REVIEW – It’s a golden era for fans of fighting games! In just under a year, we’ve seen perhaps the best Street Fighter game ever, a solid Mortal Kombat episode, and now, a fresh Tekken. This marks new chapters for all three titans of the genre. And like Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1, Tekken 8 doesn’t drop the ball.

Tekken 8 isn’t about reinventing the wheel; it’s more about turbo-charging it. Leaning on the power of the latest consoles and PCs, it brings us the most visually stunning and dramatic fighting game to date. But don’t think it’s just a pretty face. This is the most responsive, dynamic, and fastest Tekken experience yet, turning each battle into a pure adrenaline rush.

The new Heat Mode system encourages players to adopt a more aggressive style. Fire up Heat Mode, and your fighters can dish out unusually heavy damage for a short while. But wait, there’s more: special Heat attacks are at your disposal, not only dazzling to watch but also delivering substantial pain to your opponents.

Not Just for No-Life Teen Ninjas!

Diving into the world of Tekken 8, you’ll immediately notice the emphasis on ease of use and accessibility. Activating Heat Mode and unleashing devastating Heat attacks are just a button press away, specifically the right shoulder button, making the game user-friendly – in other words, you don’t need to be a multi-thumbed Japanese ninja-teen with insane reflexes to excel! Then there’s the Rage Arts, those fearsome super combos available when your health is hanging by a thread, just as accessible with a simple trigger pull. And if you tap the left shoulder button, you switch to a simplified combat mode, where various moves are at your fingertips, not just plain punches or kicks.

Whether you’re a seasoned martial artist or a fresh-faced rookie, you’ll rack up victories in Tekken 8 without blindly button-mashing – though that might still work in a pinch. But don’t worry, the game’s depth remains intact. Tekken 8 might be more accessible than its predecessors, but diving deeper into its mechanics and unique character styles is rewarding. Master these, and you’ll effortlessly floor those who only scratch the surface.

This brings us to another of Tekken 8’s strengths: a wide and rich variety of content. There’s something for everyone here. The story mode takes you through Tekken’s history, focusing on the legendary showdown between Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima. Each chapter is peppered with fierce battles, special narrative scenes, unexpected twists, and unique gameplay elements. Sure, it can get a bit wacky, but that’s what makes it so entertaining. And this is further enriched by individual stories for each of the game’s fighters, promising loads of exciting and typically Japanese-style exaggerated adventures.

Step Into the Ring, Warrior!

Beyond the story mode, Tekken 8 offers the usual Arcade, Versus, and Training modes, plus a new, content-rich single-player experience, the Arcade Quest. Here, shaping your avatar, you dive into the world of virtual arcades, engaging in battles to climb the ranks and unfold the story. Along with new challenges, various rewards await you, like character customization options. This mode adds another thrilling dimension to the game and introduces you to the new Super Ghost Battle challenge, where you can face off against AI ghosts of players you’ve encountered online.

In the online multiplayer arena, Tekken 8 offers a lobby system similar to Street Fighter 6, providing an interactive experience. Players can virtually meet and clash, as if in a real arcade. Though it lacks some extra fun activities like playing classic Bandai Namco titles, the atmosphere is still on point. You can start ranked and casual fights directly from the main menu, practicing while you wait for your next opponent.

Thanks to rollback netcode, most online matches run smoothly, even against players from the other side of the globe. However, you might encounter the occasional lag-heavy fight, so ensure you have the best possible connection for a seamless experience – whether that means pausing your downloads or giving your ISP a piece of your mind to boost that speed right now.

Considering the wealth of modes and the roster of 32 fighters from the get-go, Tekken 8 appears incredibly generous. Among the new characters, Azucena stands out – a quick-footed Peruvian mixed martial artist who loves to promote her family’s coffee whenever possible. Then there’s Victor, a close-combat specialist, war veteran, and superspy, who disassembles his opponents with ranged weapons and teleportation. But the star of the newbies is undoubtedly Reina, the enigmatic teenager practicing Mishima-style karate, with a special energy and super extra abilities that make her a standout on the battlefield.

New Twists and Turns

Even the returning characters in Tekken 8 have undergone transformations. Many, like Paul, now bear the marks of time, showing that years haven’t been kind to everyone. And several have had significant overhauls to their move sets. Needless to say, it’s a blast to try them all out, discovering which ones vibe with your style and which don’t. While we miss some familiar faces like Lei Wu Long, it’s hard to grumble overall. Plus, there’s the promise of additional characters being added as DLC, likely bringing multiple seasons of fresh content.

As for disappointments, they’re few and far between. Tekken Ball, in our opinion, doesn’t quite hit the mark compared to Tekken Bowling, but that’s a matter of taste – to each their own. Our only minor gripe is that the ‘dramatic camera’ sometimes goes a bit overboard. Pull off an impressive counter or something else noteworthy, and you’ll see the camera zoom in and time slow down for dramatic effect. While it often adds to the excitement, adding tension and drama to battles, it can occasionally be a bit distracting and intrusive.

Bruce Lee Would Approve!

Overall, Tekken 8 is a real treat for fans of fighting games. Packed with rich content, fast-paced fighting systems, and a diverse roster of characters, it’s like stepping into a martial arts movie. The variety of single-player modes and online options ensure that there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie. The lineup of characters, both new and revamped old favorites, brings excitement to every battle, making each encounter a unique experience.

But what really sets Tekken 8 apart is the gameplay: intuitive yet deep, where every press of a button carries weight and significance. The stunning graphics and dramatic camera effects further enhance the mood of the fights, making you feel like you’re in the middle of an action movie. And with more accessibility options than ever, even the most inexperienced players can easily dip into the world of Tekken.

In summary, Tekken 8 perfectly blends the series’ traditions with modern innovations, catering to both veterans looking for new challenges and newcomers eager for action. This game not only offers fresh experiences to fans of the series but also presents an exciting entry point for those new to fighting games. With every element, Tekken 8 delivers a balanced, thrilling, and memorable gameplay experience, faithfully reflecting the essence of the Tekken series while opening new chapters in the virtual world of martial arts.

-Gergely Herpai (BadSector)-

Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment

Developer: Bandai Namco Studios

Style: Fighting game

Release: January 26, 2024.