Sifu Review – A Test Of Resolve

Mastering a martial art takes years – if not a lifetime. It takes years to perfect a discipline. They must be able to perform each attack, counter and movement with pinpoint accuracy. The ability to think and move is essential for a skilled warrior. Mastering Sifu’s combat system requires dedication and hard work. You must persevere through all the pains of practice before you can reap the rewards.

Sloclap’s 2017 action/RPG, Absolver was a martial arts RPG. It allowed online gamers to design and implement their combat system while they compete against other players in an imaginative fantasy setting. Absolver had its flaws, such as its lackluster quest design and barren settings. However, its core combat was very solid. Sloclap’s next game refines this combat system to a focused, single-player adventure. While the concept sounds promising, execution was flawed.

Sifu, at its core, is just a revenge story. A group of mysterious thugs murdered your master eight years ago. Since then, you have dedicated your entire life to finding them and getting justice. The odds against you are not in your favour because the leaders of the attack have dozens upon dozens of bodyguards. You have the ability to rise above your enemies’ numbers. The magical talisman is at your side that will revive you if you get hurt in combat. You age every time you are killed. Every death adds one to a death count that determines the number of years you live after your rebirth. You can easily lose up to six years after the first death. It’s a great way to monitor your progression throughout the game. Also, I loved watching the character’s posture shift as gray hair and wrinkles started to set in. 

Sloclap built its combat system on the principles of Pak Mei Ku Fu (a centuries-old martial arts that uses fluid, explosive attacks). The fluid animations and stylized characters allow for spectacular combat encounters, which feel straight out of the best Kung-Fu movies. One moment I was able to smash an opponent into a table and send broken glass and legs all around the room. Next, I kicked the basket around the room sending an attacker to tumble onto the ground. Then, another enemy fell on the floor. Finally, I smashed a bottle against the head of another foe. Sifu’s combats can be choreographed to break bones in well-coordinated ballets. The feeling of standing on the top of your beaten foes was incredible.

Navigating Sifu’s fights requires a lot of precision and strict timing. This can disrupt the flow of play. To survive in these narrow streets, you must use blocks, dodges and counters effectively. A simple mistake can expose you to an enemy’s attack. They also take a lot of your health, making it very difficult to feel healthy. Although you can get a little bit of your health back by doing advanced takedowns (which is a lot compared with what you’ll lose to a single enemy group), it doesn’t make up for the loss in overall health. You must be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on every enemy while you deal with them. Although I like the tactical component of combat, I do not enjoy having to fight the camera simultaneously. I feel that enemies sometimes pop up from behind your screen to interfere with your combos. Those attacks are cheap.   

Sifu’s various levels are a challenging but worthwhile challenge. This is made worse by the game’s complicated structure. Your talisman will completely break once you turn 70. You must restart every level after this occurs. Although there are some shortcuts that make it easier to run into a boss, I was still tired of repeating the same steps until I figured out my method. You can start every level regardless of your age. Although this makes perfect sense in theory, I found it was frustrating from a gameplay standpoint. It forced me to constantly revisit previous levels so I would have more years of play.

You can also earn experience as you work hard to get your lumps. This is a way for you to acquire new skills. These skills are essential for some tasks, including the ability kick environment objects at foes. Additional perks such as increased weapon damage and a greater amount of health after each defeat are offered by the Shrines. Unfortunately, certain abilities and perks become locked as you age. This forced me once more to return to my early levels in order to gain enough experience to unlock the skills I needed before they were permanently lost. It was quite exhausting.

Sifu emerges strong, much like a young combatant. The core fighting feels great, while the action in every moment is better than many Hollywood blockbusters. Unfortunately, it becomes tedious and duller as the action progresses. Sifu is a wonderful example of how growing older is not always enjoyable.