In 2022, the French developer Sloclap, the studio behind Absolver, released an action game called Sifu for PlayStation and PC. From a distance, it looked like a typical third-person beat-em-up, just one with stylized visuals. However, the game had far more depth than it could seem at first glance. In Sifu, players must seek revenge for their slain father by making their way through five enemy-filled levels and killing those who were responsible for his death. The game is brutally difficult, and every time the player character dies, they gradually get older. Getting up there in age does have its perks; although the protagonist's health is decreased, they gradually gain more experience and become more powerful as time goes on. If they get too old, however, they permanently die, and players have to restart the game from the very beginning.

Sifu's novel concept and addictive combat quickly made it a favorite among fans. It ended up becoming one of the best-rated independent games of 2022, and was nominated for a couple of awards showcases at the time. After the success of Sifu, Sloclap went from being on very few people's radar to becoming one of the indie darlings of the gaming industry. That's why, when the company teased on Twitter that it would make an appearance at The Game Awards this month, many people's curiosity was automatically piqued. What Sloclap shared at the event was entirely unexpected, but it may still appeal to Sifu fans in some ways.

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Rematch is a Big Departure from Sloclap's Previous Works, Such as Sifu

Rematch Stands Out From Other Soccer Games Thanks to Its Unique Art Style and Gameplay

The TGA announcement that Sloclap had been hinting at all this time was not a Sifu sequel or another beat-em-up, as some had hoped, but rather a new soccer game called Rematch. Indeed, unlike any of the company's previous titles, Rematch is a full-on sports game that has all the usual live service bells and whistles of the genre. With that being said, though, this upcoming game from Sloclap does have some unique flourishes that make it stand out from the crowd.

Rematch is very similar to Absolver or Sifu in terms of art direction. It's not hyper-detailed or lifelike in the same way that most modern sports games are, but it does have a bit of a colorful, painterly style to it, somewhat like Arcane: League of Legends. In addition to the visuals, Rematch's gameplay is pretty different compared to its competitors. Many soccer games these days, including EA Sports FC and eFootball, are played from an isometric point-of-view, with occasional close-up camera angles. Rematch, however, is entirely third-person, much like Sifu. This perspective gives players a more up-close, personal experience than they usually get with sports games.

Despite Being Very Different, Rematch May Still Appeal to Sifu Fans

Although Rematch and Sifu are almost nothing alike in terms of gameplay or premise, they do have a couple of things in common. Some of the design philosophies that Sloclap used in Sifu, in fact, are being reused in this upcoming game. Sifu is known for having skill-based, action-heavy combat; despite its difficulty, the game is still easy to learn, but hard to master. Rematch will be no different in this regard. According to Sloclap itself, it is going to have "accessible mechanics with a lot of depth" and is not going to give players any "time to rest" during in-game matches.

As is evident by its tone and art direction, Rematch is not trying to be a realistic simulation game. It instead appears to be a more arcadey alternative to the EA Sports FC and eFootball games of the modern era. Because Rematch is placing more emphasis on its moment-to-moment gameplay, it may appeal to fans of Sloclap's previous works, despite the stark change in genre. It will probably take a while for a Sifu sequel to be released, if ever, but at the very least, this game may tide some fans over when it is launched in the summer of 2025.