A 3rd-person beat-em-up with roguelike elements mashed in, bringing kung-fu to the forefront and actually succeeding where few have before. The only downside I had with it is the time to beat, since you are engrossed from start to finish and it all just ends abruptly. Although Sifu is a pretty short game, it more than makes up for it with all the masterfully crafted levels.
As gaming has become more mainstream, more people are joining the hobby each day, but a well-made tutorial is a requirement even for seasoned players. Sifu handles its tutorial the correct way; it explains every system and how it works, giving you just enough leeway to figure everything else out on your own.
Now, let's talk about the gameplay, or as they say, the fun part. Sifu throws everything it has at you and challenges you to get the upper hand and ultimately beat it. As you start going through the levels, you'll experience both pain and joy.
Pain comes in the form of dying a whole bunch, but you don't feel like you were cheated. The game telegraphs every attack to an extreme level, so you can never blame the game; only that the NPC was faster. Mastery comes from repetition and constantly striving to improve.
Joy comes from feeling like a badass martial artist as you defeat countless enemies and improve your timing and precision. Normal enemies range from cannon fodder to some even achieving boss-level difficulty. Take, for instance, the Legendary system from Fallout 4, where when you get an enemy to half health, you receive a notification saying blank has mutated and it starts doing more damage and is again at full health. Well, something like that.
The bosses are where these types of games shine, and in Sifu, it does not disappoint. It's becoming more commonplace in games, but every boss has a second phase, with a standout being one named 'The Artist'. Each has its own form of combat that you need to study and ultimately overcome. As much as every boss is cool with their unique moves and style, something that's also a standout is their level design. All of their battles have absolutely breathtaking designs, and some scenes are straight out of movies, which is always a plus.
Since we were discussing level design and overall design, Sifu blends tradition with the new wave and brings something unique, even surpassing some AAA games, which is a feat in itself, but still requires some work to achieve. The levels are masterfully constructed, from every leaf to every large neon sign. It uses visual storytelling as an immersion technique and to engage every player in the long run. The world of Sifu looks beautiful, unique, and, pardon the overused saying, 'lived in'.
Soundtrack and sound design are once again high points. Depending on the circumstance, the music needs to pump up your adrenaline during fights and tense moments and ease up when you're just walking around. Every hit and crack sound crisp, and every weapon has a much-needed 'WHACK' to it. In the moments you get to breathe and calm down, the accompanying soundtrack elevates the immediate surroundings. Music is an integral part of the whole video game experience; bad sound can ruin an experience, while some soundtracks receive as much love as the game itself. An example would be The Witcher. Sifu does not reach such heights, but it is above average for sure.
Lastly, let's touch on the story. Sifu follows the tale of a troubled student out for revenge after his master is killed, and that's as far as I can go without spoiling the story. It's not groundbreaking, nor should it always be. It's a satisfactory story for a solid game. After beating it, you can play it again to get another ending.
With so many new games coming out, whether indie or AAA or anything in between, Sifu delivers satisfying gameplay, hard-hitting music, and beautiful level design. Ultimately, it's a game worth playing!
