We often hear fighting game lovers tell us that 2023 is the year of the Grand Slam in terms of VS Fighting. Yes and no actually. Yes because Street Fighter VI and Mortal Kombat 1 were released a few months apart, and no because Tekken 8 will not arrive until 2024. So certainly January 26, 2024, so we were not far from reaching the goal, but in reality, another candidate is also missing in the person of King of Fighters, whose episode KOF 15 was released in 2022. And yes, for a guy like me who grew up with the NeoGeo, KOF is a little basics… But let’s get back to our topic, Tekken 8 which will land on PC and consoles 9 years after Tekken 7, what will change? What is not going to change? Big preview a month and a half before the game’s release.
First thing to unpack when starting this Tekken 8 video: is the game as beautiful as Katsuhiro Harada claimed a year and a half ago when it was announced? Remember, on September 14, 2022, the producer of all Tekken told us that his Tekken 8 would be as beautiful as the images offered to us in the teaser. Some have swallowed his words, others like us have expressed some doubts, and it is clear that Harada has given us a bit of a myth. No, the final version of Tekken is not as beautiful as the images from the very first teaser, BUT Tekken 8 remains a huge graphic slap in the face. I’ll let you admire the images that I was able to capture so that you can see that the title is benefiting from its exclusive development for the PS5 and the Xbox Series. Moreover, to obtain such an incredible rendering, it must also be noted that the developers chose Unreal Engine 5, and it is immediately evident. The textures are fine and provided, the numerous details, the settings rich in detail, the explosive colors and the visual effects reinforce the beauty of the game. So, we are not at the level of the teaser, nor of Mortal Kombat 1 which I find visually superior, but Tekken 8 still remains a graphic reference, and above all there is a real gap between the previous episode 7 and this one.
BRUTAL & WILD
What really changes with Tekken 8 is its brutality and aggression. Never has an episode placed so much emphasis on this destructive side which will also give the advantage to the player who is the most offensive. For a guy who grew up with KOF, it’s a godsend, while Street Fighter pro’s who zone out as always may be taken aback. Indeed, in Tekken 8, everything pushes the player to play the nag, at least in the first hours of discovery, because that’s how we get our hands on and discover the more general public side of this episode. Yes, Tekken 8 has also made the bet of simplifying its combat system, to continue to attract as many players as possible, and especially the general public. But simplicity doesn’t mean that fighting specialists won’t find their way around it. A bit like Street Fighter 6 a few months ago, we realize that the developers have found the right formula to bring together beginner and expert under the same gameplay. Easy to play, hard to master, even if Tekken 8’s combat system is still less complex than Street Fighter.
BIG HEAT
Let’s say that with less quarter-circle and rear semi-circle type manipulations to perform, Tekken has always been more accessible. But with this episode 8, there is this powerful and gruff side which is added to the cocktail. The idea is that we have fun while playing, but also while watching, as a spectator. Clearly, Harada designed his game for the eSports scene to generate epic and crazy moments. Not only does the gameplay revolve around this new approach, but the environments have also been adapted for the occasion. From now on, it will be possible to destroy certain elements of the decor, which will also allow certain combos to be opened, particularly aerial ones, but also to change environments like Dead or Alive. So, there is a real destructive side to this Tekken 8 which turns out to be really enjoyable.
Another game mechanic which proves that the game focuses on aggression above all is Heat Mode, which is divided into two different proposals: Heat Burst and Heat Engage. Basically, by pressing R1, when the blue gauge allows it, you can switch to a somewhat special mode for a few tens of seconds. Either you trigger a more powerful attack by freezing the screen for a very short moment, or you boost your character and give them access to additional moves. Moreover, some experts speak of an imbalance in Heat Mode, since certain characters are more advantaged than others via this mechanic. On the other hand, regarding the furies, which are called Rage Arts, and which were introduced in Tekken 7, they are the same for everyone this time, with the same command. Simplification to appeal to the general public and that’s not a bad thing. On the other hand, in terms of staging, Bandai Namco has leveled up crazy, with attacks that are a pleasure to see and extremely difficult to take too. Whatever it is, it’s amazing.
Our hands-on session also allowed us to play the first 4 chapters of Story mode, but to avoid any spoilers, we are prohibited from showing you the content beyond Chapter 1. Please note, however, that the scenario repeats the events of Tekken 7 and we will obviously continue to follow the destructive desires of Kazuya Mishima, who continues to despise human beings. This time, however, he will have to deal with new characters, such as a certain Victor Chevalier, founder of the independent forces of the United Nations, voiced by Vincent Cassel. Victor Chevalier is quite simply the first French character in the license, since Lili de Rochefort is actually Monegasque. He was also the one who founded and trained the Raven Force. Victor Chevalier is by far the character that I sanded the most during this preview session, not only because he exudes class with his haute couture costume, but also because he is equipped with a knife and ultra venerable optical weapons.
TEKKEN BALLS
We also discovered the Arcade Quest mode which consists of discovering the game via a social hub where you must create your avatar in cute personal mode, and who will wander around arcade rooms to take on challenges and learn the basics of the game It’s a bit like Street Fighter 6’s World Tour mode, without the free roaming side of the open map. It’s cute, but it wasn’t super interesting, especially if you know the basics of Tekken and if you’re over 20, let’s be realistic. Another not really exciting game mode in Tekken 8 is the Tekken Ball mode which is making its comeback. The objective is to empty your opponent’s energy bar by sending a ball straight into his face, knowing that certain shots that hit the ball at an angle deal more damage. Quite honestly, it’s of no interest, because it’s neither funny nor fun nor exciting. Otherwise, to finish, know that Tekken 8 will offer no less than 32 characters at launch, which is a frankly satisfactory number, most of them being well-known fighters from the series, but who have evolved over time. I’m talking in particular about Paul and his new haircut. He is almost unrecognizable.
