Following up on the success of their first martial arts fighter Absolver, developers Sloclap return with a new title that looks just as intense if not more.
Sifu is a brutal story of revenge that follows a young martial arts student who is out for blood after their master is killed.
To fulfil this vendetta, the student must hunt down and defeat the assassins who were responsible for their families death and the downfall of their dojo.
This young martial artist is able to beat their way through hordes of enemies and also has the ability to be revived through the use of a magical talisman.
Defeating each assassin brings them closer to uncovering the truth behind the merciless murder and why they have been gifted with the magical talisman.
Sifu has all the makings of a Martial Arts movie classic, the story may be very linear and straightforward, but there’s enough high adrenaline to make up for it.
Sifu has an alluring art style that looks like a living painting. Each level has been beautifully crafted to radiate traits of the Chinese element they are themed around.
Its world is a gorgeous mix of mystical and contemporary whilst remaining authentic to the culture it is based on.
Developer Sloclap's attention to detail is remarkable and credit to their endeavour to create an authentic and compelling experience.
It’s obvious to see the Sifu has amazing choreographed fight sequences, but what really impressed me was the dynamic camera angles that just kept me wanting to execute more and more moves.
All quick zooms and fast pans were well-timed and landed at the right place giving each bout its own grand cinematic showcase.
Each fight was just a pleasure to watch and I rarely saw the same action sequence repeat itself.
The soundtrack was composed by Howie Lee, an electronic music composer, who has never worked on a game before. The themes are a great mix of traditional Chinese instruments infused with electronic elements like synths that help set the perfect atmosphere.
It does a great job building tension as you progress through each of the levels. They also feel like they have been specifically tailored to match each level allowing for a much more genuine experience.
The sound effect design is also fun, especially with sounds such as footsteps, rains and combo finishers coming out from the controller.
Sifu is of course a beat 'em up and its main selling point lies within its combat, but other aspects like the level design are a bit too linear with next to no exploration required.
There’s the odd hidden item found here and there like card keys and Jade Dragon shrines but every path feels too predetermined.
On the other hand, the levels have been well constructed to help elevate the combat. Each area is filled with weapons and destructible elements to aid the protagonist on their journey.
Even the layout plays a huge part in defeating enemies, as players will be able to score extra points by throwing people off balconies or cause extra damage by hitting foes against tables or walls.
Knowing how each environment can help you and taking advantage of this in combat is a huge part of being successful in Sifu.
The best part is that it doesn't feel too gimmicky, as it takes a bit of skill and timing to force your enemies into a position to execute one of these moves.
Combat is the main feature in Sifu and using the aggressive kung fu Pak Mei the protagonist is able to fight their way through swarms of foes that protect each of the five assassins.
Sifu features life-like choreography that was created through the use of motion capture, so everything feels as authentic as it can be.
The caveat of this realism is that the game requires precision and exquisite timing to survive.
One simply can’t button mash their way to victory at all, as the enemy NPC are intelligent enough to put up an intense fight.
Sifu can feel really satisfying when you manage to execute a new move or great combo, however, the game does heavily punish you for failing to parry, block or dodge.
As players progress through the game they can learn new attacks to improve their proficiency in battle. Pak Mei may seem like an offensive fighting style, but it relies heavily on being defensive and looking for openings to attract.
There are a few different defensive methods within the protagonist's arsenal, each with its own pros and cons. Blocking requires no timing but is dictated by a meter that once maxed out leaves you defenceless.
Parrying can be used to stop enemies combos but requires great timing allowing for a counter combo. Swaying requires less timing but enables you to dodge bigger attacks.
There is a good mix of defensive and offensive moves and several ways to utilise them to keep enemies at bay.
As the player progresses and dies they will learn several strategies to defeat large crowds and bosses.
The enemies in Sifu can be deadly and just plain difficult at all times, but this vulnerability should be fully welcome as it will push players to master the techniques and improve their strategy.
My only gripe is that the game can be a tad difficult in certain areas and without a difficulty setting some players might find the experience slightly overwhelming to finish.
Alongside combat, the protagonist has the ability to be revived after dying in battle thanks to the magic talisman but they will have aged as a consequence.
How it works is that every time a player dies, the number of deaths will be added to their age. However, death will allow players to unlock new skills and think of another strategy to defeat their opponent.
Every piece of the talisman will break after ageing ten years and the skills that can be learnt will disappear with it.
The player's health bar will shrink upon ageing, but the protagonist will be able to deal more damage.
This mechanic really adds a risk and reward element to the overall gameplay, keeping players on their toes throughout the story.
Outside of combat, there is a detective board that will keep a record of all the items and information you have gathered throughout each level. This will help players with hidden items and shortcuts to reach the bosses quicker.
Verdict
Sifu is a martial arts epic that prides itself on authenticity and realism yet without losing any of the fun and addictive gameplay. It's great to see the lengths that the developer Sloclap have to go to create a genuine experience.
Although tough and gruelling at times Sifu can be seen as one of the best martial games on the market that will greatly impress purists of the genre.
Sifu is out on 8th February on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Windows
