Tekken 8: Elevating the Legacy of 3D Fighting Games to New Heights
Tekken 7 has carved an amazing legacy for itself as the undisputed king of 3D fighting games for the better part of the decade. However, it is now time for the franchise to enter a new era, and Tekken 8 does exactly that and more. From the outset, it’s clear that this bigger and bolder sequel is built to last. It honors the foundation of its predecessor while rejuvenating its unique and timeless fighting game formula. This gaming generation has undoubtedly been the best era for fighting games, and the arrival of Tekken 8 shatters the proverbial glass ceiling.
The Unreal Engine 5 has allowed Tekken 8 a perfect balance of heavy graphical prowess and sheer artistic detail.
It goes without saying that the franchise was due for a major graphical makeover. Tekken 8, powered by the latest and best technology available, does not disappoint. In the last five years alone, we’ve seen some graphical heavy hitters in the fighting genre. However, they all pale in comparison to what Unreal Engine 5 has achieved here, striking a perfect balance between heavy graphical prowess and sheer artistic detail. Tekken has never looked better, reminiscent of the early PlayStation days when the franchise set the benchmark for home console graphics.
The new graphics engine has brought all the stages to life. Never before have the backgrounds been so busy, brimming with details that demand attention. The lighting effects, in particular, bolster the presentation, making it fit for ultra-high definition. The character models and their animations are fluid and detailed, with a special focus on texture mapping that makes the outfits look realistic. In short, this game is a showpiece for your gaming hardware of choice. Its graphics are impressive enough to amaze all your friends.
A strong element of the franchise’s identity is its music. Each game in the series has been bold and experimental in its sound design and approach. Tekken 8 truly creates a vibe of its own. From jazz-infused piano orchestras to hard rock ballads to lo-fi tempos, the game offers a rich and varied musical score that will be worth picking up on vinyl eventually. The music seamlessly integrates into the stages and their visual themes, creating powerful emotions for the fight sequences and story elements, and even making the menus feel classy. The soundtrack enhances the sublime presentation of the package so much that the game will have you hooked from the title screen.
The game will likely quadruple in size over the next decade or so, but at launch, it is already a hefty package. The 32 characters available right out of the gate include returning fan favorites and newcomers. Most notable is the enigmatic canonical return of Jun Kazama. Her fighting style is a welcome addition to the main series, and her role in the game’s story mode is even more intriguing. Equally elusive is the mysterious newcomer, Reina, whose spookily familiar fighting style hints at a major involvement in the game’s ever-expanding lore.
The complicated lore of Tekken has been both a running joke and a compelling trait of the franchise. Yet, those of us who grew up with these games can’t help but feel invested in the epic Mishima family saga. Things took a dramatic turn in the previous game when Kazuya Mishima finally bested his own father in a fight to the finish. This time, he looks to settle the score with his own son, Jin Kazama. The game’s storyline, largely built around this final battle between father and son, ties up several loose threads while adding new layers to the plot.
The main story mode, titled “Dark Awakens,” follows the journey of Jin Kazama as he prepares to battle his father, Kazuya Mishima. The cinematic presentation is epic, with other characters joining the fray. There’s a great deal of gameplay variety here, featuring epic boss encounters and even quick-time events. It experiments with surprising gameplay styles that go beyond the one-on-one fighting, leading into the epic final battle.
Revolutionizing Combat: The Aggressive and Dynamic Gameplay of Tekken 8
As crazy as the story can be, longtime fans will likely find themselves emotionally invested, and honestly, the ending is perhaps the most satisfying conclusion they could have hoped for. If the main story mode wasn’t enough, there are individual character story episodes too. Each has its own cinematic ending, similar to the classic Tekken games.
The single-player lifespan of the game is further expanded thanks to the Arcade Quest mode. Players take custom avatars into a quest mode of sorts, traveling between arcades to fight a variety of opponents in tournaments. It can feel a bit grindy, but it’s a great way to earn in-game currency and unlock costume parts. The mode offers extensive training in the basics as well as advanced combo strategies. Aside from the usual single-player offerings, the game also marks the return of Tekken Ball, a unique and fun spin on volleyball that first appeared in Tekken 3. In short, all the essential single-player content is intact, and most of it is designed to train players in the game’s fighting system. The training mode is more comprehensive than ever, focusing on character-specific strategies. However, the other single-player modes offer a more hands-on experience. Modes such as Ghost Battle are designed to help players chart their own growth.
The gameplay of Tekken 8 drastically changes up the emphasis and flow, with aggression being the predominant factor in the revamped fighting system.”
The gameplay of Tekken 7 was undoubtedly close to perfect, and diehard fans of that game will feel right at home with Tekken 8. While the latest installment retains the strong fundamentals, it drastically changes the emphasis and flow. Aggression is the predominant factor in the revamped fighting system, with even defensive tactics placing a stronger emphasis on aggressive parries and heavy counterattacks.
The Enthralling Soundscapes of Tekken 8: A Musical Experience Like No Other
The Heat and Rage systems are designed for epic comebacks, with the former allowing players to turn the tide of battle early on, and the latter providing a desperation Hail Mary to stay in the battle. More than ever, extravagant special moves have taken center stage, allowing the ebb and flow of a matchup to shift unexpectedly.
Each of the 32 characters offers a wealth of skills and techniques to master. Whether it’s the grapple-intensive style of King or the more counter-heavy style of Asuka, there’s a variety of fighting styles to learn and master. Following the trend of recent fighting games, Tekken 8 offers a simplified control scheme where novice players can execute preset combos with less complicated inputs. The inclusion of simplified controls has been a touchy and controversial topic. However, similar to other fighting games that have enabled this feature, it doesn’t hurt the balance of gameplay. Tekken has long ceased to be a button-mashing affair, and skilled veterans will always be rewarded for careful and precise execution.
Regardless of expertise, Tekken 8 is the most fun anyone can imagine playing an epic 3D fighting game. Whether played casually or competitively, this is a game that looks great and is always a blast to play. It harkens back to an era when people flocked to the flashiest 3D fighting games. Just the gameplay alone is worth hours of playtime, and the myriad modes and features provide different entertaining contexts, whether it’s a dramatic story battle sequence, a tough test against the AI in arcade mode, or even a silly round of Tekken Ball.
With so much gameplay content and opportunities to master the game, online multiplayer offers the ultimate battleground. It’s likely to remain densely populated for years to come. The cross-platform play operates smoothly with rollback net code, all presented lavishly in an interactive virtual lobby with plenty of tournaments on the horizon. It will undoubtedly be a thriving space, complementing the eSports scene.
Tekken 8 is a masterpiece of a video game, fighting game, or otherwise. It’s like the Pac-Man of fighting games
Tekken 8 is a masterpiece of a video game, fighting game, or otherwise. It isn’t even a question of being a fighting game purist, as this is a title that needs to be part of any gamer’s library, irrespective of skill level or genre preferences. Tekken games were always about the thrill of combat and discovery, with a memorable graphical and musical presentation and a larger-than-life story mode starring some of the most iconic characters. Tekken 8 is the kind of game designed for heavy mileage, a game that’s easy to come back to time and time again for years to come. It’s like the Pac-Man of fighting games.
