genuinely don't get what all the fuss is about. the platforming is frustrating, the dialogue and narrative are painfully one-note and the combat definitely doesn't have enough going for it to keep it interesting throughout. after about the third main boss everything just starts feeling the same. the "verse" stages are a terrible mix of boring and frustrating, and while the first few bosses were cool, again, i don't think this game has enough legs to keep them interesting for the entire thing. also, a very personal thing, but i really fucking hate being graded. this is, like, the second character action game with a grade system i've played and both times it's really annoyed me. i know it's there for people who want to 'master' the combat but i have absolutely zero interest for that kind of thing so the entire system actively makes the game more annoying. like i'm just tryna chill and vibe i don't want my 'performance' graded like i'm submitting an essay in high school.

honestly? nothing about this worked for me. i can see the love and care that went into creating it, but everything from the generic music to the combat to the shitty platforming to the art style just stirred absolutely no feelings in me at all. i didn't hate or even dislike it as an overall thing... but i can't say i enjoyed my time with it either.

Bursting with personality, Hi-Fi Rush brings about hack and slash gameplay that is satisfying and intricate, more than the likes of Devil May Cry in my opinion. The music, characters, and visuals show what is a truly passionate game, where in today’s game industry filled with soulless triple A games, seeing this break out truly gives me hope for the future of gaming. Still can’t believe these are the same people who made The Evil Within, which was a good game, but lacked in flair, but we can see where all that flair was going towards.