Is Sifu a Souls Game? A Deep Dive into Difficulty, Design, and Genre

The short answer is no, Sifu is not a Souls game. While it shares some surface-level similarities, particularly in its demanding combat and a focus on player skill, Sifu fundamentally differs from the Souls-like genre in its core mechanics, narrative structure, and overall design philosophy. Sifu is a roguelike beat ’em up with a heavy emphasis on mastering kung fu techniques, whereas Souls games are action RPGs characterized by open or interconnected world designs, character building through stats and equipment, and often cryptic lore. Let’s delve into why these distinctions are crucial to understanding each game’s identity.

Unpacking the “Souls-like” Label

The term “Souls-like” has become a catch-all phrase for any game with a high difficulty curve. However, applying it indiscriminately dilutes the meaning and obscures the unique qualities of games like Sifu. While Sifu’s combat can be brutally unforgiving, demanding precise timing and strategic thinking, this doesn’t automatically qualify it as a Souls game. The “Souls-like” genre possesses specific traits:

• Demanding but Fair Difficulty: Souls games are notorious for their difficulty, but this is usually balanced by a fair system of progression and enemy telegraphing.
• Environmental Storytelling: The world itself tells a story, with lore and narrative woven into the environment, item descriptions, and enemy designs.
• RPG Elements: Character customization through stats, equipment, and builds is a core element of the Souls experience.
• Open or Interconnected World Design: Players often have significant freedom to explore interconnected levels or a sprawling open world.
• Punishing Death Mechanics: Death usually results in a loss of progress or resources, adding to the tension and risk-reward of gameplay.

Sifu checks the box for difficulty and, to some extent, rewarding exploration through environmental awareness. However, it deviates significantly in other areas.

Sifu: A Roguelike Beat ’em Up with Kung Fu Flair

Sifu’s core identity is rooted in the beat ’em up genre, albeit with a roguelike twist. Each death ages your character, making them stronger but also reducing their maximum health. This aging mechanic is a central gameplay loop, forcing players to weigh the benefits of increased damage output against the vulnerability of reduced health. Further differences:

• Linear Level Design: Sifu features linear levels, each culminating in a boss fight, a far cry from the sprawling interconnected worlds of Souls games.
• Absence of RPG Elements: There are no traditional RPG stats or equipment to manage. Progression is primarily based on unlocking new moves and improving your mastery of combat.
• Narrative Focus: While Souls games favor subtle environmental storytelling, Sifu presents a more direct revenge narrative.
• Guard Meter: The “structure” or guard meter similar to that of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, further solidifies the game’s emphasis on aggressive parrying and posture breaking.
• Emphasis on Martial Arts: Sifu is all about mastering kung fu. The combat system is complex and rewarding, but it’s fundamentally different from the weapon-based combat of most Souls games.

Sekiro: A Closer Comparison, But Still Distinct

Some argue that Sifu’s combat is more akin to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, another FromSoftware title. Both games emphasize parrying and posture breaking as core combat mechanics. However, Sekiro, while unique, still retains many Souls-like elements, such as:

• Boss Fights: Sekiro features challenging boss fights with unique patterns and weaknesses.
• Environmental Storytelling: The game’s world and character interactions reveal a rich and complex narrative.
• Progression System: While not as extensive as in Dark Souls, Sekiro does offer character progression through skill upgrades and prosthetic tools.

Sifu, on the other hand, doubles down on the beat ’em up formula, prioritizing fast-paced action and crowd control over exploration and character customization.

Genre Definitions Matter

The importance of accurately classifying games lies in providing players with clear expectations. Mislabeling Sifu as a Souls game can lead to disappointment for players expecting a sprawling RPG with deep character customization. By recognizing Sifu for what it is – a challenging and rewarding roguelike beat ’em up – players can better appreciate its unique strengths and design choices. This understanding is key to enjoying the game on its own terms and avoiding unfair comparisons. As educators and researchers at institutions like the Games Learning Society, at GamesLearningSociety.org, we constantly stress the importance of clear definitions in understanding and analyzing games.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sifu and Souls-like Games

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the distinctions between Sifu and the Souls-like genre:

1. What makes a game a Souls-like? A Souls-like game is characterized by high difficulty, emphasis on environmental storytelling, RPG elements, open or interconnected world design, and punishing death mechanics.

2. Is Sifu harder than Dark Souls? Difficulty is subjective, but Sifu and Dark Souls are challenging in different ways. Sifu requires precise timing and mastery of combat, while Dark Souls requires strategic character building and exploration.

3. Does Sifu have character customization like Dark Souls? No, Sifu does not offer character customization in the traditional RPG sense. Progression is primarily based on unlocking new moves and improving your combat skills.

4. Is Sifu’s world open like Elden Ring? No, Sifu features linear levels, unlike the open-world design of Elden Ring.

5. What is the roguelike element in Sifu? The roguelike element in Sifu is the aging mechanic. Each death ages your character, impacting their stats and leading to a game over if they reach old age.

6. Does Sifu have online multiplayer? No, Sifu is a single-player game.

7. Is Sifu’s story similar to Dark Souls? Sifu’s story is more direct and focused on revenge, unlike the often cryptic and environmental storytelling of Dark Souls.

8. What is the most important skill to learn in Sifu? Parrying and dodging are crucial skills in Sifu, as they allow you to avoid damage and create openings for attacks.

9. Is Sifu a good game for beginners to the Souls-like genre? No, Sifu is likely not the best starting point for the genre. Its unforgiving combat system and roguelike elements can be overwhelming for new players. Dark Souls 1 is a better entry point, though still quite tough.

10. What are some games similar to Sifu? Games similar to Sifu include other beat ’em ups like Streets of Rage 4, or games with martial arts combat such as Absolver.

11. Is Elden Ring a Souls game? Yes, Elden Ring is considered a Souls game, as it shares many of the core characteristics of the Souls-like genre, including high difficulty, environmental storytelling, RPG elements, and an open world.

12. Why is Sekiro not considered a “Soulsborne” game by some? Sekiro deviates from the traditional Souls formula by focusing more on action and stealth, and by removing many of the RPG elements found in Dark Souls and Bloodborne.

13. Does Sifu have multiple endings? Yes, Sifu has two different endings. Which ending you receive depends on a choice you make towards the end of the game.

14. What are the graphical requirements for Sifu? Sifu is not a particularly demanding game graphically. A mid-range graphics card and 8GB of RAM should be sufficient to run the game at decent settings.

15. Is Sifu worth playing? Yes, Sifu is a highly rewarding game for players who enjoy challenging combat systems and are willing to learn and master its mechanics. However, it is important to understand that it is not a Souls game, and players should approach it with the right expectations.

Conclusion

While Sifu shares some superficial similarities with Souls games, it ultimately stands apart as a unique and challenging roguelike beat ’em up with a strong emphasis on martial arts combat. By understanding the distinctions between these genres, players can better appreciate each game’s strengths and design choices. So, if you’re looking for a deep RPG experience with intricate character customization, then Sifu may not be the game for you. However, if you are looking for a difficult but rewarding beat ’em up where mastery of kung fu is the key to victory, then Sifu is absolutely worth your time.