After watching all the movies with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, as a kid I always wanted to learn martial arts. There was a problem though. I didn’t want to fight anyone and it required a lot of physical effort. But a few years later, my dream to kick ass like my childhood heroes without the need to stand up from my couch has finally come true. Sort of.
The game was released in February 2022 and, after a year long wait, the game has finally been released on Steam. We’ll review Sifu for pc, although you can find the game also on PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One/Series X.
Sifu follows the story of a young Kung Fu student who is seeking revenge for the death of their family. The game is set in a modern-day city and features intense martial arts combat with a unique twist: as the player character takes damage, they age, and eventually die.
You begin as a young man and like many other fighting games, you have a set of skills. As you progress and acquire more points, you can buy different abilities that range in different categories, it can be weapons proficiency, kicks, punches, evades and some of the most useful: focus abilities.
With focus abilities you can create a special attack, which can give you an edge on a fight. This is one of my favorite abilities, since Sifu’s difficulty sometimes relies on hordes of enemies attacking you and with this you can create an escape route. But there is a catch, as I mentioned before, and that is one of the game mechanics that are more confusing, the aging system.
As I mentioned, our main character is a young man, but everytime our hero is defeated, a magic pendant with the capability of resurrection will bring you back, but everytime you come back from the dead, our character will age, and you can tell by the aging in the pictures that I didn’t do so well. The magic pendant has five opportunities for you to come back to life, the thing is, everytime you are defeated, a counter begins to add up and you’ll age more, starting at the age of 23 and reaching the maximum age of 70, after which if you die, you’ll have to start the level from the beginning.
Some reviewers have noted that the game’s difficulty level can be punishing, and that the aging mechanic can sometimes feel unfair. Many (as well as myself) had a really tough time passing the second level, where difficulty is raised significantly in contrast to the first level. Additionally, some players have reported issues with the game’s camera angles and occasional glitches.
Overall, Sifu has received positive reviews for its stylish visuals, challenging gameplay, and engaging story. The combat system is particularly noteworthy, as it blends traditional martial arts moves with modern-day brawling techniques. The aging mechanic also adds a layer of urgency and strategy to battles, as players must balance the risks of taking damage with the need to defeat their opponents quickly.
As players progress through the game, they will encounter a variety of environments, ranging from alleyways and rooftops to high-end office buildings and nightclubs. Each location is filled with secrets to uncover and hidden paths to explore, adding to the game’s overall sense of immersion and discovery.
Every level has two paths, the main path and a “shortcut”. In order to find this shortcut, you need to explore the levels. Sometimes one door will lead you to another area and you won’t be able to come back, making replayability more fun. With different paths, the selection of special skills and the aging mechanic makes you create a strategy, making a simple premise have more depth.
Another notable feature of Sifu is its sound design, which includes a dynamic and evolving soundtrack that changes as players progress through the game. The sound effects are also well-crafted, adding weight and impact to each punch and kick.
Finally, Sifu has received praise for its art style, which combines realistic character models with stylized environments and lighting. The game’s use of motion capture technology also adds a level of realism to the combat animations, making each fight feel visceral and impactful. The different levels have an awesome sense of immersion and the combination of classic Chinese elements with modern and grit and color, makes the perfect ambient to kick ass.
In the end, Sifu is a well-designed and engaging game that combines challenging combat mechanics, thoughtful exploration, and a gripping story to create an immersive and memorable experience. If you’re a fan of martial arts films like me, you’re going to love this game.