Hi-Fi Rush blew everyone away when it launched earlier this year, and the fun does not seem to be ending anytime soon. Months after release, Tango Gameworks is preparing to launch a brand-new update that will add to the unique action game considerably. Players will soon be able to enjoy multiple new modes, never-before-seen cosmetics, extra attacks, and a slew of fresh mechanics. It should all help make the game even better, but even the most veteran Hi-Fi Rush players may not be prepared for what is in store.
The Arcade Challenge update will be adding two new modes that will put challenging twists on the core Hi-Fi Rush experience. BPM Rush will make things faster and more frantic, while Power Up Tower Up will force players to think strategically about how they progress. Each mode should be a great and challenging addition to the formula and will likely lead to even more wild Hi-Fi Rush shenanigans, with Power Up Tower Up sounding particularly challenging.
Game ZXC was recently able to sit down with Hi-Fi Rush game director John Johanas to discuss everything that the Arcade Challenge update will include. During the interview, Johanas shed some light on just how challenging the Power Up Tower Up mode will be. While it will not be impossible, players may not know what to expect. When asked about the specifics, Johanas said,
....We said, 'Okay, what if instead of being able to prepare for everything, you have to really kind of just go with whatever we throw at you.' So, you have random encounters. And the biggest thing is Chai is sort of weakened at the beginning of the game. And it's the first thing you see, he's shocked by lightning, and you see all his stats go down. Including his basic attack damage, and his defense. So, even the lightest enemies can not one shot you but almost take you out very quickly. And it's up to you after every round to kind of pick your upgrades, which will bring you back and potentially exceed...
After Chai gets depowered, the Power Up Tower Up mode will be quite difficult. Even the weakest enemies will be able to take out the player, and they will have to fight for their lives if they want to stay standing. As they progress through the mode, they should increase in power, but the choices they make along this journey may not be the easiest.
...an additional random element to that is that all of these upgrades come with sometimes positive and negative modifiers for the next battle. So yeah, I want that upgrade. But the next battle, all ranged enemies will do triple damage, or all fire attacks will do triple damage or something like that. And you can see the enemy sets before you fight, and you say, 'Well, I want that upgrade, but am I confident that I can take on this challenge?' So it's kind of really, again, testing your ability to say 'Oh, I know the mechanics. I know how to fight these enemies. I think I could do this. But it is a challenge.' That's why we called it the arcade challenge.
While the upgrades for Chai will be beneficial as the stages progress, they can also have some negative ramifications if players are not careful. This will give the game more roguelite elements, and will force players to think a bit more strategically about how they go about the battlefield. It will also hopefully give it tons of replayability, but that remains to be seen.
Power Up Tower Up is just one of the two modes that Hi-Fi Rush's Arcade Challenge update will add when it launches. While neither mode will be impossible, they should both offer a significant challenge for those willing to test themselves. It will be interesting to see how veteran players tackle these new modes, and they may be exactly what newcomers need to finally jump into this unique rhythm action game.
Hi-Fi Rush is available for PC and Xbox Series X/S.