Tango Gameworks has had a lot of eyes on it since it became part of Microsoft as a part of the company’s $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax. This is mainly due to it being the first Japanese studio to be owned by Microsoft, a territory where Microsoft has continuously failed to make a splash even with big exclusives likeBlue DragonandLost Odyssey. While this was a major stepping stone for the company’s future in appealing to fans of Japanese video games,Tango Gameworkshas had a troubled history.
While itsThe Evil Withinseries has received success throughout the years, it failed to become a true mainstream horror giant like creator Shinji Mikami’s previous franchise,Resident Evil. Last year,the studio releasedGhostwire: Tokyoto mixed reception, casting doubt over the future of Tango Gameworks' potential. Thankfully, the recently announced and releasedHi-Fi Rushseems to have shifted gears for the studio, and it could be the beginning of a fresh start for Tango Gameworks under Microsoft.
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The Lukewarm Reception of Ghostwire: Tokyo
Ghostwire: Tokyowas first announced in a now iconic E3 2019 presentation from Bethesda where the game’s then director Ikumi Nakamura appeared onstage to introduce the game. Her charming personality and mannerisms made for what is one of the most iconic E3 moments of all time, and quickly drew attention toward the game. Fans were then left puzzled when it wasannounced three months later that Ikumi Nakamura had left Tango Gameworksand thatGhostwire: Tokyowould instead be directed by Kenji Kimura.
Given thatGhostwire: Tokyowas intended to be Nakamura’s debut directorial project, much of the vision behind the game left with her when she departed Tango Gameworks. It’s for this reason that many believe that the final game feels lacking in focus and derived from other industry conventions, such as the well-known “Ubisoft open-world formula.” The game released on PS5 in March 2022 to mixed reception,with many criticizing the repetitive content and mission structure, but praising the originality in its combat, despite it feeling somewhat underdeveloped.
While reviews forGhostwire: Tokyoweren’t scathing, they were a crack in Tango Gameworks' otherwise prestige armor, with the previousEvil Withingames receiving critical acclaim for returning to Shinji Mikami’s roots in survival horror game design after years away from the Resident Evil series. With Tango confirming thatits next project would not be a thirdEvil Withingame, many were concerned that the studio’s next project could be another underwhelming attempt to create a new horror IP to replace it, as it tried withGhostwire: Tokyo. This, fortunately, was not the case.
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Hi-Fi Rush Is A New Beginning For Tango Gameworks
During the Xbox Developer Direct, less than a year afterGhostwire: Tokyo’s release, Tango Gameworks madethe surprise announcement ofHi-Fi Rush, a new title fromThe Evil Within 2director John Johanas. Better yet, the studio announced that the game would release immediately after the show. UnlikeThe Evil WithinandGhostwire: Tokyo,Hi-Fi Rushis a rhythm action game with an anime inspired cel-shaded art style. The game’s combat has been compared to games likeDevil May Cry, while incorporating rhythm elements from games likeMetal Hellsinger.
Despite Mikami teasing the studio’s next project as being a departure from its horror heritage last year, nobody was expecting something as brimming with style and charisma asHi-Fi Rush, especially not from the director ofThe Evil Within 2. The game is a bold step from Tango Gameworks to establish itself as a powerhouse of multiple genres in the Japanese video game industry like Mikami’s previous studio, Platinum Games, is known as today. The game is also far more accessible than any of the studio’s previous titlesgiven its shedding of the horror traits of the studio’s past games, but also since it’s the first Tango Gameworks title to launch on Xbox Game Pass for PC and console.
ThoughHi-Fi Rushis not a horror title, it likely does not mean that Tango is done with the genre. The opportunities that services likeXbox Game Pass afford smaller games likeHi-Fi Rushand Obsidian Entertainment’sPentimentmeans that Tango Gameworks can still create smaller titles within theEvil WithinandGhostwire: Tokyofranchises even if they are put on hold while Tango works on aHi-Fi Rushsequel or other new IP. Either way,Hi-Fi Rushis an exciting fresh start from Tango Gameworks under Microsoft and could further establish it as one of the best studios operating in Japan today.
Hi-Fi Rushis available now on PC and Xbox Series X/S. It is also available as part of Xbox Game Pass.
