2023 came out swinging with video games, starting early with Tango Gameworks’ Hi-Fi Rush. Releasing on Series X, Series S and PC after Xbox’s first Developer Direct, Chai and company charmed everyone. Amazing music, fantastic character-action gameplay, tight platforming and more; the game was a sensation.
Joining the likes of Minecraft and other Microsoft owned IP, Chai and friends go multiplatform. Here are my thoughts so far on the cross-platform debut.
The Sense Factor – DualSense Support
The PlayStation 5’s best features is the DualSense controller. Games like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Astrobot’s Playroom make fantastic use of the haptics and enhanced triggers. Tango Gameworks themselves used the controller to great effect, on Ghostwire Tokyo. Before Xbox acquired Bethesda, they released the first-person horror adventure on PS5, and made the most of the controller in many creative ways.
With Hi-Fi Rush, the game uses the haptic features of the controller to enhance the experience. During gameplay, playing better triggers enhanced rumbling. They felt most noticeable when making heavy attack hits and specific overworld reactions with the controller.
Cutscenes even implements haptic feedback. That further livens the experience by making story sequences more engaging and adding another layer of personality to a game already overflowing with it.
The original Xbox release had fantastic rumble implementation but the DualSense only enhances that. By extension, the DualSense enhances the combat and exploration. As of this writing, I only completed Track 1, so I’m unsure if the triggers themselves have the same effects Ghostwire Tokyo implemented.
Sick Album Cover – Visual Consistency
A major concern I and many others had with Xbox games going multiplatform, was the possibility of games running better on PlayStation. And outside of very minor improvements to shadows and slightly faster load times, Hi-Fi Rush looks and sounds the same as it did on Series X.
Which means, the title runs like a dream across all platforms. And for an action-focused romp like this one, that’s critical for enjoying Chai’s adventure.
Going Platinum – Updates & Other Features
Applying to all platform releases, Hi-Fi Rush on PS5 has all the prior released updates and cosmetics that Series X/S and PC received. This includes the Arcade Mode that was added in Summer 2023 and anniversary shirts specific for platforms (PlayStation 5 has a blue one saying “I’m Here Baby”, while Xbox platforms got a green shirt saying “Shadow Dropped”).
Vandelay containers and construction is marked, but this is still clearly a magma tunnel. Taken in game, Tango Gameworks, 2023
Like most major PlayStation releases, Hi-Fi Rush has a Platinum Trophy. Considering how fully completing Hi-Fi Rush is quite the challenge, this will be a challenge for avid Trophy Hunters.
Overall Thoughts
As someone who had Hi-Fi Rush as their Game of the Year before titles like Final Fantasy XVI came out, I’m overjoyed seeing more people giving this gem a chance. Xbox’s drive to encourage people to play their titles where-ever players want is only a positive one for the industry.
With a proper marketing cycle and well-earned critical acclaim from it’s 2023 launch, I only hope the game shines even brighter on PlayStation. Anything to see Chai and 808 on another adventure is a win in my book.
The post Encore Tour – Hi-Fi Rush PlayStation 5 Impressions appeared first on Lords of Gaming.
