Get ready to feel the beat, as the people who brought us The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo (no, really) present the action-rhythm game Hi-Fi RUSH. It’s taking the gaming world by storm, so much so that we had to play it ourselves just so we could gush about it to you!
Rock Out to Animated Action
Before we dive into how we feel about the game, you might want some background info. After all, Hi-Fi RUSH was both announced and released in the same week! You play as wannabe rockstar Chai, who is labelled defective after a shady corporate experiment fuses a music player to his heart. Big whoops.
With his ragtag team of rebels, Chai must fight for his freedom against this evil tech megacorp. In this slick animated world, everything – from platforming puzzles to enemy attacks and even the banter – is synced to the beat!
Battle to the Beat
Are you ready to battle armies of corporate drones? Actual robots that is, not soulless yes-men. With Hi-Fi RUSH’s satisfying, rhythm-amplified combat you’ll have to time your moves to pull off flashy Beat Hits, hard-hitting special abilities, and even cool combo moves with your allies. Show off with stylish strikes and animated attacks that earn you coveted S-rank scores!
Stick it to the Man
What’s an animated world without a colourful crew of misfits to call your own? You and your teammates will have to square down this heartless corporation one department at a time. From Production to Marketing and Finance, take down each boss in completely over-the-top battle sequences accompanied by unique musical tracks.
Music for the Masses
Ready for some new earworms to hum? As well as a killer mixtape of original music, Hi-Fi RUSH also has songs by Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, The Joy Formidable, and even more! Don’t worry streamers – you can still show off this game and avoid a copyright ban thanks to a streaming-friendly alternate audio mode!
We Played Hi-Fi RUSH For Ourselves!
Yes, we gave in to the hype and played Hi-Fi RUSH. And it was absolutely worth it.
From the moment the game loads up, it shows off a swaggering sense of style. Comparisons have been drawn to Edgar Wright’s direction, and rightfully so. Watching cutscenes often feels like putting on Scott Pilgrim vs the World or Baby Driver. It’s the same in the sharp, witty writing as well as the delightfully over-the-top and colourful characters. There’s so much charm to Hi-Fi RUSH that you cannot help but be pulled in. Its staying power is in the amount of polish the game has been given.
The beauty of rhythm gaming is that anyone could have a go. Why Guitar Hero and Rock Band fell off after a few years is because very few people were actually good at it, which created a ceiling for some people’s enjoyment of the genre. Hi-Fi RUSH smartly doesn’t chain your ability to play a musical instrument to your ability to play the game. Timing nets you higher scores and is needed for certain quick-time events. Plus, with plenty of optional assists to help you time clicks to the beat, even the totally tone-deaf can land a few perfect shots.
With visuals that stand out in a crowded market, gameplay that feels different without being complex, and a wonderful sense of identity and humour that had us laughing every minute, Hi-Fi RUSH has all the makings of a modern cult classic. Or it would, if it wasn’t already dominating mainstream conversation. Rightfully so, we should add.
How Can I Start Playing Hi-Fi RUSH?
As mentioned, Hi-Fi RUSH is out right now for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. What’s better, you can get your hands on this title for free if you have access to Xbox PC Game Pass. It’s also available on Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Learn more about Xbox Game Pass and other ways of playing your console faves on PC!
Hi-Fi RUSH Official System Specifications
Are you feeling the beat already? Then best make sure your system can keep time! We’ve got our hands on the official system requirements for Hi-Fi RUSH so you can check your gaming PC is the fine-tuned instrument you need it to be.
| Component | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-6500 Ryzen 3 1200 | Intel Core i7-6700 Ryzen 5 1500X |
| Memory | 8GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 AMD Radeon RX 560 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 AMD Radeon RX 6600 Intel Arc A750* |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 20GB available space | 20GB available space |
*Please check Intel’s website for Arc compatible CPU and motherboard requirements.
The Best Gaming PCs to Play Hi-Fi RUSH
Need to pick up a new instrument for this unique symphony? We’ve got you covered! Here at Overclockers UK, we have plenty of amazing gaming PCs and laptops that are perfect for playing Hi-Fi RUSH and loads of your other favourite games. We’ve picked out a few of our faves here, but you can explore our full range should these not move to your beat.
Refract Gaming Celeste (FS-1DH-EP)
It’s hard not to recommend this gaming PC when it’s the very one we played Hi-Fi RUSH on! At the time of play, the Refract Celeste was equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G APU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GPU. This is the spec we played on. It has since been updated as follows.
Part of the Refract Gaming PC range of pre-built systems, the Celeste is kitted out with an AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU and 32GB of DDR5 RAM. It’s also got an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Graphics Card to make the animated visuals come alive as you rock out. Plus, with a three-year parts and labour warranty included as standard, the Celeste will be a reliable part of your squad.
MSI GF63 Gaming Laptop (9S7-16R821-424)
The MSI GF63 Gaming Laptop has everything you need to take your gaming on the go. It features an Intel Core i5-12450H CPU that lets you take advantage of multicore technology. Built with innovative hybrid core architecture and Intel Thread Director, it’s like your games are being powered by a speed boost item! With its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Graphics Card, you can unlock superior graphical prowess and enjoy this game in stunning detail. Plus, with Cooler Boost technology, this gaming laptop remains cool and quiet so you can focus on the beat!
Refract Gaming Indigo (FS-1DN-EP)
Our last recommendation is a powerhouse gaming PC, perfect for those who want to take advantage of Hi-Fi RUSH’s streamer-friendly audio mode. The Refract Gaming Indigo has been designed by our team of experts using cherry-picked premium hardware, so it can shoulder anything you throw at it. With a mighty AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D CPU as well as lightning-fast 32GB DDR5 RAM, you can stream in glorious 4K resolution thanks to the powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super graphics card.
ASUS ROG Delta S Core Gaming Headset (90YH03JC-B1UA00)
Whether you’re playing on PC or Xbox, the ASUS ROG Delta S Core Gaming Headset is the perfect way to experience the banging tunes of Hi-Fi RUSH. You can be sure of an immersive audio experience thanks to the exclusive ASUS Essence drivers and the airtight chamber. This all comes wrapped in comfortable and ergonomic D-shaped cushions made of a breathable fabric mesh.
What Do You Think of Hi-Fi RUSH?
Have you been playing this absolute gem? Let us know your thoughts on Hi-Fi RUSH in the comments below.
PC specs are subject to change.
- 7 min read
Jacob Smith
Author
Jacob is a passionate gamer, plus a noted Pokemon and LEGO nutjob, who emerges only when doing the words here at Overclockers UK. Since starting at the tail end of 2021, Jacob has gone on to write dozens of blogs on everything from the latest games to whimsical Dickens-inspired poetry. Outside of creating content and being the one person in the office daring to champion Nintendo, he is often found fawning over his Pokemon card collection and his trio of lovely doggos.
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