It’s been nearly a decade since Tekken last graced our consoles and PCs, but alas, the wait is finally over. Charging onto screens comes a cast of familiar faces and a couple of newcomers as the King of Iron Fist Tournament kicks off once more. The stakes have never been higher for Jin and co and Bandai Namco have made sure that they rewarded the patience of its fanbase.
Tekken 8 is jam-packed with a variety of game modes to engross yourself in so you don’t need to be discouraged by the expectedly short but sweet story mode. With a host of Character Episodes to offer insight into each tale of the 36-strong roster and a brand new Arcade Quest mode, you’ll have plenty to do even if you’re not a competitive player. Of course, if you are, Bandai Namco has you covered with another solid online competitive space for the hardcore among you.
From the beginning, it is clear that the newest version of the long-storied franchise is its best. While keeping true to its iconic artistic and stylistic roots, everything just looks clean. The fighters are looking as crisp as an apple in spring and the new environments to get punch-drunk in are rife with interactive components and just a place you can really get immersed in. From the King of Iron Fist Tournament arena to a city square with a hot dog stand, there aren’t many places you can’t brawl in.
The story mode of Tekken 8 follows on from the narrative from the previous instalments as the dust settles on the death of Heihachi and Jin Kazama is tested in ways he has never been tested before. As he fights his internal demons and looks to face his greatest foes, the story takes you to the inner reaches of Kazama’s mind like never before. While the cinematics are movie quality and the tale is woven expertly, it is a little tough to see it end so quickly. One thing that stunted me most was how it seemed that every character was limitlessly multilingual as you watch a conversation with interwoven passages of English, Russian, French, and Arabic all in one without any missteps, misunderstanding or so much as an eyelid bat at how unusual the interactions seem.
That aside, you cannot understate how smooth the mechanics of Tekken 8 are and Bandai Namco worked hard to make the game as approachable as possible for newcomers to the franchise and genre. With a single press of a button, you can simplify your button inputs, which are then displayed on the screen, so if you’re new to the game or trying out a new fighter, you’re well looked after. But for hardcore fighting gamers, there’s a level of complexity to each fighter’s individual skill sets that’ll have you running through move lists with a fine-tooth comb to master your favourite persona. There’s a bunch of combat features too, from Heat attacks to the Rage system, all ready for you to sink your teeth into.
Perhaps the one thing that Tekken does that sets it apart from its biggest competitors is how it manages to use three dimensions of space, despite, by all appearances, maintaining its two-dimensional platform for fighting. Sure, you can move back and forward to create or diminish space between you and your opponent, but you can also duck and weave to the left and right of your foe. With some practice, you can really nail evasive manoeuvres in close proximity and punish your adversary’s sloppy technique with a close-quarters barrage of your own.
If ever there was a time to give a fighting game a go, it’s now. Tekken 8 is rife with features and opportunities for newcomers to get to know the game’s colourful characters and finally understand how they manage to justify having two bears in their roster - well, understand to an extent. But with the host of game modes that you can play your way at your pace, Tekken 8 really shines as the brawler for all(er).
Tekken 8 is exactly what you’d expect another instalment of the iconic franchise to be - visually it’s brutally beautiful, mechanically it’s smooth like butter, and it offers players more depth than they bargained for. After a stellar 2023 for fighting games, Tekken 8 roundhouse kicks 2024 off with just as much finesse.
