One of the coolest things about games being a relatively new medium in the grand scheme of things is that you get to watch new IPs and series spring up in real time, we're getting to see the very beginning of almost every new hit franchise that will ever be. I really, really hope that's the case for Hi-Fi Rush, one of the most colourful, stylised and confident games I've played in a long time, which is especially impressive considering this is a first-time attempt at making an action game from the developers of The Evil Within and Ghostwire Tokyo of all things.

This game has so much of the colour and flair and Japanese design ingenuity that Xbox/Microsoft have lacked in their IPs as a whole. So many studios, AAA studios in particular are just doing the same open world checklist simulators or grainy, brown shooters nowadays and so to see a studio with significant financial backing make a game as energetic and unique as this is so, so refreshing. The cel-shaded aeshetic, the vaguely early 2000s cartoon/anime cutscenes, the comic book linework, all of it comes together to be a fuckin sight for sore eyes man.

Hi-Fi Rush is simultaneously a beat-em-up a la Devil May Cry or Bayonetta but also a rhythm game, where you deal more damage and gain bonus points for attacking on the beat, your opponents also attack on the beat - hell basically everything in the game is informed by the beat and the game designs around that amazingly by not punishing you for missing the beat, but simply making the game cooler when you can find it and follow it. Everything in the level, as in physical level design elements also move to the beat, and you even have an option to pull up a very unintrusive metronome to help keep track of it too! Even if you have absolutely no sense of rhythm, the game goes to every length to help you enjoy this as just an action game on its own merits and I just think that's so, so sick. You can tell so much thought and intentionality went into this game's design. It's got very specific design goals, and yet doesn't box anyone out.

This all being said, when you do get some mastery over this game? Bro. The dynamic soundtrack ramps up to reward you for playing on-beat, extra riffs and licks are added in and the instruments hit even harder, it feels fucking amazing. There's one part of this game in particular set to "Invaders Must Die" by The Prodigy and it goes absolutely crazy, and it's helped massively by having the sickest boss fight in the game (and honestly one of the sickest boss fights I've ever played) shortly after. Game's just a total trip and an adrenaline rush and it bows out gracefully after an almost-perfect 12 hours.

I need this to become a series. This shit is the kinda IP Xbox needs more of. Gimme a sequel, give me 5. The potential here is massive and I had a great time with this.

Knocked off half a star for some clumsy platforming and Macaron's British accent. I'm sorry