I’m in my 20s playing Jet Set Radio Future and Gitaroo Man. Very impressed how they kept this under wraps and stealth dropped it during the show. 

[Alan Stock]

Holy crap this game's production values are insane! It's like you're watching a big budget animation movie. Superb animation design, voice acting and style. It's such a shame that I don't really dig this kind of music because if it was more to my taste I'd be in love. The rythm gameplay is decent if a bit messy (just did the first boss), the running around/platforming is weak. It looks amazing though and the way everything moves to the beat in the environment is awesome. I'm sure people who like the soundtrack will be enamoured with this, in the boss fight your attacks basically play the lead guitar of a Nine Inch Nails song whilst the rest plays in the background. Great to see another stylish rythm game out there, now just do the same thing but with electronic/hip hop please!

[shirubagan]

Rekka in Street Fighter 6 please. 

[PeteJ]

This is great! First level done, only wanted to play for a few minutes...whoops. 

 

Finding the timing ok but avoiding attacks less so, will need more practice there. Not clicking with the platforming yet, I seem to fall short far too often but thankfully the punishment isn't high. 

 

Good stuff though, can't wait to get stuck in later. 

[cassidy]

Style is also very influenced by enter the spiderverse I feel. 

[rafaqat]

Playing it via the cloud and it's flawless for me.  

Giving some great Sega in peak form during Dreamcast era vibes.

 

 

[Strafe]

Devil may bop.

[layten]

14 minutes ago, rafaqat said:

Playing it via the cloud and it's flawless for me.  

Giving some great Sega in peak form during Dreamcast era vibes.

 

 

[fattakin]

I'm really enjoying this, tho my wrists and fingers are showing they're age, getting tired after an hours play. Ive finished the first 2 bosses so need to force myself into a break.

 

I like the upgrade system, how you can sell back without a big hit, as i realised ive bought 3 special moves but not the unlock to hold 2 at a time so was able to sell one back. 

[tobert]

Would this be ok for an 8 year old to play/watch? It’s rated 12 for  violence an swearing

[Majora]

3 minutes ago, tobert said:

Would this be ok for an 8 year old to play/watch? It’s rated 12 for  violence an swearing

 

I've not seen or heard anything in the first 2 levels that would really make me think it was unsuitable for children to be honest. Can't recall any swearing, if it's there it must be pretty tame.

[fattakin]

Just now, tobert said:

Would this be ok for an 8 year old to play/watch? It’s rated 12 for  violence an swearing

 

I think so, its 95% robots you are fighting  I cant recall any swearing. The human boss fights are a bit OTT like, wrestling moves etc. 

[PikaStu]

1 hour ago, tobert said:

Would this be ok for an 8 year old to play/watch? It’s rated 12 for  violence an swearing

Yeah I’d happily play it with my 7yo in the room. As the guys above said, there’s not been anything unsuitable so far, although I’m only a couple of stages into it.

 

Mind you she’s walked in on me playing Bloodborne and not batted an eyelid 🫣

[Boothjan]

End of 3rd act:

 

Spoiler

Took me AGES to finish off that last robot when you need to parry his big attack and finish him on the beat - I just could not time it right!

 

Still massively enjoying this, the further you go, the more fun the combat becomes when you've more abilities and moves.  

[Strafe]

Just to add that this is really, really good and I hope they make action figures for it.

[Benny]

A cartoon series would be tremendous.

[Nosejam]

Blimey the fight with Roquefort is up there with my favourite boss battles ever. Perfect fusion of music, graphics and dialogue, wonderful stuff! 

[Popo]

The different combos are coming thick and fast now. I’m struggling to remember them!

[thesnwmn]

I've not bothered and just hammered light attack for the whole game basically (track 7 down here). I'm sure it would matter more if I wasn't playing on easy 😅

[Majora]

Just did the boss at the end of level 2. To be honest I didn't really get what I was supposed to do when she was electrified, which was half the time. I just dodged constantly and shot at her until she wasn't electrified anymore but that seemed to take forever. Was there something I missed here or is that literally just what you were meant to do?

[Benny]

I only just twigged what was going on at the end of track

 

Spoiler

3. Wandering around the hideout wondering why everyone was being so nice to Chai

 

Spoiler

I mean obviously it's because it's all in his head. Subtle but brilliant 

 

 

[Strafe]

It’s genuinely weird playing a game this good that I haven’t been hyped for months for.

[Strafe]

Chai is such a dickhead, I love him.

[deerokus]

This game is such a fun time, polished as fuck too. Great stuff.

[Timmo]

1 hour ago, Strafe said:

It’s genuinely weird playing a game this good that I haven’t been hyped for months for.

 

I wish all games just appeared out of nowhere like this. Would make the hobby so much more exciting!

[CarloOos]

I’m absolutely astonished they’ve managed to pull off the ‘obnoxious protagonist’ thing and made it genuinely funny and charming, rather than grating. 

[thesnwmn]

I don't know how polished I think it is. Or at least I think it's missing maybe a final pass that cleans up the overall experience of an average (or below average) player.

 

Its very close to this perfect marriage of music, visuals and experience but I think there's a fair bit of frustration that could have been removed.

 

But for all it gets right I think about making the combat pretty easy to just pass through and enjoy the ride it often fails to do the same outside of it.

 

The quick time sequence activation of buttons and stuff is tedious. I'm sure it might be fine if you're good at them but when you're not the little things stand out. When you activate them by pressing B there's often a pause before anything happens. I suspect it's aligning with the music but sometimes it's so long I'm not sure I've even started it. A visual effect here would have helped. When you fail the icons sort of just disappear without any flourish to indicate your error. And in the end I don't find the mechanic fun. They don't build to good tunes it's just up to about 10 claps or whatever that I'm too stressed to enjoy.

 

And of the time pressured activation of partner powers in the world is a bit joyless I think. I mean all but the first partner power are tedious to use. They're not mechanically fun. But when you make me do them whilst a timer is effectively counting down I'll just sigh and slog through.

 

I'm nitpicking of course. The experience is fantastic. I'm 9 hours and 8 tracks into it so cr Wednesday so it's done a lot right obviously. I just think reducing some friction around the edges could elevate this to an easy top tier experience. Its got so much style that most games can only dream of.

[cavalcade]

On 27/01/2023 at 00:19, thesnwmn said:

I've finally done it.

 

But I've now got a very sour taste about it.

 

As much as I love the visual style it's so very very noisy for me I just don't see that thing. The game also never makes sure you see it and understand it if there is some timing thing. It always seemed off to me..I was failing at those rocks earlier. But it never pops up to say why I might be struggling. It never gates your progress on it to confirm understanding. It also offers no aid once you're in that situation. Just repeated death loops.

 

Its a shame. I love so much this game does. But I won't be forgiving it that when I look back.

 

It reminds me why videogames are so inaccessible to so many people (including me as a very low skilled action game player). Its not that games cannot be hard. But there's no excuse for them not determining what you're struggling with and proving access to assistance.

 

It has gated tutorials and sassy tip fridges. 

 

For me, I was struggling with it, but when I went into the latency test it was because my set up was introducing enough to make it seem unplayable (PC into a TV). I'll be installing it on the Steam Deck at some point where I'm sure it'll be a lot better. But if you're finding it frustrating and not clicking it could be as simple as the timings are miles off.