Tekken 8 will be out soon, and oh my isn't it looking promising? Recently, we had the opportunity to play the latest entry in Bandai Namco's venerable, almost-thirty-year-old fighting series, outside of the confines of a beta for the first time, and we're pretty certain that this might just be one of the best Tekken games in ages. That alone is quite a feat, in and of itself. Let loose with the first few chapters of the Story Mode, the full 32-strong roster, and the new Arcade Quest mode, we quickly realised that Tekken 8 is shaping up to be rather hefty, following in the footsteps of genre stablemates, offering proper narrative modes and light RPG bits to tool around with.
Tekken 8 also has several aces in the hole, including the return of Tekken Ball, the volleyball-style bonus mode first introduced in Tekken 3, way back in the misty halcyon days of the year 1997. That, and some of the finest fighting mechanics around, pumped up and refined for a new generation – rest assured, this near-finished version of Tekken 8 is an altogether different prospect than the recent Closed Network Test and subsequent beta. First of all, the new Heat mechanic has been fine-tuned, transforming it into more of a strategic tool in your arsenal, rather than an energy gauge-sapping 'win' button. In short, it feels right. Or, at least it feels more right than it previously did.
Fights now unfold like a gloriously gratifying tug-of-war, with Heat abilities used to turn the tide when things get desperate, and Rage Arts (returning from Tekken 7) enabling you to claw back an edge when your vitality is dangerously low. According to Game Designer Michael Murray, going “aggressive is the name of the game”, and it's hard to disagree, as tentative, hesitant play is often punished, leaving you floundering, or caught on the back foot. Consequently, battles are intense, short, sharp and punchy, the game's dynamic arenas, some of which include breakable walls and floors for stage transitions, lending another dimension to each bout.
Tekken 8 also has numerous modes wherein you can flex your fighting muscles, including Jin's plight in Story Mode, as one of the longest-running family feuds continues in the next chapter of the Mishima saga. In this one, Jin's Devil powers have waned, as Kazuya calls a new King of Iron First Tournament with nothing less than the fate of the entire world at stake. Outside of Story Mode and its various seismic events, there are specific Character Episodes to play, and the Arcade Quest essentially takes the place of Tekken 7's Treasure Battles.
In Arcade Quest, you play as a custom chibi avatar, then take on a procession of CPU Ghost rivals or Super Ghost Battles (using the data of other online players) to rise through the ranks of the 'World Tour', earning a chance to visit bigger and flashier arcade venues to take on fiercer rivals. Ultimately, you'll earn a showdown with resident champion Orochi, a jumped-up little twat who wants to be the best around. Putting him in his place should be fun. And, like Treasure Battles, winning certain matches earns cosmetic rewards for both your avatar and specific characters, which is nice.
Also nice are the new accessibility options to help ease new and casual players into the latest Tekken, including a 'Special Style' control scheme, which uses just a few buttons to unleash combos, focusing on timing and spacing rather than having to string together moves. Replays also offer more than just a way of rewatching your fights, too, this time offering tips based upon your performance, so you can actively work on the deficiencies in your game. It's a genuinely smart, helpful feature, especially if you want to be able to properly compete online.
New characters Reina, Victor Chevalier, and Azucena, meanwhile, slot neatly into the Tekken lineup, being just outlandish enough to rub shoulders with the likes of Yoshimitsu, Kuma (who now wears Heihachi's old gi), Panda, Jack-8, and King, but not too outlandish that they stick out like a sore thumb. Not that a giant panda or a freaky alien ninja bandit don't stick out like sore thumbs, mind. Even a brief hands-on with the three newbies is enough to see that they're distinctive additions – even Reina, who uses a twist on Heihachi's Mishima Karate is an interesting prospect, boasting a unique, technical style.
Tekken 8 in its current state is a marked improvement over the beta version we previously played – it still looks incredible, but also plays wonderfully, balancing immediacy and depth for a fun, competitive fight, while cramming in a raft of content. Come late January, we may have another compelling fighting game on our hands, forming part of a recent fighting game renaissance, alongside Street Fighter 6, Mortal Kombat 1, King of Fighters XV, and the like. Tekken is back with a vengeance, then, and we can't wait to get stuck in.
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Tekken 8 will be out soon, and oh my isn't it looking promising? Recently, we had the opportunity to play the latest entry in Bandai Namco's venerable, almost-thirty-year-old fighting series, outside of the confines of a beta for the first time, and we're pretty certain that this might just be one of the best Tekken games in ages. That alone is quite a feat, in and of itself. Let loose with the first few chapters of the Story Mode, the full 32-strong roster, and the new Arcade Quest mode, we quickly realised that Tekken 8 is shaping up to be rather hefty, following in the footsteps of genre stablemates, offering proper narrative modes and light RPG bits to tool around with.
Tekken 8 also has several aces in the hole, including the return of Tekken Ball, the volleyball-style bonus mode first introduced in Tekken 3, way back in the misty halcyon days of the year 1997. That, and some of the finest fighting mechanics around, pumped up and refined for a new generation – rest assured, this near-finished version of Tekken 8 is an altogether different prospect than the recent Closed Network Test and subsequent beta. First of all, the new Heat mechanic has been fine-tuned, transforming it into more of a strategic tool in your arsenal, rather than an energy gauge-sapping 'win' button. In short, it feels right. Or, at least it feels more right than it previously did.
Fights now unfold like a gloriously gratifying tug-of-war, with Heat abilities used to turn the tide when things get desperate, and Rage Arts (returning from Tekken 7) enabling you to claw back an edge when your vitality is dangerously low. According to Game Designer Michael Murray, going “aggressive is the name of the game”, and it's hard to disagree, as tentative, hesitant play is often punished, leaving you floundering, or caught on the back foot. Consequently, battles are intense, short, sharp and punchy, the game's dynamic arenas, some of which include breakable walls and floors for stage transitions, lending another dimension to each bout.
Tekken 8 also has numerous modes wherein you can flex your fighting muscles, including Jin's plight in Story Mode, as one of the longest-running family feuds continues in the next chapter of the Mishima saga. In this one, Jin's Devil powers have waned, as Kazuya calls a new King of Iron First Tournament with nothing less than the fate of the entire world at stake. Outside of Story Mode and its various seismic events, there are specific Character Episodes to play, and the Arcade Quest essentially takes the place of Tekken 7's Treasure Battles.
In Arcade Quest, you play as a custom chibi avatar, then take on a procession of CPU Ghost rivals or Super Ghost Battles (using the data of other online players) to rise through the ranks of the 'World Tour', earning a chance to visit bigger and flashier arcade venues to take on fiercer rivals. Ultimately, you'll earn a showdown with resident champion Orochi, a jumped-up little twat who wants to be the best around. Putting him in his place should be fun. And, like Treasure Battles, winning certain matches earns cosmetic rewards for both your avatar and specific characters, which is nice.
Also nice are the new accessibility options to help ease new and casual players into the latest Tekken, including a 'Special Style' control scheme, which uses just a few buttons to unleash combos, focusing on timing and spacing rather than having to string together moves. Replays also offer more than just a way of rewatching your fights, too, this time offering tips based upon your performance, so you can actively work on the deficiencies in your game. It's a genuinely smart, helpful feature, especially if you want to be able to properly compete online.
New characters Reina, Victor Chevalier, and Azucena, meanwhile, slot neatly into the Tekken lineup, being just outlandish enough to rub shoulders with the likes of Yoshimitsu, Kuma (who now wears Heihachi's old gi), Panda, Jack-8, and King, but not too outlandish that they stick out like a sore thumb. Not that a giant panda or a freaky alien ninja bandit don't stick out like sore thumbs, mind. Even a brief hands-on with the three newbies is enough to see that they're distinctive additions – even Reina, who uses a twist on Heihachi's Mishima Karate is an interesting prospect, boasting a unique, technical style.
Tekken 8 in its current state is a marked improvement over the beta version we previously played – it still looks incredible, but also plays wonderfully, balancing immediacy and depth for a fun, competitive fight, while cramming in a raft of content. Come late January, we may have another compelling fighting game on our hands, forming part of a recent fighting game renaissance, alongside Street Fighter 6, Mortal Kombat 1, King of Fighters XV, and the like. Tekken is back with a vengeance, then, and we can't wait to get stuck in.