You've Been Sleeping On This Brutal Indie Game
Sifu was always going to be an ambitious game. When it comes to titles that channel so much focus on fighting itself, things need to be fluid, effortless, and with as little friction between the execution of combos on the controller and the player's character kicking ass as possible.
Plus, with the graceful acrobatics of martial arts injected into the mix, gameplay has to be absolutely perfect to create a satisfying, engaging, and effective experience. Luckily for Sifu, that's exactly what it is.
Sifu Is Arduous, But Immensely Satisfying
Click to enlargeThe game follows you, a young boy who witnesses the death of your father at the hand of five brutal assassins. After eight years of training, you take after them to enact the revenge you've been dreaming of. It's a simple premise that sets up a game that is pretty simple in itself, but its technicality makes the game fluid to play once grasped, it's going to be a long journey to mastery.
There's no other effective way to put it - Sifu is brutal. It will kick your ass, and when you come back fitter and more agile, it will kick your ass again. Even mastering the game's combat systems and unlocking new abilities along the way doesn't save you from the game's smartest feature - its ageing.
Rather than dying, Sifu will see you rapidly grow older as you are toppled, losing health but gaining damage output. Once you pass 80 years old and you fall, you'll fall for the last time. The game forces you to come back to familiar ground with your new ability and fresh expertise, and you'll gradually slice through areas you once found nearly impossible with remarkable ease.
Sifu Isn't Your Typical Beat-Em-Up
Click to enlargeThe interesting thing with Sifu is that it isn't one of those games you can just pick up and barge through with a vicious thirst for blood - it demands patience and focus above all else. Blocking, weaving and delivering returning blows is arduous and tough, and it'll take a lot of dedication to learn how the game works best.
And even when you're carving through goons, the bosses will pummel you. They'll punish you until you can barely stand it - but if you persist, when you finally bring the five assassins to their knees, you'll feel an accomplishment unlike any other.
Sifu is punishing, but much like the game's narrative, the entire experience is about persistence. It won't let you through comfortably, but you'll be immensely grateful that it didn't go easy on you. Beating Sifu is an accomplishment to wear like a badge of honour, and when there's nobody left to take down, you'll feel truly unstoppable.
