According to Sloclap Executive Producer Pierre Tarno, beat 'em up action title Sifu will not feature difficulty modes at launch. Absolver developer Sloclap announced Sifu earlier this year during one of Sony's State of Play presentations. A PlayStation console exclusive, the upcoming action game promises to offer a fast-paced experience based around martial arts. Melee combat, then, is the name of the game in many respects.
In addition to assuming the role of a character who spends much of their time in close-quarters combat, players will also have to keep an eye on the hero's rapid aging. Such a requirement comes courtesy of Sifu's aging mechanic, which manifests via a special pendant that brings the character back to life after death but increases their age. Thus, the more the player character dies, the more he ages. While breaking down Sifu's aging and death mechanics, Sloclap noted the pendant ceases to function after the hero reaches a certain age, resulting in a permanent game over. New information about the title suggests the challenge won't stop there, either.
Speaking with MP1st, Executive Producer Pierre Tarno divulged that players should not expect Sifu to release with difficulty options in tow. He didn't rule them out, however; according to the publication, Tarno hinted at difficulty sliders potentially going live in a post-launch update. It's not a guarantee, though. Furthermore, the EP told MP1st it's possible to complete Sifu's campaign without dying or aging. Yet, accomplishing such a feat may take a few practice runs since Tarno said the game will challenge players, forcing them to "learn, improve and adapt" to said challenge.
That the action-packed brawler won't feature difficulty options on day one may serve as a deal-breaker for some. Still, others may consider it a boon for Sifu's overall combat design. How users respond to the absence of difficulty modes in the days and weeks following release could determine how Sloclap proceeds in this regard. As many may recall, developer Housemarque made choice adjustments to roguelike Returnal's save functionality in the wake of post-launch backlash.
Sloclap originally planned to launch the title in on February 22 of next year. However, possibly due to the crowded release period, the studio made the rare move of moving up Sifu's due date by several days. Either way, PC and PlayStation owners can jump into the heavy-hitting adventure in just a couple of months.
Sifu makes its way to PC, PS4, and PS5 platforms early next year on February 8, 2022.
Source: MP1st