Yesterday out of nowhere, Tango Gameworks announced and shadowdropped Hi-Fi Rush and I was captivated by it's trailer.
I booted up my series X and went straight to downloading it via Game Pass.
Little did I know what awaited me as the world had never seen this game before.
Gameplay:
This is a hack n slash game at it's very core. However, what it offers is a rhythym based combat system where EVERY single aspect of the game is in beat. Enemy attacks, the world, your attacks. The freakin main character Chai's movement.
If you've played Bayonetta or Devil May Cry, you know the game structure. It's level by level, where combat arenas ensue as you progress with puzzle aspects and platforming.
As you go back to vist your homebase, you will talk with your ragtag crew in-between missions and prepare for your musical adventure.
Story:
You are Chai, an absolute dork who wants to be a rockstar and you get a robot arm. Hilarity ensues and you are tasked to go after a big corporation.
The plot of this game is actually fantastic and without spoilers, I can't say much but it is such a wonderfully written game. The dialouge never misses a beat (ayyye) and constantly made me laugh while always driving me forward. Looking out for the next bit of lore drop or quipy one liners as the characters all flesh out and become a team.
Props to the writing team because I think this games dialouge is so perfectly carved in all of it's intention. It's extremely smart in it's humour and delivery.
Visuals:
I never talk about looks of a game because I don't think they mater graphically. However, Hi-Fi Rush comes with the most jaw dropping animation I've ever seen. From in game to cutscenes, this game sparks with beauty and colourful landscapes.
There's a scene where Chai is smashed through a wall, tumbling as he goes and it will forever stick in my mind because it's so fluid and gorgeous.
This game has a visual style of American cartoons back when and it nails it.
Music:
It's a rhythm game baby! Nine Inch Nails and The Black Keys followed with other named bands all feature in boss fights with an orignal soundtrack that slaps hard.
You'll be fighting to the beat in no time as you just click your fingers on the buttons to the rocky jazz music that follows you throughout the game
Overall:
Hi-Fi Rush will never have words to describe it for me because it transcends words. It is easily without a doubt, in my opinion, one of the greatest pieces of media to have ever released.
It is easily in my top 10 games of all time and it will be hard to beat this for GOTY this year. I love this game. I adore this game. It constantly gets better and nails every aspect.

Edit: THE POST GAME IS FUCKING AWESOME WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS GAME

I love this game to an extent that's hard to even quantify. The very first minutes of this game had me smiling and giggling like no other game has managed to do.

Hi-Fi Rush is very short, and it is only better for it. It is extremely cute and sweet, but never cloying. It has a talking cat and a Twin Peaks reference. It slightly falters in its attempts with at least two heartfelt emotional moments, but the undying chemistry between the characters earns it.

So basically, Hi-Fi Rush is short, cute, and has a talking cat and a Twin Peaks reference: It's all killer, no filler. 5/5.

Nossa, de verdade que jogo maravilhoso! Eu realmente não esperava a emoção que esse jogo trás e a diversão que ele proporciona. Fui de cabeça nesse jogo sem nem pensar muito, pois tinha ouvido falar muito bem dele, mesmo sendo o primeiro jogo de ritmo que eu jogo. Por isso acabei estranhando um pouco no começo, mas com o tempo esse jogo me prendeu de uma forma inexplicável. A gameplay é muito bem pensada e gostosa, os gráficos são lindos demais, o estilo do jogo me cativou muito, as músicas, os ritmos, absolutamente tudo nesse jogo é incrível! De verdade, eu super recomendo!

Excellent presentation, impeccable art and especially animation, a pretty good soundtrack(that should have had more licensed music or been all original songs) that fits well with the game in a variety of adjacent styles, some interesting setpieces in a relatively believable world and some memorable characters that deliver some great lines well. There's some more cringey dialogue in the game that felt hackneyed at times, but that's the only main flaw that I can pick out as I played. The story itself was compelling enough though, and it showed it's influences unabashedly. Best game Bethesda's published in years. The most intriguing, clever and successful implementation of rhythm gameplay I think I've seen, save for something like rock band. And the hack and slash element feels like a streamlined dmc, just as fun to play.

What to say about this masterpiece?

The rhythm game par excellence. Almost everything is on time to the music: the environment, the enemies, you, your attacks. There’s never been a more gratifying reward for going with the flow in a game, and the songs are all absolute bangers.

Hi-Fi Rush is stylish, lighthearted, colourful and constantly fun. The jokes don’t feel forced, the writing and characters are snappy, and the movement and fighting mechanics are an absolute pleasure to explore. I loved all the little references to other media that inspired the game, I loved being able to parry almost everything, and I loved the dynamic between all our heroes.

We are blessed to get this level of creativity still happening these days.