An incredibly satisfying action game. It's very tough but one of the best examples I've played of a game where the tools to get better are all there before you; and one of its best rewards is just the act of getting better.

Spurring you on all the way is the unbelievable animations and moves which, coupled with the tropey settings, really let you feel like you're recreating scenes from some of the greatest action movies ever. And once you get the mechanics down (it will take a while!) you'll feel like a total badass.

One stumble at the final hurdle, and why I have this review spoiler tagged; the final boss doesn't let you use special 'focus moves,' I guess to truly test your grasp on the core mechanics. Fine, in theory, BUT! Focus Moves are a thing you can dump copious amounts of XP and other currency into over the course of the game -- at the expense of other upgrades. So for what is effectively a skill tree choice to be completely null at the final fight is, to me, a crazy design choice -- even if I get what they were going for. It would be like telling someone who spec'd an entire Souls run into a particular style of play that the style in question was no longer useable at the climax. SiFu's ultimate battle is still winnable and I did feel amazing when I finished it using just my basic blocks and strikes, but it did trivialize the entire game's previous sense of progression and upgrading; with each previous boss encouraging you to learn a new facet of the game; not strip something away.