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What you need to know
- What is it? A fighting arcade game
- Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
- Developer and Publisher: Bandai Namco
- Release date: January 26, 2024
- Available on: PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5
A review key for Tekken 8 was provided by the publisher.
In 2024, Tekken, also known as "Iron Fist" in Japanese, celebrates its 30th anniversary in the gaming world. Over the past three decades, this iconic franchise has played a pivotal role in introducing numerous generations to the world of gaming. With its addictive formula, Tekken has the remarkable ability to captivate players, leading them to spend countless hours immersed in the game, whether battling CPU opponents or engaging in intense matches with friends who, thanks to Tekken, can easily transform into enemies; consider yourself warned.
Setting humour aside, there's no gaming franchise that has successfully ruled the realm of bare-knuckle fighting with a design as straightforward as Tekken's. Remarkably, even after three decades, the franchise sticks to the same winning formula, and its enduring success attests to the timeless appeal that continues to captivate audiences.
Surprisingly, Tekken 8 marks the eleventh instalment in the franchise. In this review, we'll thoroughly analyse the game to assess what innovations it brings to the table. The goal is to determine whether investing your time in Tekken 8 is a worthwhile decision or if it simply replicates the essence of its predecessors without offering anything substantially new.
Story: Blood Sport and Flying Demons
Continuing the trend set by its recent predecessors, Tekken 8 features a renowned story mode. This narrative unfolds the journey of Jin Kazama as he tries to battle the oppressive rule of his father, Kazuya Mishima—an iconic character within the series.
The storyline encompasses a diverse array of elements, often leaning into what some may perceive as cringy and cliche, and this can be a bit overwhelming at times. Expect power struggles for dominance among colossal global corporations, the influence of the infamous demonic blood, and the rollercoaster dynamics reminiscent of classic Jean-Claude Van Damme films from the nineties, among other intriguing facets.
If you're a fan of this genre, the story mode might pique your interest. Personally, I found it challenging to see through to the end, but in the interest of providing an authentic review, I powered through. What else could one do?
Undoubtedly, a positive aspect of the story mode lies in the tournaments orchestrated by Kazuya Mishima, with the one held in the Roman Coliseum being a standout. Engaging in the classic knockout system, players find themselves in fierce battles, striving to emerge as the ultimate victor of the tournament.
The entire story mode is comprised of roughly three-quarters of cut scenes, leaving perhaps a quarter, or even less, for direct gameplay. The gameplay itself encompasses the classic Tekken style, a side perspective, and a single chapter featuring battles against a mob infestation that alters the perspective. Regrettably, this particular segment is poorly executed, making it preferable to simply overlook it. Fortunately, it is limited to just one chapter.
Speaking of the chapters, there are a total of 15, each set in various locations around the world. One aspect that strikes me as somewhat illogical is the language dynamic. Given that the Tekken protagonists hail from diverse corners of the globe, they naturally speak different languages. Consequently, in the game, you'll come across characters conversing in Japanese, English, German, French, Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian. What's peculiar is that each character speaks their own language, and yet everyone seems to understand each other perfectly. While not a major issue, it does slightly disrupt the immersion of the game's narrative.
I'd like to highlight another aspect of the story that appealed to me more—the "Character Episodes" segment. In this part, you have the freedom to select any of the 32 players and complete a mini-story with them. The gameplay revolves mainly around a mini-tournament format, concluding with a cut scene at the end. These cut scenes, particularly with certain characters, can be quite comical. I would say that this segment stands out as the bright side of Tekken 8's story mode.
In the grand scheme of things, it appears that the story mode primarily serves the purpose of being there and a little more. If you choose not to engage with it, you won't miss out on much, aside from encountering several cringe-inducing situations. Personally, some of these moments were a bit hard to stomach, but as the saying goes, to each their own preferences.
Arcade Quest: Roblox 2.0
Arcade Quest mode, integrated into the offline gameplay of Tekken 8, boasts an intriguing feature. At the outset of this mode, players can craft their own character in a genuine RPG style. Interestingly, this character isn't designed for combat but rather to operate classic arcade machines, engaging in battles against other characters by playing Tekken 8. It's a pretty neat addition, to be honest.
The avatars, designed in the Roblox style, exude a charming and adorable aesthetic. Through victories in diverse tournaments or one-on-one battles against other characters, players earn numerous accessories to customise both their avatars and the playable characters within the game.
Within the Arcade Quest mode, a comprehensive map unfolds, featuring various arcade locations where players encounter new characters and compete in diverse tournaments. This mode incorporates a built-in difficulty system, with your selected character (changeable during gameplay) gaining levels as you accumulate experience. Consequently, facing characters with significantly higher levels can prove challenging, making some opponents seemingly unbeatable. However, as you level up, revisiting those arcades allows for the sweet satisfaction of good ol' revenge.
In addition to the mentioned mode, the offline gameplay includes the essential Arcade Battle, where you face opponents one by one, progressing as you defeat them. The VS mode allows for battles against the CPU or a friend using another controller. There's also a practice mode for honing new moves, and the Tekken Ball mode offers a unique twist—inflict damage on characters by hitting them with a ball, akin to a simplified game of tennis.
Regarding the online mode, it encompasses ranked matches, quick matches, and even PS5 Tournaments. However, my experience with this aspect is limited, as every attempt to access the online game resulted in a message stating that the servers were undergoing maintenance, making it impossible to play online at that time.
The official email we received from the developer included information about the servers becoming available at a specific time. Despite this, the servers have not been accessible, and I haven't had a single minute of online gameplay to provide any insights. Consequently, I'm omitting this segment, ensuring it does not impact the overall evaluation of the game.
Gameplay: "If it isn't broken, do not attempt to fix it!"
An incredible fact is that even after 30 years, the gameplay in Tekken has remained virtually unchanged, and perhaps rightly so, considering it's the best. It seems the developers stuck to the motto "Why change a winning team?" and this approach continues to work seamlessly.
Tekken 8 offers a roster of 32 fighters, featuring both iconic characters from the past three decades and new additions with distinct fighting styles. However, one notable drawback is the perceived lack of variety in fighting styles. In contrast to the previous diversity that included Brazilian capoeira, French boxing, and various other styles, Tekken 8 tends to converge on similar moves with a blend of unique special techniques.
Regarding the moves, Tekken maintains its consistent style, where the cross and circle buttons control the left and right leg, while the square and triangle buttons handle the right and left hand (PlayStation controller). Each fighter comes with unique combo moves, and the more creative and daring you are, the better your moves become. Blocking remains assigned to the back button, depending on your position, and that essentially sums up the control scheme.
Graphics and Sounds
Graphically, Tekken 8 stands out as the most visually stunning instalment in the series to date. The character models exhibit a mind-blowingly realistic quality with meticulous attention to detail. Every aspect, from individual hairs on the head or beard to scars on the characters and the way pieces of clothing sway during the fight, has been perfected to an impressive degree.
The impact effects and subsequent flashes in Tekken 8 are crafted to achieve a realistic quality without veering into an overly video game-like aesthetic. As in previous instalments, certain arenas feature breakable floors, leading to dynamic changes in the environment during the course of the fight.
The arenas in Tekken 8 are diverse and impeccably designed, contributing to the game's graphical excellence. While there is a distinction between the graphic presentation in cut scenes and actual gameplay—given that cut scenes are rendered differently—the transition is nearly imperceptible, thanks to the captivating in-engine graphics that maintain a high level of visual appeal.
Under the graphics, there's a noteworthy aspect of character customisation in Tekken 8. This feature allows for a comprehensive transformation of the characters, encompassing diverse elements such as hairstyles, makeup, tans, clothing, accessories, and more. As a result, fighters have the flexibility to undergo significant visual alterations, rendering them entirely distinct in appearance.
Regarding the sound, Tekken 8 maintains a commendable standard. The impact sounds of the blows are well executed, the fighters' screams align with the intensity of the battles, and the music leans towards a rock and roll style. Occasionally, the soundtrack may become somewhat tiresome, particularly during menu navigation and adjustments to game parameters, but it's not overly problematic.
On the PlayStation 5, the game performance is flawless, devoid of any issues, reaffirming both the consistent quality of Tekken games and Bandai Namco's unwavering dedication to this enduring series.
Conclusion
Tekken 8 stands as evidence that excellence can endure over an extended period, emphasising that if quality is maintained, there's no necessity to radically alter the formula. This latest instalment in the long-standing Tekken tradition encapsulates all the positive elements of the franchise while elevating them to a slightly higher level.
Featuring impressive modes, solid graphics, and compelling sound, Tekken 8 distinguishes itself as a standout in the fighting game genre. Nevertheless, it's not without its drawbacks. The forgettable story mode and the absence of variety in fighting styles may lead to a quick sense of fatigue.
However, overall, Tekken 8 proves to be an exceptional game that caters to all your fighting desires and is capable of turning good friends into rivals if, like me, you approach the game with a serious mindset.
The Good
Diverse and beautifully designed fighters and arenas- Flawless graphics, character models, and attention to detail
- Consistent and engaging gameplay maintains the classic Tekken style
- Arcade Quest mode
- Solid sound design
The Bad
Forgettable story mode- Lack of variety in fighting styles
- Online mode server accessibility issues during the review period
