Sifu should've won Best Fighting Game award, but it lost to a now dead live service game...

The perfect martial arts fighting game! (10/10)

Sifu was a game that I first saw through the PlayStation Release trailer back in 2021, and it quickly became my most anticipated game. Finally playing it, I'm proud to say the game has exceeded my expectations tremendously and acts as the perfect hallmark for what video games should be.

STORY (10/10):
Sifu tells a simple story, a quest of vengeance, that takes the protagonist across numerous settings and landscapes. Albeit quite short, it captures a strong message about revenge, blending it with the central Rise mechanic of the game, with the protagonist getting progressively older with each death. Despite its short length, the game grants a lot of depth and autonomy in how the protagonists choose to convey their journey, resulting an in ending that feels both satisfying and integral to the core narrative of this experience.

ART STYLE (10/10):
Sifu's unique cell shader style makes the game's visual experience both bold and crisp. The game really leans into blending different colours and tones to convey the different atmospheres and scenes, making each encounter feel unique and exciting. This harmonises together into meaningful world-building that sets the mood for each boss battle. Furthermore, the game is very honest with its inspirations, including a lot of references and nods to other martial arts adding a rich layer of traditional and celebration.

GAMEPLAY (10/10):
The mechanics and controls blend together seamlessly, creating combat that is easy to learn but hard to master. This in tandem with the Rise mechanic, whereby your character ages after each death (resulting in less health but more damage), both heightens the stakes and diegetically builds a cohesive narrative of becoming a martial arts master. The incorporation of the Pak Mei martial arts style feels fresh, adding a taste of acrobatic ability and brutality (especially with the finishers). Furthermore, the amount of free post-launch content in the Arena Mode makes revisiting this game a must, especially with the different challenges and game modes.

Overall, I absolutely adore Sifu, in terms of its message, art direction and gameplay and I look forward to revisiting this title in many years to come.

*confused in keanu* "I know Kung fu"