Even with all its warts and hardware shortages, the early lifespan of the PlayStation 5 has been really exciting for me. This was perhaps my most anticipated console launch given how much more seriously I had taken gaming in the PlayStation 4 generation, and the bevy of PlayStation 5 games I was able to play from the jump made this a pretty impressive launch. Even if things have slowed a small bit in the months since, there's still been plenty to enjoy on the new console, such as "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart" and "Horizon Forbidden West." With Sony's "quality over quantity" approach leading to fewer exclusives, though, sometimes it's worth looking around to see what else is going on with PlayStation in terms of timed exclusives and partnerships. This made "Sifu" quite a standout for me when I first saw it at a PlayStation State of Play event in February 2021. It looked incredibly fresh and unique with some incredibly clean combat, and it was immediately something I had to try. And when I finally got the game...okay, I'll come clean, it kicked my ass. I got a little overwhelmed by the difficulty and put it down, but I was still so drawn to the gameplay that I figured I'd be back to it eventually. With the announcement of difficulty options, my excitement shot right back up and I got to jump back in. I'm incredibly glad I did because what a ride it is.
"Sifu" stands out in various ways as one of the year's most refreshing action games. While the story is pretty simple, being a revenge tale, I do think it elevates itself with some strong emotional beats and character moments. It's also a stunner in the visual department, carefully blending beautiful cinematography with a somewhat minimalist graphical design to create something extremely unique and aesthetically pleasing. Gameplay, though, is where "Sifu" really shines: the combat is extremely fluid and extremely addicting. Both offense and defense feel smooth and impactful, and the controls are pitch-perfect. The game also has an incredibly unique system where aging increases your combat abilities but also makes you more vulnerable to damage. It works fascinatingly for the game and adds an extra layer to the incredible challenge. Trust me, even playing on the recently added easier difficulty setting, this game still has a solid amount of bite and challenge to it. Fortunately, it's a welcome challenge, as the game nails that "just one more try" feel to it where you don't want to put it down. You constantly welcome the challenge, and the fights feel more interesting because you're able to learn the mechanics better.
If there's anything worth nitpicking about it, I guess the easier difficulty options can shorten the overall length of the game a bit for some, but the overall gameplay loop is so gripping that it doesn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the final product. Plus, it's a game with plenty of replayability, so the short length isn't too much of a problem.
Overall, "Sifu" is one of the most refreshing and clever games I've played so far this year, and it's a title that's extremely easy to get hooked on. You can see a lot of love and care went into making this an incredibly memorable gameplay experience, and that shows in the final product. And with the addition of difficulty settings (both easier and harder, which is fantastic), the game opens itself up to be enjoyed by a wider audience. Plus, the addition of further mods that will appeal to fans who enjoy both easier and harder options will continue to add value for a very long time. Sloclap has done a brilliant job supporting the game, just as the developer did when crafting it. It earns one of the highest recommendations I can give, and I'm sure it's only going to keep getting replays out of me in the future.
Final rating: 10 out of 10 "Fantastic"