Indie studio Sloclap, also behind the hand-to-hand combat gameAbsolver, announced its next gameSifu, at Sony’s State of Play event.
WhereasAbsolveris an online multiplayer game, Sloclap is trying its hands at a single-player campaign withSifu, though both feature enticing hand-to-hand and martial arts combat. From the French development studio and backed bythe indie gaming fund Kowloon Nights,Sifumoves players away from the Adal Empire inAbsolverand to China where the art of kung fu originates. Apparently, one of the game’s designers, Jordan Layani, specializes in Bak Mei Kung Fu.
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Throughoutthe Sony State of Play trailer, players can see the protagonist aging from a young adult to that of an old man. InSifu,age will have an impact on death and revival thanks to the pendant around the protagonist’s neck. Each time the player dies, they’ll be revived slightly older, turning them from a beginner into a master, where the game gets its name. In an interview with IGN, Layani details that the term “gung fu"actually means mastery by practicing. Kung fu can only be learned by practicing a lot, Layani explains.
Many are comparingSifu’s kung fu styleto Jackie Chan movies. This is exactly what the designers are going for, Layani said in the interview. Jackie Chan movies, as well asThe Raid,helped inspire the design core ofSifu. Layani explains how Jackie Chan movies typically have him fighting off enemies in close quarters, and the State of Play trailer forSifushows a hallway fight scene with the protagonist and several others.
Sifuis meant to exhibit raw kung fu, true to its real-world style, by exploring themes of revenge and redemption, possiblytaking a page fromHades' book- though it’s currently unclear in what way the campaign will unfold or how long it aims to be. However, Sloclap describesSifuas a blend of beat ‘em ups paired with 3D action games.
Along with the combat, the 3D art style resembles Sloclap’s debut gameAbsolver,which was nominated for a few awards back in 2017 including Best Fighting Game and Best Independent Game. Sloclap is comprised of former Ubisoft Paris employees, including Layani, who worked as a designer onWatch Dogs.
While there aren’t many other details regardingSifu’s story, players can expect Sloclap’s new game later this year.
Sifuwill release in 2021 for PC, PS4, and PS5.
