Hi-Fi Rush Review – Solid Port with Minor Shortcomings

What is Hi-Fi Rush About?

Hi-Fi Rush centers on Chai, a self-proclaimed “future rock star” voiced by Robbie Daymond in English and Hiro Shimono in Japanese. During an experimental cybernetic surgery, Chai’s music player gets embedded in his chest, giving him the unique ability to rhythmically perceive and interact with the world through environmental synesthesia. Branded as a “defect” by the corporation responsible for his transformation, Chai becomes a target. To survive, he allies with new friends to overthrow the corporation’s executives and thwart their sinister plans. In case it wasn’t obvious by now, it’s an action-rhythm game that blends vibrant visuals, compelling characters, and rhythmic combat into a thrilling narrative.

Works Great with DualSense, But Not To Its Fullest Potential

As I booted up Hi-Fi Rush on my PS5 for the first time, I was half-expecting to see the Xbox Game Pass logo pop up. Instead, I was greeted with the familiar Bethesda logo, followed by the main menu. I can’t believe Microsoft is actually porting first-party games to competing platforms and not plaster their branding all over it. There were no hiccups either as the game launched seamlessly, so can’t say it’s done poorly.

Originally one of Xbox’s standout exclusives from last year, Hi-Fi Rush introduces a colorful cast of characters in a vibrant, rhythmic world. The protagonist, Chai, is hunted by evil robots after a botched experiment embeds a music player in his chest, allowing him to perceive rhythm in the world around him. From security drones to platforming arenas, everything moves to the music’s beat. This concept extends to all aspects of the game—combat, platforming, cut-scenes—offering a novel, style-over-substance experience that often works brilliantly.

Hi-Fi Rush feels like a game tailor-made for the PS5’s DualSense controller. The combination of action-rhythm gameplay with top-notch haptics sounds like a match made in heaven. With that being said, switching over to PC with an Xbox controller for comparison leads me to finding that the latter worked a little better, especially during cutscenes. It’s not bad but it’s clear they didn’t make full use of controller’s potential here.

The potential for the DualSense in this rhythm-infused setting is enormous, yet the implementation falls short. The DualSense is notorious for its poor battery life, and pushing its features to the limit would drain it even faster. This could explain the conservative use of haptics and adaptive triggers. Adding to the disappointment is the absence of HDR support and cross-save functionality. While Hi-Fi Rush isn’t a live-service multiplayer game, these features would have been welcome. You can link the game to your Bethesda account, but the benefits of doing so remain unclear.

If you’re looking for more games to play on the PS5, check out our Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review by clicking right here.

Moving Beyond Exclusivity

Hi-Fi Rush on PlayStation is more than just a port; it signifies a shift away from strict console exclusivity. It suggests that Xbox is open to letting its games reach a broader audience. However, the game wasn’t initially developed as an Xbox exclusive by Tango Gameworks. Moreover, Chai and his eclectic crew don’t align with the typical Xbox mascot image of gruff, larger-than-life heroes. So, does it matter that PlayStation players can now join the fun? Probably not. Interestingly, the PS5 port includes an exclusive outfit for Chai, adding a bit of flair for PlayStation users.

While not new, I do like the fact that Hi-Fi Rush comes with a dedicated Streamer Mode. What it does is that it replaces licensed music with original creations. This lets content creators and streamers do what they do best without worrying about any copyright strikes or legal issues. In this day and age, I feel like it’s necessary to have as early as possible since a lot of creators would want to make content on games as soon as it’s out, and this encourages them to do so.

I don’t own an Xbox, largely because there haven’t been enough compelling exclusives and the company’s pivot towards a multi-platform future. I do have a PC, but Hi-Fi Rush is the kind of game that feels more apt to play on a larger screen like a TV in the living room. So, kudos to Microsoft, Bethesda, Tango Gameworks, and whoever else that were involved in deciding to bring this gem to more players.

Hi-Fi Rush runs exceptionally well on the PS5, offering a steady 60FPS, fast load times, and a resolution that looks close to native 4K on a 4K display. The 3D audio integration is also impressive, although the DualSense integration could be better. The lack of cross-save support remains a minor letdown.

Hi-Fi Rush on PS5 Verdict

Hi-Fi Rush on PS5 is a solid port with minor shortcomings. While the game’s DualSense features and additional enhancements could use some work, the core experience remains as engaging and vibrant as ever. For PlayStation owners, it’s a worthy addition to their library, even if it doesn’t fully capitalize on the PS5’s unique features. If you’re feeling a bit uncertain, you can always opt to wait for a good discount before purchasing if you haven’t played it yet, but no harm on getting the PC version either as you won’t be missing out on much.

At the end of our Hi-Fi Rush review, I award this game with our Silver Pokdeward.

Big thanks to Microsoft Malaysia for sending us this game for the purpose of this review.