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[Bragr]

Getting towards the end, some idiot sweeps your leg, you lose a life, you get up and some cocksucker with a ponytail cracks you over the head with a bat. Dead again.

You are already 58 years old. No point in moving forward, I need those lives later, so once again I restart the fucking level.

Jesus. The progression they use is a cool concept on paper, but in practice, it requires you to replay too much of the same stuff.

The shortcuts help, but it ain't enough. There need to be a boss checkpoint or a mid-level checkpoint.

 

[The_Mike]

 

[BennyBlanco]

yea i tapped out after a while

cool game but i got bored doing the levels over and over

 

[ReBurn]

I've yet to beat it. I play until I get tired of dying and then put it down for a week. I'm not obsessive compulsive enough to care about gittin' gud.

 

[Flabagast]

I agree with you OP. Core gameplay is solid & fun but general progression becomes really tiresome a few hours in. Quit out of lassitude at end of Museum

 

[Fbh]

I didn't mind the format.
The levels were short enough that I enjoyed playing through them and mastering the various encounters as I tried taking as little damage as possible. And to be fair, as you mention you do unlock shortcuts, some of which let you skip pretty big chunks of the levels. On the first properly hard boss (the third one) you can essentially skip the entire level if you want (after the first time).

With that said I do definitely think they did at least partially make it work like that to get some more gameplay hours from a relatively low amount of content.

 

[Rubicaant]

I like it. it's a cool concept. it's like a modern day version of a quarter muncher. it's a different way to play. once you get tired of it, move on. just like Pacman

 

[CitizenZ]

According to most, sounds like a GOTY winner.

 

[Batiman]

Love the game but it needed a lot more content. I didn’t find it hard at all and surprised with seeing all the frustration online. I’m hoping they expand on a sequel because the core is super fun

 

[Punished Miku]

I got the platinum. Still playing now on hard mode. The combat is phenomenal.

The roguelike structure adds nothing to the game though. All roguelikes suck. Roguelike is nothing more than an optional one credit mode as a little bonus and should never be the core game.

 

[TheGreatMusashi]

 

[MasterDerico]

According to most, sounds like a GOTY winner.

For sure, it deserves!

 

[Crayon]

I had a good time but I hung it up when I heard an easy mode was coming. So. Ready to go back to it now. Or soon. Or whenever.

 

[Con-Z-epT]

I thought the challenge was fair. It's a matter of how fast you can learn from your mistakes and adapt so in the end quite a subjective thing.

 

[Hobbygaming]

It never got redundant for me. I was able to get to the club level at age 20

The hardest thing was the boss Sean (before the patch) and the last boss

Getting the true ending is even harder it took me some time

 

[cash_longfellow]

Getting towards the end, some idiot sweeps your leg, you lose a life, you get up and some cocksucker with a ponytail cracks you over the head with a bat. Dead again.

You are already 58 years old. No point in moving forward, I need those lives later, so once again I restart the fucking level.

Jesus. The progression they use is a cool concept on paper, but in practice, it requires you to replay too much of the same stuff.

The shortcuts help, but it ain't enough. There need to be a boss checkpoint or a mid-level checkpoint.

It’s like real life man.
Edit - I mean getting my legs swept, getting up, then some guy with a mullet hitting me with a Louisville.

 

[Fredrik]

I haven’t played Sifu but thanks for the hint that I should stay away
I hate the roguelike genre with passion right now after being stomped in Returnal for 9 hours with barely no progress at all and wasting two hours with no progress in Loot River. I’ll rather watch paint dry than play another roguelike, at least I’m just bored then and not hateful.

 

[Shakka43]

This is how I feel about games like Demon's Souls and Returnal which I tried recently. Love the art style and gameplay is excellent, but redoing stuff over and over again after dying is not something I want to do at this point. So when I hear the words Rogue like or Souls Like I'm immediately put off by those games.

 

[Fredrik]

This is how I feel about games like Demon's Souls and Returnal which I tried recently. Love the art style and gameplay is excellent, but redoing stuff over and over again after dying is not something I want to do at this point. So when I hear the words Rogue like or Souls Like I'm immediately put off by those games.

Souls games aren’t nearly as brutal. If Elden Ring would be like Returnal you would have to start from the beginning at level 1 after dying at Margit with your only progression being the summoning bell and a level 2 spirit yellyfish.

 

[MagiusNecros]

It's a arcadey game. The only roguelike I really enjoy is Metallic Child.

The overabundance of roguelike games on the market is obnoxious. Dime a dozen the lot of them are.

Once you play one you've played them all. You really have to enjoy the gameplay loop to stay engaged. And it sounds like to me Sifu isn't doing it for you.

 

[Hobbygaming]

I haven’t played Sifu but thanks for the hint that I should stay away
I hate the roguelike genre with passion right now after being stomped in Returnal for 9 hours with barely no progress at all and wasting two hours with no progress in Loot River. I’ll rather watch paint dry than play another roguelike, at least I’m just bored then and not hateful.

I honestly had near 100 deaths in Returnal before I got good lol

Now 9/10 runs I can beat the whole game with no deaths. It's really fun and addicting and it's my favorite time waster game

 

[Fredrik]

I honestly had near 100 deaths in Returnal before I got good lol

Now 9/10 runs I can beat the whole game with no deaths. It's really fun and addicting and it's my favorite time waster game

Well you’re right about time waster. 9 hours in and my progression is: sword, house key, secondary fire. I’m so out of that game. Haven’t uninstalled it yet but the next time I need SSD space it’s gone forever.
I’m just glad I never payed for it, got it through PS+.

 

[Con-Z-epT]

It never got redundant for me.

This!

The combat is the core focus and the main selling point of SIFU. If you enjoy the moment to moment gameplay then you either blaze through the relatively short game and play it again or you retry until you are good enough. In both cases the roguelite progression is there to give you something to expand on your initial moveset and help you get better or feel even more entertained.

To say you find no joy in replaying sections of SIFU again is like saying you didn't like to play the game to begin with.

 

[Duchess]

Returnal, yes. I'm actually part way through the 3rd level, but I'm fairly certain I'll be stopping this weekend. Going through the whole thing each time is a bit of a PITA.

A shame they made it a roguelike. That being a standard shooter, with lots of levels and world to explore would've been great.

Or, make it more like Hades. Sure, you return to the crash site when you die, but you can apply upgrades to make each subsequent attempt that much easier.

 

[GymWolf]

 

[Classicrockfan]

I’m thinking abought switching to easy mode,little too hard for me.

 

[John Bilbo]

"wax on, wax off" the game

 

[Fredrik]

Returnal, yes. I'm actually part way through the 3rd level, but I'm fairly certain I'll be stopping this weekend. Going through the whole thing each time is a bit of a PITA.

A shame they made it a roguelike. That being a standard shooter, with lots of levels and world to explore would've been great.

Could’ve been the first successful 3D Metroid. I love so much about it, almost everything tbh, except replaying the same thing over and over and overrr and overrrrrr!!! Gaaaaah!!!!
Could’ve loved it. Ended up hating it.

I really don’t understand the popularity for this genre. The only progression I see is more gray hair on my head and more angry wrinkles on my face. Git gud = Git gray.
Wait maybe that’s what they’re going for in Sifu?

Anyway I thought Zelda 2 was frustrating. Like dying at a late game boss and start over at the castle. Come onnn!! (Eventually played it with save states: Gaming bliss!)

But these new games where you replay until you lose your sanity is on a whole other level.

 

[CuteFaceJay]

 

[kiphalfton]

I haven’t played Sifu but thanks for the hint that I should stay away
I hate the roguelike genre with passion right now after being stomped in Returnal for 9 hours with barely no progress at all and wasting two hours with no progress in Loot River. I’ll rather watch paint dry than play another roguelike, at least I’m just bored then and not hateful.

I don't get the love for returnal. Starting you out with the pistol (which is essentially worthless), each time you die, is a huge PITA and makes the game more difficult than it needs to be.

I hated the game and would have wasted $50+ on the game had I not had PS+ Premium. It's already paid for itself in that regard.

 

[Spaceman292]

Getting towards the end, some idiot sweeps your leg, you lose a life, you get up and some cocksucker with a ponytail cracks you over the head with a bat. Dead again.

You are already 58 years old. No point in moving forward, I need those lives later, so once again I restart the fucking level.

Jesus. The progression they use is a cool concept on paper, but in practice, it requires you to replay too much of the same stuff.

The shortcuts help, but it ain't enough. There need to be a boss checkpoint or a mid-level checkpoint.

Sounds like you're just not gud enough

 

[Con-Z-epT]

I don't get the love for returnal. Starting you out with the pistol (which is essentially worthless), each time you die, is a huge PITA and makes the game more difficult than it needs to be.

A unique lovecraftian horror theme, outstanding VFX and sound design, the best implementation of 3D audio from any first party title yet and a pitch perfect gameplay loop. Surely nothing special.

The pistol is as worthy as every other weapon in the game and i beat it multiple times with it. It surely does not make the game any more difficult since all the weapons are tied to weapon proficiency.

But then again you already stated that you hate the game so i guess there is no real point in arguing objectively here.

 

[TheSHEEEP]

It's what my first thought was when I saw gameplay of the game.
"This is gonna be fun for a while, but will very quickly get incredibly repetitive. Not something to buy at full price."

I don't see how that has anything to do with getting good or not.
Sure, the better you are, the less repetitions you'll see before you finish.

But even if you're a god gamer at this:
The base gameplay loop just isn't that deep, it's basically a Beat 'em Up with a single character and one moveset.
It looks way more limited and to have much less variance in combat than something like e.g. DMC or Darksiders, etc.

 

[Roufianos]

I really hope the industry moves last this stupid roguelike obsession.

 

[Fredrik]

I don't get the love for returnal. Starting you out with the pistol (which is essentially worthless), each time you die, is a huge PITA and makes the game more difficult than it needs to be.

I hated the game and would have wasted $50+ on the game had I not had PS+ Premium. It's already paid for itself in that regard.

Same here, played through PS+.
Tbh I even started thinking the maps where samey, felt like a couple of variations of rooms reshuffled on each run, after 9 hours on level 1 I felt like I had seen it all. Well no, suddenly there was an alien infested door and when I shot it open and stepped in I was trapped and had multiple enemy waves of difficult enemies to fight, several of those red miniboss ones with a worm of bullets at once. Innovative. They found a new way to get me more angry.
Oh well, just not for me.

I’d gladly try Sifu too if it comes to PS+ though.

 

[Con-Z-epT]

The base gameplay loop just isn't that deep, it's basically a Beat 'em Up with a single character and one moveset.
It looks way more limited and to have much less variance in combat than something like e.g. DMC or Darksiders, etc.

Have you played the game?

There sure is a lot of depth to find with evading, blocking, parrying, environmental takedowns, the use of multiple weapons, special attacks and a good amount of variety in the moveset.

 

[TheSHEEEP]

Have you played the game?

There sure is a lot of depth to find with evading, blocking, parrying, environmental takedowns, the use of multiple weapons, special attacks and a good amount of variety in the moveset.

Yeah, I have.
And I'd say I got my money's worth as I got it cheaper than the normal asking price.

But still, if you call what is on offer there depth, I wonder what you'd call the variety in other Beat 'em Ups that have almost the same variety for each character.
Or other action games (I find Sifu falls somewhere between a Street Fighter style game and something like DMC) that offer very different weapons which truly look and play unique and not just slightly different martial arts moves...

I'm not saying it's a bad game, but it sure is a very one-trick-pony game that will wear out the one thing it does truly well somewhat quickly.

 

[GymWolf]

I haven’t played Sifu but thanks for the hint that I should stay away
I hate the roguelike genre with passion right now after being stomped in Returnal for 9 hours with barely no progress at all and wasting two hours with no progress in Loot River. I’ll rather watch paint dry than play another roguelike, at least I’m just bored then and not hateful.

You played 3 roguelites with shit\limited progression between runs, that's why you feel like wasting time.

 

[Tams]

Then don't.

 

[Con-Z-epT]

Yeah, I have.
And I'd say I got my money's worth as I got it cheaper than the normal asking price.

But still, if you call what is on offer there depth, I wonder what you'd call the variety in other Beat 'em Ups that have almost the same variety for each character.
Or other action games (I find Sifu falls somewhere between a Street Fighter style game and something like DMC) that offer very different weapons which truly feel and look unique and not just slightly different martial arts moves...

I'm not saying it's a bad game, but it sure is a very one-trick-pony one.

I found it had a good value since it wasn't even a full price game to begin with.

Sure, there are games with more depth in gameplay but SIFU offered enough in its moveset that i needed to master and could incorporate in a meanigfull way that it never left the impression of being to simple.

 

[Fredrik]

You played 3 roguelites with shit\limited progression between runs, that's why you feel like wasting time.

Yeah I’m just ventilating, still feeling the hate flow through my veins. With better progression they would all be my type of game, that’s what increase my dislike. So close, yet so far.

 

[GymWolf]

Yeah I’m just ventilating, still feeling the hate flow through my veins. With better progression they would all be my type of game, that’s what increase my dislike. So close, yet so far.

Then play something like hades or dead cells or even children of morta, those are the games that converted me into loving roguelites.

From the recent stuff i played, vampire survivors and dandy ace have pretty strong progression.

 

[Craig of War]

Sifu Rogue-Lite

 

[Sentenza]

I can relate.
I find inherently easy games almost inevitably boring and I don't mildly challenging ones that require my attention to a decent degree, which is why I always said the reputation of Souls games for being "incredibly hard" is extremely inflated... but stuff like this or Cuphead, that expects you to stick with them for HOURS of repeated attempts to master the mechanics, is a massive turn-off for me.

I'm not claiming it's "IMPOSSIBLE", I'm sure I'd be able to pass certain passages if I kept trying. I just don't care enough to do it.
The notion of reaching mastery at this shit gives me no entertainment, joy or sense of satisfaction.

 

[Spukc]

This is how I feel about games like Demon's Souls and Returnal which I tried recently. Love the art style and gameplay is excellent, but redoing stuff over and over again after dying is not something I want to do at this point. So when I hear the words Rogue like or Souls Like I'm immediately put off by those games.

Go play hades

 

[Roxkis_ii]

I'm buying sifu today! (Been meaning to for a while)

I like Rouge like games, but I can understand how people don't have the patience to bang their head against a wall for a while. I was stuck on the first level of Returnal for a month. But each time I played, I learned more and more, to the point that I beat the game at least once a week now. It's so rewarding to play well, and just snowball the game. I'm still working on getting the true end (just one more fragment)

For anyone stuck in Returnal, fouse on learning the enemies. When you know what to expect, it makes the game easier.

Hopefully Sifu is as rewarding after you learn to get good.

 

[Fredrik]

Then play something like hades or dead cells or even children of morta, those are the games that converted me into loving roguelites.

From the recent stuff i played, vampire survivors and dandy ace have pretty strong progression.

I’ve played Dead Cells. Not a fan. I don’t think I can be converted.

To me the roguelikes feels like playing old school games when there was no save system, the sense of progression just isn’t good enough for me, and these games starts to feel samey even if there is variations from some randomized elements.

And the thing is, old games were short. A game like The Last Ninja is finished in 45 minutes. And if you loaded from cassette tape you restarted at the level you died since they couldn’t demand you to rewind the tape to reload a previous level. You could retry until you powered off the computer. After power off you were screwed though.

 

[Represent.]

Normally I would agree but this game is the exception. Because the combat is so ducking good and each fight can be a little different. your combat has to be GOAT material for these games to work.

It can’t just be good, or even great

 

[Con-Z-epT]

I’ve played Dead Cells. Not a fan. I don’t think I can be converted.

To me the roguelikes feels like playing old school games when there was no save system, the sense of progression just isn’t good enough for me, and these games starts to feel samey even if there is variations from some randomized elements.

And the thing is, old games were short. A game like The Last Ninja is finished in 45 minutes. And if you loaded from cassette tape you restarted at the level you died since they couldn’t demand you to rewind the tape to reload a previous level. You could retry until you powered off the computer. After power off you were screwed though.

You can easily finish Dead Cells in under an hour. An average playthrough of Hades last about 20 min. Even Returnal isn't that long when you know what you are doing.

 

[GymWolf]

I’ve played Dead Cells. Not a fan. I don’t think I can be converted.

To me the roguelikes feels like playing old school games when there was no save system, the sense of progression just isn’t good enough for me, and these games starts to feel samey even if there is variations from some randomized elements.

And the thing is, old games were short. A game like The Last Ninja is finished in 45 minutes. And if you loaded from cassette tape you restarted at the level you died since they couldn’t demand you to rewind the tape to reload a previous level. You could retry until you powered off the computer. After power off you were screwed though.

Well not every genre is for everyone.

Maybe try hades if you find it dirty cheap, that game is exceptional in almost every aspect, not only progression.