Sifu Torrent begins, as so many vengeance-driven martial arts tales do, with a homicide. Your father and martial arts mentor is slain right before your eyes in what is simply one of the finest introductory chapters I’ve experienced in recent memory. It serves both as an outstanding tutorial and hints at the future challenges you’ll face as you gain access to the entire array of unlockable moves.
Sifu’s martial arts combat stands out as some of the finest I’ve ever encountered, straightforwardly put. Occasionally, the camera gets wedged in the corner, making it challenging to anticipate incoming attacks, but aside from that, it’s difficult to find many flaws. I cannot commend enough how seamless the animation feels, with every strike delivering bone-crushing impact (enhanced wonderfully by the DualSense controller’s haptics if you’re playing on PlayStation 5) and every counter appearing natural, regardless of the angle or type of attack. And that’s just scratching the surface; mechanically, it’s equally impressive.
There are two attack buttons for a variety of combos, each with its own specific function; a guard button for blocks, parries, and sways; a button for vaulting over environmental obstacles; a button for weapon pickup; a button for weapon throw; and a focus button that enables a range of unblockable special attacks with unique effects, all tied to a focus meter.
What truly distinguishes Sifu from other beat-em-ups is its utilization of environmental combat. Stunned foes can be hurled down stairs, through barricades, and even over railings for instant takedowns; weapons can be kicked up from the ground directly into an opponent’s face; and there are numerous contextual takedowns seamlessly incorporating the surroundings into their animations. Beyond being visually impressive, it offers a strategic advantage, and some fights that initially seemed impossible to survive unscathed became much more manageable once I explored the environment for opportunities to gain the upper hand.
It’s commendable that the enemy AI in Sifu is aggressive enough to compel mastery of these intricate defensive mechanics. They don’t merely stand around waiting for their turn – they leap in with powerful attacks, attempt to surround you, hurl projectiles from a distance, vault over obstacles, and deliver challenging fights across all levels. Sloclap strikes an excellent balance where enemies are predictable enough for players to recognize certain combos and plan defenses but varied enough to catch you off guard if you lose focus.
You start Sifu Torrent with all the skills necessary to reach the end: basic combos, a sweep to knock down enemies, a grab-to-deal quick strike to ground foes and pick them up, a push to create distance, and a focus attack. Additionally, each time you die or find a shrine offering buffs, you can add new skills to your repertoire for situational advantages, such as catching incoming projectiles, executing a counterattack while grounded, or slipping under high attacks for a crotch punch.
Sifu Torrent Magnet demands a great deal from players, and that’s a double-edged sword. Its combat is flawless, boasting smooth animation, deep mechanics, and challenging enemies that require relentless effort for victory. However, the repetition of replaying levels to improve and essentially build a high score to progress through the short campaign with a single pool of lives can lead to frustrating moments with no clear solution beyond perseverance. Yet, on the other side of that steep learning curve lies one of the most remarkable beat-em-ups I’ve played, with superb level design, outstanding music, and a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that few other games can provide once it’s all said and done.
Related Game:
Sifu Torrent System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7/8/10/11
- Processor: AMD FX-4350 or Intel Core i5-3470
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Radeon R7 250 or GeForce GT 640
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 22 GB available space
