It took a long time, butTekken 8is finally here. Dropping just in time for the series’ 30th anniversary,Tekken 8has some big shoes to fill after the prior game’s six-and-a-half-year console life.Tekken 7currently holds records for the longest consoleTekkentenure as well as the highest sales in the series, and following that up isn’t enviable. Astonishingly,Tekken 8drew all the right conclusions fromTekken 7’s successes and failures, and the result is one of the strongestTekkenentries to date.
AlthoughTekken 8’s stated themes are “Full Power” and “Complete Destruction,” there’s also a throughline ofTekken 8addressingT7’scriticisms, similar to whatStreet Fighter 6did forSF5. Sporting more satisfying single-player modes, improved online functions, and the best onboarding experience in a modern fighter, nothing has gone untouched. While many fighting game sequels struggle to justify ditching their last entry’s content,Tekken 8should feel like a worthwhile upgrade for anyTekken 7owner.
Tekken 8’s story mode will be most players' first stop. The Dark Awakens is the direct sequel toTekken 7’s cinematic story, featuring the same seamless transitions between cutscenes and gameplay, as well as impressive fight choreography and amajor step forward inTekken’s storyline. Fortunately, the boring narrator and unresolved subplots that definedTekken 7’s story are gone, even if shades of them are present. A general focus onTekken’s protagonist Jin Kazama and his journey through the latest King of Iron Fist tournament make this one ofTekken’s best story modes, though newer fans would be forgiven for feeling lost.
After the credits roll in The Dark Awakens, players can immediately jump back into the action with the Character Episodes.Tekken 7’s equivalent was just a couple of in-engine scenes and a rival fight for every character deemed irrelevant to the main story, soTekken 8’s are a big improvement. Presented as shorter arcade runs, Character Episodes mark the return ofTekken’s beloved pre-rendered arcade endings, divided between plot progression and comedy skits. Meanwhile,Tekken 8’s arcade mode mixes potentially tougher ghosts in with normal AI opponents, but the lack of character endings makes it hard to justify its existence.
Far more justified is the Arcade Quest, which does double duty as an answer toStreet Fighter 6’s World Tour featuring a custom avatar, andTekken 8’s interactive tutorial. Arcade Quest tells the lighthearted-yet-satisfying story of the player rising to the top of multiple arcades, eventually competing in the Tekken World Tour itself. Complete with a personal trainer to set goals and offer feedback, integration ofTekken 7’s Treasure Battle features to unlock cosmetics, and even the introduction of the new Super Ghost Battle system to experience one’s own strengths and weaknesses in an AI copy, this mode justifies aTekkennewcomer’s purchase of8.
All of that makes for a great single-player package, but it’s the rock-solid fighting that makesTekken 8’s modes work. Combat is similar toTekken 7, with the simple Special Style controls and aggression-enhancingHeat System beingTekken 8’s largest additions. Both should help casual players enjoyTekken 8’s fighting, even if Special Style isn’t competitively viable likeStreet Fighter 6’s Modern Mode is, and normal moves acting as Heat Engagers can unintentionally force button mashers into Heat. Aggression permeates every change made toTekken 8’s battles, enhancing the spectator experience without divertingTekken’s focus from movement and strategy.
Going fromTekken 7’s 51 characters after DLC toTekken 8’s 32 fighters hurts, especially with no big-name guests likeStreet Fighter’s Akuma. Fortunately,Tekken 8’s returning castfeels distinct from their past selves thanks to a huge uptick in special effects, weapons, and unique animations. Newcomers Azucena, Victor, and Reina also help by being the best set of original charactersTekkenhas seen in years, sidesteppingTekken 7’s trouble with hit-or-miss newbies. The most notable absence is Eddy Gordo, whose confirmation as the first DLC fighter leavesTekken 8with a well-rounded roster filled with series favorites.
Learning these characters is also easier than ever, withTekken 8incorporatingTekken 7’s paid DLC toolsdirectly into its training mode while adding plenty more. Recommended moves and combos, replays that dynamically suggest alternatives, replay takeover, frame data, and so much more are available out of the box. A standard tutorial is also in Arcade Quest for those who want one. It’s hard to understate how goodTekken 8’s teaching tools are, especially for a series that often lacks a tutorial mode.
When players feel prepared, it’s time to head online.Tekken 8sportsTekken’s best online experience yet, even if it doesn’t matchStreet Fighter 6andGuilty Gear Strive’s superb netcode. Putting the last few years ofTekken 7controversy to rest,Tekken 8clearly advertises its promising rollback netcodeon top of cross-platform play, and gives players control of each. Options to set the number of rollback frames would have been preferred, but being able to choose between baseline netcode, more fluid visuals with more input delay, or less delay with more unstable visuals is a good start.
While menu options to immediately search for online matches or host a lobby are available, there’s plenty more for players to do in the Tekken Fight Lounge. This takes the form of a 3D lobby with simple custom avatars from Arcade Quest, and works similarly toStreet Fighter 6’s Battle Hub. Besides all the expected matchmaking features, there are also options to register friends and rivals, download replays and player ghosts, and even takeTekken 3’s returning Tekken Ball minigameonline. If nothing else, being able to train with the ghosts of friends and top players should makeTekken 8’s communal Fight Lounge worth experiencing.
Players can use their online and offline winnings to buy cosmetics from in-game stores. At the moment, no additional monetization is visible inTekken 8apart from the expected season pass structure, which is for the best as unlocking cosmetics is an integral part ofTekken 8’s gameplay loop. While the lobby avatar clothes and player ID parts are decent enough,Tekken 8’s fighter customization clearly got the most love. The costume editing is on par with the laudedCreate-A-Soul system fromTekken’s sister seriesSoul Calibur, and many clothing pieces are so detailed that they appear natural beside fighters’ default clothing.
It’s not just the costumes that look good, either. With no PS4 or Switch ports to hold it back,Tekken 8uses Unreal Engine 5to give itself a leg up over its competition. The game’s 3D assets and special effects look fantastic, even if some players will appreciate the options to tone either down. No performance issues were encountered on a PC running the highest non-4K settings, aside from the loading screens starting long and getting shorter. Between its hit sparks, dynamic stage backgrounds, environmental destruction effects, and even custom fight intros for certain match-ups,Tekken 8is one of the best-looking fighting games yet.
Compliments should also be paid toTekken 8’s sound design and soundtrack. The library of sound effectsTekkenhas built up is back and as crunchy as ever, and every character sounds good in their respective language. Celebrity actor Vincent Cassel also deserves praise, as he lends his voice toTekken 8’s French agent Victorwhile avoiding the awkwardnessMortal Kombatran into with Megan Fox and Ronda Rousey. The soundtrack’s quality will be subjective, but dissatisfied listeners can use the Jukebox to build their own custom soundtracks out ofTekken’s history of excellent music.
Accessibility features go alongsideTekken 8’s abundant player customization to create an experience that should accommodate many people’s needs. There’s a lack of audio-based accessibility options, but even compared to the accessibility powerhouse that isStreet Fighter 6, whatTekkenhas is still worth pointing out. Visual impairments and color blindness are directly addressed, and full controller remapping, including disabling buttons likeT8’s Traditional/Special Style toggle, should help a variety of players get intoTekken 8.
Street Fighter 6just raised the bar for AAA fighting games midway through 2023, and its long-time 3D rivalTekkenhas already matched it.Tekken 8’s story mode is a breath of fresh air afterT7’s, and its abundance of single-player modes will give casual fans plenty to do afterward. Veterans can enjoyTekken 8’s new charactersand mechanics without the game’s fundamentals being compromised, and a top-notch presentation will impress without technical hiccups. No one could have expectedTekken 8to improve this much afterTekken 7was already so strong, but it’s clear that the new game won’t settle for anything less than being the series’ best.
Tekken 8
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Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
Tekken 8launches on January 26 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant was provided with a PC code for this review.
