Summary
- Authenticity in combat and homage to iconic action movies set Sifu apart in the gaming world.
- Monkey Man's emotional depth and unique approach to action storytelling allowed it to shine, and Sifu 2 could learn from it.
- Balancing combat mastery with storytelling depth could elevate a Sifu sequel to new heights.
Sifu came and went as one of the more stylish action games to date. There’s no telling now if there’ll be a sequel for Sifu, though potential games are basically limitless as long as characters are afflicted by a similar age manipulation feature and have gameplay authentically centered around those systems. Sifu certainly wasn’t an easy action game, demanding that players learn an intricate mastery of directional mixed martial arts to meticulously dismantle different enemies and improvise with tools and environments at their disposal.
Sifu was wholly original in its aesthetic and storytelling approach even if the story itself wasn’t remarkably unprecedented, and a lot of what made its combat exceptional were the iconic set pieces and action movies it paid unmistakable homage to, such as the panning corridor shot in Oldboy. This provoked many players to indulge in fan-made mods where Sifu’s protagonist was reskinned to look like Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, Keanu Reeves’ Neo, and Robert Pattinson’s Batman, for instance, and if a Sifu sequel was ever on the table it’d be wonderful to see it take inspiration from Dev Patel’s Monkey Man and its titular Kid.
Monkey Man’s Action is Fueled by Impassioned Violence and Improvisation
Monkey Man’s Kid certainly knows how to handle himself in a fight and can make somewhat of a living doing so, but where Monkey Man is most unique apart from action movies like John Wick, aside from its obvious and profound cultural roots, is in Kid’s lack of prestige as a careered and storied assassin. Kid is rather a man seeking vengeance for a wrong he suffered as a child, and like Bruce Wayne’s Batman he’s sacrificed whatever semblance of a ‘normal’ life he could’ve had in order to pursue his own brand of bloodied justice.
Monkey Man twists the knife emotionally as well, which makes Kid’s rampage that much more palpable, especially in the beginning when he’s scheming his way into Kings to get near Rana and kill him. However, the action itself doesn’t disappoint as it’s far more authentic and visceral than most traditional action movies and includes some of the most original killing blows imaginable, such as Kid biting the handle of a knife to press its blade into a man’s neck while they’re claustrophobically entangled in an elevator.
Unlike John Wick, Kid also fails to kill Rana with the handgun he purchases and never attempts to use firearms again after that instance. Instead, he uses his fists until he comes across any ordinary items as impromptu instruments, which are already match-made for Sifu’s action cinema-inspired gameplay.
A Sifu Sequel or Successor Needs to Understand the Raw Emotion of Monkey Man
Monkey Man definitely isn’t the only action movie where empathy toward the protagonist and their plight is vital. Still, the fact that it takes a risk by putting a huge lul between its initial and final Kings infiltrations for Kid to recover and train is narratively and emotionally impactful, let alone necessary for the storytelling to be as meaningful as it is.
Interestingly, Sifu never offers that respite to players. The story always looms and each boss is central to the ongoing goal of the protagonist; yet, the story can easily fall to the back burner with arresting gameplay being Sifu’s sole takeaway. In a sequel, it would be phenomenal to see Sifu’s Detective Board interactions extrapolated more with gameplay where players could explore and immerse themselves in more than a lone hub.
If a Sifu sequel stripped combat away for as long as Monkey Man does, it would allow for a greater appreciation of the story, protagonist, and combat itself when enough distance is put between it and the player.
Of course, part of Sifu’s charm is developing a mastery of its elaborate combat. But if for even a single scripted sequence players were whisked away from the repetition of battling enemies it could provide much more depth and attention to everything else the game has in store.
Sifu
- Released
- February 8, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Itching for some more good ol' Kung Fu action? The Arenas free expansion adds an entirely new game mode, featuring 15 dynamic locations and 120 challenges that will put your Kung Fu to the test! Gear up for spectacular combats, brutal opponents, and endless opportunities to refine your moves. Is one life enough to know Kung Fu?
Whether you choose to play as a male or a female character, in Sifu, you will ponder that question on your path for revenge, hunting down your family’s assassins. One against all, you have no allies, countless enemies, and a mysterious amulet to bring you back to life every time you die. Yet, be warned! Your secret weapon comes with a hefty price to pay: aging and its consequences.
Learning by fire
Your enemies don’t wait their turn, and they don’t broadcast their intent. Dodge, parry, strike, use combos and be like water making its way through captivating environments. Learn how to master your art, whether by fighting through the underbelly of a nightclub, scrambling through a refined gallery to avoid getting surrounded, or vertically navigating a towering office building.
Adaptation is survival
Careful positioning and clever use of the environment to your advantage are key to your survival. Use everything at your disposal: throwable objects, makeshift weapons, windows, and ledges. The odds are stacked against you, and you will be offered no mercy.
Training never ends
Kung Fu is mastery through practice, a path for both the body and the mind. Learn from your errors, unlock unique skills, and find the strength within yourself to master the devastating techniques of Pak-Mei Kung Fu.
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Drug Reference, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sloclap
- Publisher(s)
- Sloclap
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Beat 'Em Up
- How Long To Beat
- 9 Hours
- Metascore
- 81
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
