How Sifu's Structure System Actually Works

"Sifu," the indie brawler game from Sloclap, has finally been released, letting people take a crack at the incredibly difficult game. Inspired by kung-fu and Chinese action movies, "Sifu" sends players on a revenge quest that involves beating up a ton of enemies along the way. It only takes about 10 hours to beat "Sifu," but the incredible difficulty of the game means that some players will be spending much more time attempting to master its mechanics. "Sifu" also wowed critics with its style and combat, even if a few believe the game to be far too challenging.

In the combat system for "Sifu," mastering every counter and move is necessary in order to beat the game, but the Structure mechanic stands out as one of the most important ones. The Structure system allows players to perform takedowns on enemies, defeating them more quickly than if you just kept punching them repeatedly to deplete their health. Here's how the Structure system works in "Sifu."

According to Cultured Vultures, the Structure system in "Sifu" works like a stamina meter and once it is broken, both enemies and the player are open to big finishing moves. The system seems very similar to the Posture system in "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice," where blocking attacks or taking hits fills up the meter. The meter can be reduced by avoiding attacks or getting some hits in on the enemy. Once the meter is full, the enemy is staggered, unable to attack and open to a finishing move.

The same is true of the protagonist of "Sifu," who has their own Structure meter. If broken, the player is temporarily stunned and open to taking a ton of damage from enemies. To avoid having your Structure broken, there are multiple Structure upgrades throughout the game. Parrying attacks will keep your Structure from breaking in the first place, making mastery of the combat system crucial.