Bandai Namco Leisure’s Tekken collection is one of the primary franchises that involves thoughts when most players suppose of the preventing sport style. Debuting in arcades in 1994, Tekken helped put 3D preventing video games on the map with its trendy characters, comedy, groundbreaking gameplay, and polygonal graphics. These accomplishments would proceed all through the collection and preserve it on the forefront of the style effectively previous the arcade period.
Tekken’s success continued within the console market as the enduring franchise debuted on the PlayStation, and the collection and the system developed aspect by aspect. Every installment pushed new console limitations, making each entry a major showcase of every PlayStation.
With Tekken 8’s launch on the horizon, it’s time for an additional collision between The King of Iron Fist Event and PlayStation. Let’s check out how the collection has developed and develop into so intertwined with every console.
Tekken: Iron-fisted beginnings
Tekken | U.S. Launch 1995 | PlayStation
After a profitable arcade run, Tekken made its console debut on the unique PlayStation. Releasing two months after the console’s launch, Tekken instantly mirrored its preliminary success within the dwelling console realm.
The groundwork for the remaining of the collection is immediately recognizable right here. The concentrate on pushing {hardware} limits by that includes detailed graphics and 60 frames-per-second made it a must-play title with an easy-to-learn but hard-to-master management scheme of two punch buttons and two kicks that the collection nonetheless options made the sport an immediate aggressive and social gathering hit for properties all over the place.
And who can overlook the roster of greater than memorable fighters that the PlayStation expertise made much more notable? It featured full-motion video cutscenes, and gamers might unlock sub-bosses like Armor King and the ultimate boss, Heihachi, as playable characters.
Even after a year-long arcade run, Tekken garnered simply as a lot reward on consoles, making it a straightforward alternative for Bandai Namco Leisure to proceed the collection for years to come back.
Tekken 2: Refining the formulation
Tekken 2 | U.S. Launch 1996 | PlayStation
Tekken 2 hit arcades in 1995 and got here dwelling to PlayStation consoles as soon as extra in 1996. Whereas the unique set the premise for the collection, this sequel’s additions make it instantly extra recognizable to followers.
Gamers had been greeted with a bounce from 17 to 25 playable characters, together with newcomers like Bruce, Roger, and Jun Kazama. Many of these characters got here geared up with new battle mechanics like distinctive sidesteps, chain-throws, backthrows, and particular reversal assaults. There was additionally the addition of new staple modes like Time Assault, Group Battle, Survival, and Observe mode. These options took Tekken to new heights, making Tekken 2 one of the highest-sold PlayStation titles.
This title additionally marked the start of Kazuya’s reign because the villain of the collection, and its ending teased Jin’s future as its protagonist.
Tekken 3: A extra acquainted face
Tekken 3 | U.S. Launch 1998 | PlayStation
Tekken returned with one other PlayStation hit in Tekken 3. Staple characters like Jin, Eddy Gordo, Xiaoyu, Bryan Fury, Hwoarang, Legislation, and Julia joined the roster.
The largest addition right here got here within the type of adjustments to motion, corresponding to shortened leaping heights. Facet throws and sidesteps had been additionally added, together with strikes that may be carried out throughout a sidestep. A number of fighters got entry to reversals, and sure characters had been granted combo throws. This introduced Tekken quite a bit nearer to the title we see now.
As with Tekken 2, the PlayStation model added unique modes, making Tekken 3 the debut of the beat-em-up minigame Tekken Pressure, and the volleyball-esque Tekken Ball.
Tekken Tag Event: 2-on-2 goodness
Tekken Tag Event | U.S. Launch 2000 | PlayStation 2
Tekken made its PlayStation 2 debut with the primary entry of the spin-off collection Tekken Tag Event. This time round, fighters would problem each other as a duo. Now, with the press of a button, gamers can swap between their two characters, every with numerous hidden attributes relying on the pairing of the characters, making tag combos, throws, and completely different techniques potential. However as soon as one character on both workforce is defeated, the match is over.
The PlayStation 2 model applied upgraded graphics over the arcade model and much more modes. At dwelling, gamers gained the power to play a traditional 1-vs-1 mode, a workforce battle with as much as eight matches to determine the victor and the debut of the bowling minigame Tekken Bowl.
Tekken 4: A dynamic reintroduction
Tekken 4 | U.S. Launch 2002 | PlayStation 2
Tekken returned to its mainline collection with Tekken 4, introducing some of the grandest adjustments to the formulation for the reason that starting. The sport turned darker than earlier than, reviving a once-dead Kazuya. This was aided by an upgraded graphics engine that dynamically affected lighting, surfaces, and physics. And who can overlook that banger soundtrack?
Gamers might immediately transfer even earlier than a spherical started, and the setting was given extra significance. The introduction of walled phases allowed for prolonged and extra damaging combos. This prompted the debut of nook escapes to permit for comebacks.
As soon as once more, the PlayStation model included Tekken Pressure and a brand new Story Mode that includes cutscenes.
Tekken 5: Fashionable motion
Tekken 5 | U.S. Launch 2005 | PlayStation 2
Whereas Tekken 4 emphasizes various environments, Tekken 5 tones issues down barely. Uneven stage floor was eliminated to make motion smoother and quicker. Nevertheless, the character depend is one other story with 32 characters within the base roster, together with Satan Jin’s debut.
The title additionally introduces the excessive crush, and low crush assault strikes that the sport is understood for. For the primary time, fighters may very well be personalized with completely different outfits, colours, and further objects gained with in-game forex.
The new PlayStation-exclusive mode is Satan Inside, a brand new tackle Tekken Pressure the place gamers management Jin as he travels via maze-like phases with the power to develop into Satan Jin.
Tekken 6: Taking the battle on-line
Tekken 6 | U.S. Launch 2009 | PlayStation 3
Tekken 6 launched the collection to the PlayStation 3, protecting most of the franchise’s earlier parts and including issues just like the Rage system. This allowed gamers to do extra harm as their well being decreased.
Stage dynamics had been additionally introduced again to the forefront, permitting partitions to be knocked down and opening ranges as much as extra environments. Certain assaults had been additionally added, giving fighters a brand new transfer that knocks enemies to the bottom, bouncing them again up, and leaving them susceptible to follow-up combos.
As soon as extra, a beat-em-up mode referred to as State of affairs Marketing campaign was unique to console variations. The largest addition got here within the type of on-line matches, making long-distance battles and co-op State of affairs Marketing campaign experiences potential for the primary time.
Tekken Tag Event 2: Return to tag
Tekken Tag Event 2 | U.S. Launch 2012 | PlayStation 3
Tekken adopted up its unique spin-off with Tag Event 2, which retains most of the unique guidelines however with a couple of upgrades. Prolonged tag combos are actually achievable, and combos the place each characters concurrently assault the opponent are referred to as Tag Assaults, which launched new methods.
Extra modes that made matches 1-on-1, 2-on-2, or 1-on-2 and allowed 4 completely different gamers to regulate every fighter added extra selection to the combination. Characters’ well being and energy had been scaled accordingly to the match kind. This additionally marks the primary time Tekken added extra studying instruments like a tutorial mode, Struggle Lab.
Tekken 7: New heights
Tekken 7 | U.S. Launch 2017 | PlayStation 4
Tekken made its presence recognized on the PlayStation 4 in an enormous method. New mechanics had been added to make the offense extra harmful than ever.
Rage Arts introduced cinematic tremendous assaults to the world of Tekken. Energy Crushes gave gamers the power to soak up successful of a low or excessive assault, persevering with the offensive even when opposed. Rage Drives added extra choices to be made, as gamers might as a substitute use Rage to realize a powered-up model of a particular transfer.
The most notable piece of Tekken 7’s historical past is the addition of a number of visitor fighters, together with The Strolling Lifeless’s Negan, Last Fantasy XV’s Noctis, SNK’s Geese Howard, and Road Fighter’s Akuma.
Tekken 8: The future of iron fist
Tekken 8 | U.S. Launch 2024 | PlayStation 5
Now all of us await Tekken 8, the primary title of the collection to skip arcades and have its preliminary launch on PlayStation consoles. This title begins the place Tekken 7 left off, focusing closely on the wild offensive. The new Warmth System offers fighters entry to chip harm, extra assaults, guard breaks, and even sprint cancellable strikes.
Together with these adjustments comes one other improve to the graphics engine with the implementation of Unreal Engine 5. This offers Tekken 8 an much more dynamic look and physics than titles of the previous.
Tekken 8 will proceed the legacy when it releases for PS5 on January 26.