Hi-Fi Rush, the new game from Tango Gameworks, released by surprise on January 25 after its announcement at Xbox and Bethesda's Developer Direct. The game is being revered as one of the biggest gems in Xbox history, a GOTY contender, and a best-seller.
While some players enjoy its fun mix of hard-hitting hack & slash and fast-paced music and discover the spectacular combos and combo sequences that can be performed, others are exploring every corner of the new game from the creators of The Evil Within, discovering unexpected references to other well-known works of popular culture.
Hi-Fi Rush's Non-Gaming Inspirations
Hi-Fi Rush is full of easter eggs and irreverent tributes to many different works. Recently, its director, John Johanas, revealed that the game is inspired by Edward Wright’s filmography, and there is precisely a moment in the video game that pays tribute to a scene from Scott Pilgrim vs The World. In the scene where the protagonist is getting ready to go out on the street, the camera angles are very similar, and the game even includes a nod when it dwells on how hard it is for him to put on his sneakers.
The game has a visual style similar to anime and comics, so it's no surprise that it's full of references to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. The third boss of Hi-Fi Rush, Zanzo, has a very quirky design, plus he spends the whole time striking poses that fans of Hirohiko Araki's manga will easily recognize. The video game also features references to Twin Peaks via a musical movie scene that takes place at the base of operations, Midnight Cowboy with a phrase spoken by an android, and a tribute to The Scream, the painting by Edvard Munch.
Video Game References in Hi-Fi Rush
On the other hand, Sebastian Castellanos and Joseph Oda, the protagonist and one of the characters from The Evil Within and The Evil Within 2 respectively, appear in Hi-Fi Rush through robotic versions in various levels of the game. Players will be able to meet the androids and discover phrases related to their universes. They go by the names SEB-AAA and JSF-001, and though they first appear in the second stage of the action-paced adventure, they make a return appearance throughout the entire game.
In all their appearances they bring out the intensity of the character they portray, especially in the case of SEB-AAA. When talking to the robotic version of Sebastian in the second stage, the android says he is trying to make the "sick, dark, and sad" world a little better. Later, faced with the lack of drinks in a machine, he comments: "We all know the world is against us, but sometimes we need a drink to forget". This is not the only reference to The Evil Within, as on a couple of occasions the mirror with which Sebastian uses to teleport to the world where he can save gameplay in the horror game appears.
Another nod to fans of the Japanese studio: throughout the world of Hi-Fi Rush, snails can be seen moving to the rhythm of the music and on posters; the snail Tango Gameworks logo. Likewise, there is another moment where a corridor with windows appears on the left. As the player passes through, the camera pans to the right and enemies start bursting through the windows. This is a reference to the iconic Resident Evil moment when the dogs jump out of the Spencer Manor’s windows.
Hi-Fi Rush is available now on PC and Xbox Series X/S.