Studio Head Shinji Mikami and Game Director John Johanas took to the screen to present Hi-Fi Rush to audiences and discuss aspects of the game’s development during the Developer Direct. In a moment of self-awareness, they even highlight the fact that the studio is known for spooky horror titles and that Hi-Fi Rush is a drastic departure from what they’ve made in the past. Despite the change in style, it’s clear there is a lot of passion behind this game and the studio’s previous titles may have influenced its design in unexpected ways.
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Looking Back at Tango’s Previous Titles
Tango Gameworks made its developmental debut in 2014 with the release of The Evil Within for PS3, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. The game is a single-player survival-horror experience played across 15 chapters that follows protagonist Sebastian Castellanos as he is thrust into a surreal nightmare after investigating the scene of a mass murder at Beacon Mental Hospital. Mikami’s history as director of the original Resident Evil comes through in this game as many gameplay elements such as third-person combat, limited resources, and creative puzzles drew comparisons to Capcom’s horror classic.
The studio followed up on the success of this title with a sequel in 2017 for PS4, PC, and Xbox One directed this time by John Johanas. The Evil Within 2 improved upon the gameplay of the first by opening the world up beyond the linear design of the previous entry and introducing “The Communicator” to help players identify objectives, resources, and enemies as they navigate the game’s world. The story picks up three years after the events of its predecessor and sees Sebastian descend into the bizarre world of Union in search of his daughter Lily who he believed to be dead, while continuing to expand upon the theme of grappling with Sebastian’s inner demons.
While not a true horror game, 2022’s Ghostwire: Tokyo continued the studio’s theme of darker, paranormal tones for its games when it released for PS5 and PC. As a first-person action-adventure game, Ghostwire: Tokyo follows the story of Akito after he becomes possessed by a spirit that grants him the power to fight the dark forces infesting Tokyo. Gameplay involves combat using magic cast through a variety of hand gestures as Akito fights enemies, plus collecting spirit points to upgrade his abilities. Although Ghostwire: Tokyo received a lukewarm reception compared to The Evil Within, it’s still a solid entry in Tango’s catalog of games.
Less than a year later, Tango has released its next title, Hi-Fi Rush, breaking from the gloomy horror aesthetic the studio’s known for. While it may seem like Hi-Fi Rush stands apart from the studio’s past titles, their influence can still be seen among the vibrant designs of this latest game. The world design of Tango’s games is especially noticeable in Hi-Fi Rush, with large set pieces and open-ended yet linear levels that combine elements of The Evil Within 2 and Ghostwire: Tokyo’s level design philosophy. In addition, the light RPG elements that allow players to upgrade Chai’s abilities will feel familiar to fans of Tango’s past games.
Hi-Fi Rush is available now for PC and Xbox Series X|S.
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