Multiple new trailers for Sifu was announced in February 2021 particular attention has been turned towards the title's interesting resurrection mechanic which ages the main character over time.
In Sifu players take the role of a young kung fu student who must embark on a quest to avenge the murder of his family. The title's in-depth combat system includes over 150 different martial arts moves, and stringing these attacks together in different ways can open up strategic opportunities for the player. Alongside this complex combat system, Sifu also stands out thanks to its unusual method of respawning after death. If the player is defeated in combat the protagonist can be resurrected, although he grows older with every death. Age makes his attacks stronger but gives him less health, simulating the hero's life-long journey of revenge and the effects of age. Sifu is set to release in early 2022 after a delay was announced back in July.
A new trailer for Sifu, posted to YouTube by developer Sloclap, reveals the action title's release date is February 8, 2022. The fast-paced gameplay trailer gives players a quick glimpse at the game's intense combat system as the player faces off against a variety of foes. Different enemy types are seen, from lightning-fast warriors to enormous brutes, but the protagonist can counter each with his own host of moves. Defensive counters and grabs are featured, and the hero is even seen stealing an enemy's knife for his own use.
A more substantial gameplay preview has also been posted by the resurrection system in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a mystical pendant allows the player character to keep fighting after death. The pendant lets the player spend experience points on new moves, but each death will age them more and more quickly. The pendant also becomes useless past a certain age, so too many deaths will result in a permanent game over. However, a detective board is used to track down the hero's five targets, and the information players gather will still be present after a final death. Sloclap has also released an overview of the game's combat system, detailing moves such as parries, throws, and multiple different directional dodges.
While still possessing its own unique mechanics and aesthetic, Sifu presents similarities to other recent titles such as Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Deathloop. Between the in-depth combat system and the ability to continue a battle immediately after death, the parallels between Sekiro and Sifu are quite clear. FromSoftware's 2019 action-adventure game also put an emphasis on fast-paced melee combat and breaking an enemy's posture through relentless offense, which is shared with Sloclap's title. Meanwhile, Deathloop's time loop mechanic lets players gather information on their targets that is carried on after death, just like Sifu's roguelike detective board mechanic.
With a number of new trailers, Sloclap has really shed some light on what players can expect from Sifu. The game's intense and in-depth combat system is likely to thrill action fans, while the resurrection mechanic adds depth to each victory and defeat. Instantly respawning upon defeat may make the game look easy on the surface, but the aging mechanic will force players to adopt new strategies with each use of their pendant. With recent previews of Sifu praising the martial arts brawler, action game fans need only wait until February 2022 to experience the adventure.
Sifu will release on February 8, 2022, for PS4, PS5, and PC.
