Bread’s Game Journal 02/22/22: In Sifu, Mercy is The Coolest Feeling In The World.

*Spoilers for Sifu*

There’s something truly unique about the way Sifu handles the idea of a New Game Plus that leads to a secret ending. Unlike a lot of other games that go with this setup, it doesn’t take all that long. Nor is achieving the proverbial “True” ending actually all that difficult. A statement that sounds bizarre when you consider how difficult the game itself has been up to this point, but then, that’s just the thing.

As a reminder, the only way to get the true ending in Sifu is to understand that vengeance won’t solve anything, and exploit the hidden mercy mechanic in each of the boss fights. Essentially via letting all the bosses know that you can easily kill them, but are choosing not to, by breaking their structure meter twice in one fight. Doing so sounds like it’s going to be a hassle, some of these bosses are a huge pain to beat at all, let alone beating in a specific way that requires you to be actively careful not to kill them.

The thing is though, it isn’t. By the point in the game that you’re going back to fight all these bosses again, if you’re anything like me, they don’t stand a chance. Fajar becomes utterly predictable and can be beaten flawlessly before he even really has a chance to gain the upper hand. Shaun, a total nightmare when you first fight him, has become a big predictable lug who will fall victim to your kidney punch stuns over and over until the battle is over. Even Kuriko, who’s extreme speed and difficult to predict patterns can’t stand up to you after you’ve fought her a dozen times trying to get your age down for the next run during your first playthrough.

This new lack of difficulty from a previously brutally difficult game makes you, the player, feel just as you should in these mercy giving situations. In the story of the game, the lead character wants these kung-fu masters to know that he’s easily beaten them, and that they have to live with that knowledge. A feeling that translates perfectly to the player when you just trounced a boss that used to kick your ass up and down the room.

I’ll be real, there’s a not insignificant chance that Sifu is my game of the year. Still too early to completely tell, but I doubt I’m going to feel the same things I felt playing this game again. I urge anyone who likes action games to give it a try.

Insomniac’s Black Cat Fan Cover!

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This game is stunning

Er mer Gerd I’m so excited!!!

The many looks of Aloy

I absolutely love the machines in this game

This is honestly one of the best games I think I’ve played. It’s a bit of a slow burn but the story gets absolutely insane. It’s so stunning and the combat is so much more improved from it’s predecessor.

only 1 console on each row can survive. What will you choose