A brutally challenging yet immensely satisfying experience
When the new kung-fu brawler “Sifu” by French studio Sloclap was first announced, I, like many others, expected a simple yet stylish button-mashing action game. I wrote it off as something I might buy on sale down the line. But upon February’s release, I decided to give it a shot, and what I found was something special.
I want to start by saying that this game is absolutely not for everyone. The systems present can be hard to get the hang of, and even mistakes in the first level can take you from full health to death in just a few seconds.
However, in “Sifu,” death is not the end. The protagonist is protected by a magic charm that revives them from the dead, but they age with each use. Damage increases with age, but this is offset by the loss of health and access to certain skills. The game is about mastering these systems and getting through levels with fewer mistakes as you become accustomed to the combat.
The story of “Sifu” is a revenge tale; as the protagonist, you will hunt down five assassins who killed your father as a child. You hone your skills through varied environments, such as nightclubs, slums and art museums. Shortcuts unlock after difficult encounters, bringing you ever closer to the perfect run.
Undoubtedly the best part of “Sifu” is the combat. Button inputs are extremely responsive, and combos seamlessly string together. It’s like the complexity of a multiplayer fighting game was transplanted to a single-player format. There are dozens of different moves and combos, as well as entirely new movesets for the three weapons that can be found scattered throughout the game.
Enemies match your vast set of skills with equally complex AI and move strings, not to mention the bosses, who can feel untouchable when you first encounter them. The game features a structure system, which allows you to perform a powerful finisher after breaking an enemy’s structure before depleting their health. This system also ties into a secret ending I won’t spoil here.
“SIfu” is a fantastic game that ties difficult and deep combat with artistic influence from movies such as “Oldboy,” “IP Man,” and “John Wick.” Obtaining every trophy can take up to 30 hours, and for the $40 price, it’s definitely worth the buy.
Sifu is currently available on Playstation and the Epic Games store.
