Microsoft's Developer Direct showcased off a handful of first party titles coming to the Xbox and PC platforms in the first half of 2023. The event gave a number of developers time and space to show off what they were working on including Arkane Austin's Redfall, Mojang and Minecraft Legends, ZeniMax Online with Elder Scrolls Online, and even Turn10 and the upcoming Forza Motorsport.
Tango Gameworks, a studio best known for its work on The Evil Within franchise, was also part of the showcase and while many likely assumed some sort of announcement surrounding Ghostwire Tokyo coming to the Xbox platform, the studio had something unique to share instead. In what was likely a surprise to many, Tango Gameworks announced and released a brand-new title called Hi-Fi Rush, which combines action brawling with score based rhythm games.
With a heavy focus on combining attacks with the beat of the music, Hi-Fi Rush challenges players to rack up a massive score while taking down various enemies and bosses in an effort to escape the confines of an evil megacorporation. Here are some tips and tricks on how to boost the score meter to start earning those S ranks in the latest game from Tango Gameworks.
Score Basics
Before players are nailing S rank scores, it's helpful to understand the values that impact how points are earned. During combat, Hi-Fi Rush has three metrics that players are scored at the end of a "chorus" or battle. While each metric is graded at the end of a battle, the overall final score takes each value scored into account to assign a final letter grade.
- Score - This metric looks at the skills during combat which includes moves performed and damage done. Keep in mind that each battle has a par score that needs to be reached to earn an S rank in this category.
- Just Timing - This is the rhythm metric, as it scores players based on how well they chain their moves, jumps, dashes, and attacks to the beat of the song being played. To earn an S rank in this category, players can't fall below an accuracy of 85%.
- Time - Finally, this metric scores on how fast a battle is completed. The faster the enemies are dispatched, the higher the final score will be. However, it is worth noting that a fast score doesn't always mean players found the most optimal way to score points, so they'll want to find a balance of speed and still being able to perform flashy combos with great accuracy.
So, with the basics in mind, players will need to score an "S" rank in two out of the three categories and then an "A" in the last remaining category in order to score an "S" final grade. Finally, at the end of the level, each Chorus (battle) grade is combined to find overall level grade. Keep these in mind, as there are some Hi-Fi Rush achievements linked to staying in the beat and flow.
S Rank Tips
For most players, experience with how Hi-Fi Rush plays will likely be the impediment to scoring S Ranks at first. Difficulty can also play a role as lower settings offer an easier challenge but enemies who die in fewer hits, thereby reducing the time they'll be in combat. On the other hand, higher difficulties give players more opportunities to combo enemies who can take more of a beating, though the challenge itself may offer other problems getting to that S rank, such as a longer time to finish the chorus.
All of that aside, there are some things that players can do during combat to help boost their overall score. Similar to combat in games like Devil May Cry, stylish moves in combat, such as chaining attacks, using special moves, and hitting combat bonuses all contribute to high score runs. Some bonuses, like Magnet Rush, where a player used a magnet to grapple between enemies instead of simply running at them, are unlocked at various points in the story, so they won't apply to every combat instance.
During combat, a Rhythm Meter appears to help measure the player's combat abilities. It fills faster with multiple enemies being hit using a variety of moves, which in turn helps earn a higher score at the end if the rating is sustained. Players should make sure to keep a variety of moves in hand as reusing the same ones will likely add a repeat penalty and only grant 70% of the score. In addition, the meter will decrease should the player avoid staying in combat, so use tools like a partner assist, the Magnet Rush, or dash to stay in the fight.
Later in the game, players will come across various allies willing to help out such as Peppermint or Macaron. They can then be called in for a Marvel vs Capcom style assist not only to break enemy defense or hit a weak spot, but timing it right can also keep a combo going should the player be out of range or not in position to keep the hit streak alive. Partners can also be used to perform a Jam Combo, which hit hard and open enemies up for an Overkill bonus if it is the last hit. It can also pop enemies into the air, letting the player earn some extra hits and points as well.
Finally, players should also dodge and parry attacks when possible as it preserves the Rhythm Meter during combat. In addition, if a player is able to clear a battle or an entire stage without taking any damage, they'll earn a bonus star to the final rank.
Hi-Fi Rush is out now for PC and Xbox Series X/S. It's also available through Game Pass.