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- Sifu is one of the few games that lets you enjoy some good hand-to-hand combat.
- It was released in the same month as Elden Ring, resulting in it being overshadowed.
- It deserves another chance today since it offers a very unique combat system.
I have played tons of video games from different genres, but there haven’t been that many that fulfilled my hand-to-hand combat cravings. I am not talking about fighting games like Tekken, Street Fighter, or Mortal Kombat, but the likes of Judgement, Yakuza, and Godhand.
Having played these titles, I was still craving precise hand-to-hand combat, and that’s when I got my hands on Sifu. This was one exciting experience, and everyone needs to try it.
This game was released in 2022 when everyone was busy with Game of the Year winner Elden Ring, which is probably why it got overshadowed. I was in a similar boat, but I found Sifu extremely underrated after playing it recently.
Why it matters: Very few games can match Sifu’s hand-to-hand combat since it focuses on pure martial arts to deliver an unforgettable experience.
The Hand-To-Hand Combat
First, let me clarify something. Only play Sifu if you like difficult games, as you have to master the combat. I know some people don’t want to go through the trouble of learning the combat mechanics and prefer just mashing buttons.
However, learning the mechanics has many benefits here. If you have played Sekiro and mastered the excellent yet unforgiving combat, then you know exactly what I am talking about. The game starts out quite limited, giving the option to parry and perform light or heavy attacks.
These end up being the basics of gameplay, but there are some strings and combos that you need to learn for certain takedowns. As a whole, the combat feels satisfying since each hit is fast and fluid.
Sifu is quite linear in nature, but learning the combat is the whole point. You can also pick up things like a baseball bat to beat up opponents. Even the environment plays a role in combat, with different takedowns and animations depending on your position.
Speaking of animations, Sifu excels here. It captures the essence of martial arts with spectacularly animated attacks, each punch and kick being as crunchy and smooth as one would expect.
The combat is just too much fun, and I can never get enough of it. The hand-to-hand brawling alone makes the game worth playing, so I highly recommend everyone try it out.
Stellar Boss Fights And Visual Style
I have lost count of how many playthroughs I have done of Sifu. One key strength that stands out here is the quality of the boss battles. Every boss fight in this game is memorable.
My favorite bosses are Kuroki and, of course, Yang. The latter has proven to be my favorite due to his never-ending combos. The long combo strings make parrying him immensely satisfying, and once you master this fight, it can be over very quickly.
I think Kuroki can be a little difficult to master, as her weapon does chip damage if not perfectly parried. However, fighting her can be just as satisfying due to her varied combo strings.
While Sifu does not have much going on in terms of visuals, it excels in simplicity. The character models are simple, and the environments even more so. However, this simplicity adds to the experience.
Dim alleys, neon-lit clubs, varied architectures, and more keep the aesthetic interesting at all times.
You Die, You Get Old
Normally, you respawn at a checkpoint when you die, right? In some cases, you would have to play the game from the start. However, Sifu is different. You can only die as many as 10 times in a row before the run ends.
This is because of the unique aging mechanic. With each death, your character grows older, his appearance and gameplay changing. Once you reach the age of 70, dying will restart your playthrough. That said, you will not lose any permanently unlocked skills or items, which is a relief.
You start at 20, so going to 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 will cause you to lose charms on your pendant. Other than that, you won’t be able to unlock certain skills if you die too many times.
This is definitely a unique feature, adding another layer of excitement to the experience and making it more enjoyable. Sifu has a ton going for it, and it’s a shame that so many missed out.
If you enjoy martial arts and hand-to-hand combat like me, I suggest giving Sifu a shot.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
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