Chinese solo developer Boxy.Poly has unleashed a demo for their upcoming title SHIFU: Traffic Masters. The game, coming later this year, features low-poly graphics blended with exaggerated physics, challenging players to navigate the crowded streets modeled after northern China in the 1990s.
The first part of the game’s title, SHIFU, comes from the Chinese word 师傅, meaning a skilled worker who has mastered their craft as defined by the game’s Steam page. Standard “workhorse” vehicles such as delivery trucks, police cars, and taxis make up the game’s drivable roster. Players will have to carry out the typical duties associated with each one – transporting cargo, chasing criminals, ferrying passengers, etc. – all while wrangling with the ragdoll-like physics of their own automobile and accounting for the various obstacles and hazards on the road. Too much swerving can send a truck’s cargo spilling all over the place, while overly cautious driving can lead to missed deadlines or escaped suspects depending on the job at hand.
Each vehicle will need to approach the Chinese streets differently, as they are overflowing with pedestrians, cyclists, and, of course, other drivers. The various sizes and handling of the controllable automobiles make each of their jobs a unique challenge. Real-time weather mechanics and road conditions also pose additional threats to safe driving, and players will have to react accordingly.
Players who want a break from the usual routine can also engage in street races, where clever use of shortcuts through the city’s back streets is the key to victory. The game also features a “free arcade” mode where players can set their own rules. Free roam is also available in between jobs, so players can explore the map at their leisure.
Visually, SHIFU combines a low-poly look with a soft VHS style visual filter to evoke the 1990s time period in which the game is set. The hand-crafted car designs and surrounding environment are also modeled to reflect that era in China’s history.
SHIFU: Traffic Masters is coming to PC (Steam) with full English and Simplified Chinese language support in the near future. The game’s playable demo is available now.
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