Tekken 8 Video Sport Assessment
Oh, how I adore Tekken! In this ridiculously entertaining series, the same three characters are always out to get each other, but it’s hilarious in the best possible way. I haven’t played every version, but I figured now would be a good time to get into the newest one because this is, perhaps, the finest fighting game year thus far. Some of the finest features of both the Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat series were shown in Street Fighter 6. Is the hat trick finished in Tekken 8? With a few minor issues, I believe it does.
Thanks to the recap parts on the main menu, Tekken 8 fills in any gaps in your understanding of the Tekken franchise narrative. They evoke the series’ long-standing edge with its rough, black-and-white storyboard style. The major emphasis of these recaps is the increasingly antagonistic relationship within the Mishima family, although they do not cover everything. The story revolves on the relationship between Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima. This isn’t their narrative, even if the ensemble cast includes people from all around the globe, both old and new. This might have a negative impact on their support.
While plot isn’t always why people play fighting games, several series have made an effort to give their mythology greater weight or, at the very least, give its massive cast some agency. You get emotionally invested in the characters you play as as a result of their narrative arcs, not only their combat technique. The game appears to focus on Jin and two other characters—whose identities I will not reveal—despite the fact that many of the other characters have wonderful personalities and some rather entertaining conversation created between certain interactions. With eight games under our belts, we’re already telling the same “conquer your inner demon” theme that you’ve likely seen in many other franchises, with the main focus being on Jin’s journey to triumph over his material and symbolic inner demons. Yet, it’s handled properly, as Jin learns that he can combat monsters without becoming one himself. He’s free to enjoy the happily ever after he wants.
If the story’s level of cheesiness is off, I will be more critical of it. The game’s structure and design make it clear that we, the audience, aren’t meant to take the scenario seriously, even if many characters do. The other characters in the game may sometimes comprehend the player character, a bear, even when it’s silent. Communication is never a problem, even when all the characters speak various languages! A second language or the ability to read the subtitles is required of all participants. There is still a little wink at the camera, even in the most serious of scenes. Tekken 8 doesn’t quite deliver on its promise of a more emotionally charged plot involving the other characters, but I’ll give it a pass.
Perhaps you aren’t interested in Tekken 8’s plot but are instead seeking a fun, fast-paced fighting game to enjoy with friends. I totally get that, and Tekken 8 is great at what it claims to be. A large cast of playable characters is available from the start of the game, and each one has their own unique style. Although most players’ attack patterns follow a standard blueprint, the specific attacks you may use and the damage they provide will differ from player to player. From Jin’s karate to Azucena’s mixed martial arts to Steve’s boxing, every character has their own unique fighting technique, which is often influenced by their origin. Not only are many motions indicative of those fighting styles, but they are also functional. Jin uses strong, straight kicks and punches in his karate technique. Not only does Steve have a variety of hitting skills, but he also doesn’t utilize his legs, which made him my second favorite character. Lastly, there’s the formidable but range-limited Kuma the bear.
By carefully observing your opponent’s directional cues, you may not only block and counter movements with efficiency, but also counter them by attacking at the perfect moment. The Heat System is the game’s central concept; it lets you enter a “Heat State” once per round, enabling you to execute certain finishes and combinations. Keeping up the pressure allows you to even regain health while fighting. An alternative control scheme is also available, making it easier for beginners to learn and use the more advanced maneuvers without the need to remember long string of buttons. While the tale justifies certain characters’ superhuman skills, the fact that they have ranged techniques renders them somewhat imbalanced. Still, I had a rather enjoyable, balanced experience trying out several characters in both the main narrative campaign and the arcade mode while in the thick of things, on normal difficulties.
Outside of the main battles, however, there were a few problems with everything. My PC requirements are somewhat above average as I stream very often, and I played the PC version of this game. The game’s efforts to integrate gameplay and cinematics are admirable, but there are obvious reductions in framerate and slowness, as well as shockingly frequent load periods before important events, anytime the game tries to move between them. Although the model motion rendering is top-notch, I often found myself jolted out of the game. At times during cutscenes, I have a strong suspicion that a soundbite was either muted or loaded at a very low level, making it almost impossible for me to hear. When I attempted to set up online matches in the hub, this issue would sometimes appear as well. You can go about and interact with other people’s avatars in the lobby, but occasionally the game lags and stutters simply by moving around. I’m relieved that I didn’t have any input latency or framerate difficulties during the matches itself, but it’s strange that the surrounding areas had such dramatic drops in quality.
Participating in online matches and meeting certain requirements will earn you coins. With these coins, you can buy cosmetics to enhance your online avatar or outfits to create a unique playable character. Changing out most characters’ casual or streetwear attire isn’t the most complex modification, but it adds a pleasant touch. Thanks to the expressive graphic style of the game, it’s great to see these characters in various settings and wearing varied clothes.
One of the finest parts of the game was the soundtracks that went along with it; they really made the characters pop. As one would expect from a cast that spans the globe, the soundtrack features a wide range of musical genres, including hip-hop, techno, jazz, and classical. To top it all off, the menu concept is really memorable and easy to become hooked on. Fitting the game’s dynamic flair, almost all of the songs have an unrestrained energy that makes you want to get up and exercise.
It was fun playing Tekken 8. Both newbies and seasoned players will appreciate the additional features, which enhance the gameplay without diluting its essence. Tekken 8 manages to be both dark and menacing while also managing to be immensely silly. It’s amusing, and a lot of fans are still emotionally immersed in the dispute. Even if the optimization could need some work in certain areas and the rest of the ensemble cast might have contributed more, Tekken 8 is still a good fighting game. Because it is cross-compatible, you may purchase it on one platform and play against friends on another. Arrange a competition and find out who the top dog is!
