#H-Fi Rush 808

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic: page 23

Updates every Sunday! Read from the beginning:

https://comicfury.com/read/mostlyarmless/comics/1795336

If you want to read the next 6 pages right now, please consider joining my Patreon! You will get exclusive access to the uncensored version of the story as well as WIPs of pages, and bonus/concept art.

https://www.patreon.com/Xannador

--

Some of you already know...🤫

[night-city-valentines]

Hi-Fi Rush Review

I knew nothing about this game prior to its release, other than two things - people said it was similar to Jet Set Radio Future, and it was coming to Game Pass.

I've never played JSRF (but I've always wanted to) and I have Game Pass, so I downloaded and booted it up.

I was hooked from the start.

Hi-Fi Rush is an action-rythym game, with platforming, puzzle, and collect-a-thon elements set on the futuristic island owned by the Vandalay Corporation - a robotics company, currently giving out replacement limbs as part of their 'Project Armstrong'. Our protagonist, Chai, signs up for a replacement arm, but a mishap with his legally-distinct-from-an-iPod MP3 player ending up where his heart should be makes him perceive the world to the beat of his rock music. It also makes him Vandalay's Number One Target, as they label him a defect to be destroyed.

This all happens in the opening cutscene.

The game is gorgeous, going for an animation style similar to Spider-Verse, with the visuals being incredibly comic-like. The anime inspiration is also clear, with all the panicked and OTT movements of Chai as he scraps his way out of trouble. Along the way, you run into a host of other characters, such as a robot cat named 808, a badass hacker called Peppermint, a gentle giant called Macaron, and a therapist robot named CNMN (Cinnamon). And they aren't just supporting characters in the narrative sense, they also help you out in gameplay too (well, not CNMN, but what can ya do). Peppermint can crack through energy barriers with her laser pistols, Macaron can bust through walls and knock heavy objects into place, and 808 serves as an understated beat-counter, their lights pulsing along to the beat of the song that's playing.

808 isn't the only musical gameplay indicator, though. The entire world moves with the soundtrack, not just to the beat, but adding flair to the current track, like platforms rapidly shifting, and certain puzzles following their own beat. Even the combat has rythym to it; security lasers with unique timings, having to attack, dodge, and jump on-beat to do more damage and build your score multiplier, and parriable mini-boss moves that let you get a 1-hit KO. Chai's weapon of choice is a guitar made from scrap, and every hit, combo, and parry comes with a musical element.

The story is a fairly standard fare - Chai wants to GTFO, but he can't until he helps Peppermint take down Vandalay. Full disclosure, I haven't finished the game yet (I'm about halfway done), but what I have played I have adored. The game is packed to the brim with charm too. Chai is a quippy slacker, way in over his head, but loving every minute of his adventure. Peppermint is hot-headed, but bounces off of Chai well, and puts him in his place. The 6 bosses of Vandalay are all wonderful too, from the aggressive Southern wrestler-type Rekka, to the obviously JJBA-inspired Zanzo. Like many games nowadays, Hi-Fi's characters like to make meta-jokes, and while I am tired of that as a concept, in Hi-Fi it's sparing enough that I don't hate it (unlike a certain OTHER Game Pass game that also starts with an 'H').

And the soundtrack, oh MAN the soundtrack. It goes hard. There isn't much more I can say! It features both original and licensed music, but the originals are so freakin good I can barely tell the difference. Obviously if you aren't that into rock music, you won't like it, but that's a matter of preference.

With regards to what I DON'T like, I found the part that teaches you about parrying to be way too obstructive. Like, the otherwise fast-paced game screeches to a halt to teach you about this new mechanic, rather than all the other tutorial segments, which are over really quickly. I also find it hard to stay on-beat, even with the optional big on-screen indicator. This may be a problem with my controller, but more often than not I would hit the buttons in time with the beat, but only like 2 out of a 4 hit combo would be on time, which massively brings down your score, which sucks. Also, some of the combos just...don't work? Like I don't know if I really am doing them wrong, but I do the input, and no special move happens. That sucks too. Also I would have preferred to be given the choice to play as Peppermint over Chai but that's just me being nit-picky, let's be honest.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed this game so far. I would definitely recommend trying it out if you have Game Pass, and I'd say it's worth the £30 price tag IF you like the music used. Even then, the gameplay is fun enough that you could mute the music and play to the beat on-screen if you just want a fun hack-and-slash adventure. The game is available on Steam, Windows, and Xbox Series X|S.

Hi-Fi Rush - 9/10

Pros:

- Great soundtrack

- Fun and addictive gameplay

- Wonderful characters and humour

Cons:

- Timings can be a bit wack

- The parry tutorial suuuuuucks

[xannador]

The finale of Mostly (h)Armless goes live on Patreon this Friday. The public release is 2 weeks after, on Friday the 31st.

I'm... honestly still devastated by the news about Tango Gameworks. It's hard to put into words. Other people have described how much of a tragedy it is much better than I could have.

Working in the game industry myself, I can only imagine how the team feels. It's one thing to have your studio shut down when you've produced a failure, it's another to have it happen when you've published hit after hit.

I hope the team of Tango Gameworks know that their work is, and will always be, loved.

[xannador]

Not all stories have a happy ending. But the journey was a blast.

Goodbye Chai, rockstar and hero.

[xannador]

they match

A former Patreon exclusive piece. I'm working on a fully colored 10-page bonus comic for supporters (gotta hustle) so I think it's ok to throw the Tumblrs a bone too.

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic: page 48

I can’t copy paste my usual description today so let’s collectively pretend it’s right here. Also it’s my birthday soon so next Sunday I’ll do a two-in-one update to celebrate.

I’m sure Chai and 808 will be thrilled. 💀

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic: page 42

Updates every Sunday! Read from the beginning:

https://comicfury.com/read/mostlyarmless/comics/1795336

If you want to read the next 6 pages right now, please consider joining my Patreon! You will get exclusive access to WIPs of pages and bonus/concept art.

https://www.patreon.com/Xannador

--

Sure would have been nice if page after this Chai simply woke up in a cold sweat on the couch back in the hideout. But for some reason, I don't think he'll be so lucky. Thank you to everyone who has read Mostly (h)Armless this year. And an especially big thanks to those who left comments or reblogs! You guys are what made this comic fun to work on for me! I hope to see you again on the first Sunday of 2024 for more horror and regret!

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic: page 54

Updates every Sunday! Read from the beginning:

https://comicfury.com/read/mostlyarmless/comics/1795336

If you want to read the next 5 pages right now, please consider joining my Patreon! You will get exclusive access to WIPs of pages and bonus/concept art.

https://www.patreon.com/Xannador

-- Goodbye, kitty :(

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic: page 53

Updates every Sunday! Read from the beginning:

https://comicfury.com/read/mostlyarmless/comics/1795336

If you want to read the next 5 pages right now, please consider joining my Patreon! You will get exclusive access to WIPs of pages and bonus/concept art.

https://www.patreon.com/Xannador

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Payback time! 😈🐱

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic: page 41

Updates every Sunday! Read from the beginning:

https://comicfury.com/read/mostlyarmless/comics/1795336

If you want to read the next 6 pages right now, please consider joining my Patreon! You will get exclusive access to WIPs of pages and bonus/concept art.

https://www.patreon.com/Xannador

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"But it did get worse."

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic: page 40

Updates every Sunday! Read from the beginning:

https://comicfury.com/read/mostlyarmless/comics/1795336

If you want to read the next 6 pages right now, please consider joining my Patreon! You will get exclusive access to WIPs of pages and bonus/concept art.

https://www.patreon.com/Xannador

--

No Korsica to get rid of fire today...

So what's it gonna be, Chai? Bien cuit... or saignant?

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic: page 28

Updates every Sunday! Read from the beginning:

https://comicfury.com/read/mostlyarmless/comics/1795336

If you want to read the next 5 pages right now, please consider joining my Patreon! You will get exclusive access to the uncensored version of the story as well as WIPs of pages, and bonus/concept art.

https://www.patreon.com/Xannador

--

Have you ever seen one of those videos with those nasty ass parasites coming out of an insect after mind-controlling it, leaving behind an empty husk? No particular reason for me to mention that.

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic: page 39

Updates every Sunday! Read from the beginning:

https://comicfury.com/read/mostlyarmless/comics/1795336

If you want to read the next 6 pages right now, please consider joining my Patreon! You will get exclusive access to WIPs of pages and bonus/concept art.

https://www.patreon.com/Xannador

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Well, it was nice knowing you, Chai.

Bottom row's one of my favorite sequences in the comic. I'm really satisfied with it.

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic: page 35

Updates every Sunday! Read from the beginning:

https://comicfury.com/read/mostlyarmless/comics/1795336

If you want to read the next 5 pages right now, please consider joining my Patreon! You will get exclusive access to WIPs of pages and bonus/concept art.

https://www.patreon.com/Xannador

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Chai picking the best possible time to start losing his shit. Might as well sprinkle some salt & pepper on himself and hold up a sign saying "Dinner for psycho murder robot"

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic: page 27

Updates every Sunday! Read from the beginning:

https://comicfury.com/read/mostlyarmless/comics/1795336

If you want to read the next 5 pages right now, please consider joining my Patreon! You will get exclusive access to the uncensored version of the story as well as WIPs of pages, and bonus/concept art.

https://www.patreon.com/Xannador

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Bet ye didn't see that one coming ahaha- *dodges sniper shot*

[xannador]

Mostly (h)Armless, a Hi-Fi Rush fan comic. Page 3

link to comic fury:

https://mostlyarmless.thecomicseries.com/

So we introduce our main baddie.

I know Chai fights a bit more viciously here than in canon but considering what he’s facing he’s gonna need all the extra bite he can get. Cause not only did our blue friend there get upgraded with extra blades, shields and a pack hunting mode, it was also enhanced in the worst possible departement for Chai; increased intelligence. 

Also, I finished the storyboard and the comic is 42 pages in total...Because of course.