As a big fan of fighting games, Tekken has always been my top choice. I spent an excessive amount of time on Tekken 7 when it was released, but it had some minor issues that I hoped Bandai Namco would address. Now, with Tekken turning 30, my wishes seem to have come true with the launch of Tekken 8.
Thanks to an early copy from Bandai Namco, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in a world that has captivated me for as long as I can remember. Describing Tekken 8 as an attempt to reinvent a legendary series would be an understatement. The game introduces numerous new aspects and features. Whether it’s online or single-player, I’ve explored it all. Without giving away too much, I can confidently say that the developers have crafted something extraordinary within the existing framework. Here’s my detailed review of Tekken 8.
Enter the Iron Fist: A Review of Tekken 8
In Tekken 8, the Mishima saga persists as the world becomes embroiled in a war between Jin Kazama’s Mishima Zaibatsu and Kazuya Mishima’s G-Corporation. Set after the events of Tekken 7, the game kicks off with a spectacular brawl in New York between Jin and Kazuya, causing chaos and destruction in their wake.
Tekken 8 embraces its rich legacy. The game skillfully balances intense fights with the beloved CGI cutscenes we’ve grown to love. It features nostalgic nods to cutscenes from previous games, appealing to long-time players.
While Tekken 8’s story maintains the flashy style of its predecessor, beneath the surface, there are issues. As I delved into the details, the plot seemed to lose coherence.
Reina, the new character in Tekken 8, hides ulterior motives beneath her cute appearance. However, I found the execution of her character and the overall plot to be lacking. There are instances, without giving spoilers, where the game sacrifices established lore for shock value. Unfortunately, this issue persists throughout the single-player story named The Dark Awakens.
Tekken 8 aims to bring closure to the Mishima storyline from Tekken 5. However, I felt the conclusion was hurried and didn’t align well with the overall plot.
Despite these drawbacks, if you approach it as an over-the-top, wacky story (which it is), you can overlook plot inconsistencies and enjoy the grand finale. While The Dark Awakens campaign falls short, the other two game modes shine.
Brawl in the Character Episodes
Similar to its predecessors, Tekken 8 includes character episodes for each character, with the exception of Jun Kazama and Reina, who unlock after completing the main story. These episodes provide enjoyable ‘what-if’ scenarios, adding more depth to each fighter’s lore.
Distinct from the main plot, these episodes maintain the game’s wacky and entertaining style. Completing four matches per character unlocks new in-game items, serving as a satisfying addition to counterbalance any disappointment from The Dark Awakens. I found these stories amusing and was reminded of the quirky charm that Tekken narratives can bring.
Delightful Tutorial is a Refreshing Shift
Beyond the story, there’s additional single-player content in the form of Arcade Quest. It’s essentially a comprehensive game tutorial cleverly presented as a story, allowing you to follow the journey of a new player. You create your in-game character and embark on the process of learning the game, aspiring to become the ultimate Tekken player in the world.
“This game mode felt like a natural fit. It allowed me to refresh my understanding of the core game mechanics, and the introduction of newer mechanics was presented in a straightforward manner, preparing me for upcoming challenges. Moreover, as a standalone feature, it serves as a useful tool for players to practice without an internet connection. If you’re a newcomer, this is a game mode I would recommend.
Overall, the single-player content in Tekken 8 provided just the right amount of value. With the usual customization options, Tekken Ball for enjoyable moments, versus mode, and more, it may not be as extensive as Capcom’s Street Fighter 6, but it suits my preferences. In the end, I felt I got nearly full value, especially from the plot.”
Revamped Battle System Adds Excitement
Although the storyline may not fully live up to the Mishima legacy, Tekken 8 brings a significant upgrade to the gameplay, altering the entire feel of the game. In Tekken 7, the gameplay leaned towards a more cautious style, punishing players for risky moves and promoting a defensive approach.
Now, Tekken 8 introduces the Heat system, a game-changing feature. Activated with 2 + 4 (Triangle and Cross on DualShock, Y and A on Xbox), your character enters a unique state. During this period, if your opponent blocks any of your attacks, they suffer chip damage, transforming the dynamics of the game.
You can now inflict up to 40% damage on your opponent with a confirmed hit. Integrate it into a combo, and you’ve got a powerful combination. The chipped damage is indicated by a white silhouette on your health bar, and opponents can activate heat to recover it.
Moreover, you can transition your heat into a heat rush, allowing you to extend your air combos. The Rage art makes a grand return, more spectacular than ever. Each character boasts their own unique Rage art, with visuals more intense than those in Tekken 7. The fundamental fighting mechanics remain consistent, and legacy characters from Tekken 7 play similarly in Tekken 8, with a few tweaks.
For example, Asuka, my main from Tekken 7, has undergone changes in her move set. These slight adjustments rendered some existing combos unusable. Additionally, for more casual players, there are special styles available. These auto-combos execute with a press of a button, making it enjoyable for friends who may not be avid fighting game enthusiasts but still want to have some fun with Tekken 8.
Personally, I find this new aggressive playstyle to be right up my alley. I’ve always preferred taking on opponents aggressively to deal extra damage. The Heat system in Tekken 8 completely transforms the way everyone approaches the series.
However, this change isn’t so drastic that it becomes difficult to adapt to. It’s a favorable reinvention that enhances the series without losing its essence. Overall, I’m impressed and excited about this new system.
Challenge Your Skills Online
Note: We couldn’t fully explore the Tekken Lounge mode and the new lobby as intended. Due to a limited online player population and constraints, we couldn’t find anyone to test these features with. Therefore, we are holding back from making specific comments on these game features. However, we will provide updates on these game modes once Tekken 8 is officially live.
In the realm of modern fighting games, online play is a crucial aspect that significantly contributes to the overall experience. Tekken 8 owes its smooth online gameplay to the rollback system and crossplay features. During the review period, the system worked as intended, and I’m pleased to share that the majority of the limited matches we played were enjoyable without any noticeable input delays. While there were a few exceptions, the game provided indicators to address the issues.
Among the five matches we participated in, most ran flawlessly. We faced opponents with varying connection speeds, including one on Wi-Fi with 65ms, a wired player on PC with 280ms, and another on PlayStation using Wi-Fi with 130ms. In all three cases, we experienced no lag issues. However, there was one instance with a 400ms ping, and that match felt notably challenging.
The rollback system works seamlessly, performing its magic as it should. While it does have its limitations, the days of painful Tekken 7 netplay are gone. After experiencing such a fantastic online play, I couldn’t help but smile. When you have minimal concerns about slowdowns and stutters, the gameplay becomes an immediate joy.
Bandai Namco’s collaboration with Arika for net code development appears to have worked out well for both companies. Fans of the series will likely appreciate what the team has in store for them.
Enhance Your Skills in Practice Mode
The Practice Mode in Tekken 8 has received a substantial upgrade. Everything available in Tekken 7 has made a return, providing you with a comprehensive set of tools to suit your skill level.
Struggling to grasp the numbers mentioned in the frame data? Use the visual instructions. Interested in learning basic combos? Experiment with sample combos. Need to understand how to punish a character’s attacks on block? Engage in punishment training. You don’t have to scour the internet for details; while you can, the tools provided enable you to learn the fundamentals right within the game.
After refining your understanding of a character in practice mode, you can seamlessly transition to ranked or quick matchmaking directly from the practice screen. Quality-of-life changes like these always bring joy, and this is no exception. Moreover, the training mode has evolved significantly since the pre-Tekken 7 era.
In those days, players had to rely on dedicated groups documenting every intricate detail about the game. Witnessing such accessible changes in the practice mode right from launch is commendable. Personally, I invested countless hours in the practice mode to master Reina. So, catch me in the Asia 1 lobbies when the game drops.
Analyzing the Graphics of Tekken 8
With Tekken 8 running on Unreal Engine 5, Bandai Namco has made a significant effort to achieve top-notch visuals. Tekken 7 faced criticism for dated character models, a consequence of the home versions retaining the arcade models.
Fortunately, this issue is resolved in Tekken 8, where meticulous attention has been given to refining every aspect of the visuals. This game stands out as one of the most visually stunning fighting games on the market.
In our review, we tested the game on a gaming rig equipped with the following components:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5600
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti
RAM: 16GB DDR4 @ 3600MHz
Storage: WD SN570
We ran the game at 1080p, 75Hz.
Upon launching Tekken 8, you’ll find a range of graphical settings. However, the game is capped at a maximum of 60FPS regardless of your chosen hardware. This limitation is in place to maintain a consistent frame rate, crucial for a smooth netplay experience, even with rollback.
To address potential performance concerns, Bandai Namco has incorporated frame-generation upscaling options. DLSS, FSR, and Intel’s XeSS are available, ensuring the game retains its visual quality without compromising performance. We tested the game with and without upscaling, both with consistent performance.
Regarding CPU-GPU utilization, we observed variable CPU usage ranging from 16% to 32%, and GPU utilization fluctuating from 20% to 39%. These figures remained relatively consistent whether using DLSS or not.
In summary, Tekken 8 runs smoothly on lower-end PC specs. While the minimum specs mention running at 60FPS low on a 1050 Ti, there might be doubts about this. In such cases, opting for a PS5 could be a more reliable choice.
Final Verdict: Does Tekken 8 Deserve Your Battle?
In the end, Tekken 8 emerges as a well-deserved sequel that lives up to expectations. The revamped battle system adds a new dimension to the gameplay, encouraging players to adopt an aggressive playstyle. While the single-player story may leave a bit to be desired, the character stories maintain the series’ trademark wacky fun.
My primary concern was how Tekken 8 would address netcode and the online experience. Fortunately, the title not only meets expectations but surpasses them. The implementation of rollback and crossplay support ensures a seamless online experience. Additionally, Bandai Namco has made training and tutorials exceptionally accessible.
Tekken 8 confidently stands alongside other modern fighting games like Street Fighter 6 and Guilty Gear: Strive, marking a renaissance in the genre. With a wealth of content and updates available at launch, the game is poised to only improve with time. Given this, I wholeheartedly recommend everyone to grab Tekken 8 and immerse themselves in the new combat experience.
Pros and Cons
Tekken 8 introduces a revolutionary gameplay experience, breathing new life into the series and catering to both newcomers and seasoned players. Despite occasional inconsistencies and rushed moments in the main story, the robust online experience and diverse game modes compensate for any shortcomings. In essence, this marks the pinnacle of Tekken's thirty-year legacy.
The Good
- The novel fighting system brings a unique feel to the gameplay.
- Backed by Unreal Engine 5, the visuals are stunning.
- The netcode is notably improved compared to Tekken 7.
The Bad
- The conclusion to the Mishima saga feels rushed,
- with plot-points seemingly pulled out of thin air.