Tekken is the
type of game that when the name is mentioned, video-game fans immediately know
what they are in store for. That is both good news and bad news. The good news
is the value of the franchise in terms of name recognition. The bad news, if it
can be considered such, is that the game has followed the same base format for a
long time.
The franchise
transitioned from arcade machines in 1994 to the PlayStation system in 1995.
With roots back in SEGA Virtua Fighter series, Tekken took the idea of
one-versus-one combat and transposed it to a three dimensional environment.
The title has
seen a couple of different platforms, and now it is making its way onto the
PlayStation 3 console system.
The game
itself is rendered out in glorious 1080p graphics and adds to the roster of
Bandai Namco’s Tekken with a new playable character. There is no denying that
graphically the franchise has entered the next-gen era in some regards.
With 34
fighters available to use and three main modes of play – arcade, ghost and
versus – the game presents a button-masher’s dream. But the game still, in spite
of the three-dimensional characters, still has a two-dimensional feel to it, and
there were a few clipping issues but they are minor. The fighting is done on a
2D plane, with movement allowed either to move left or right. The game controls
are all tied into the four hot keys and the directional pad.
Control-wise, the game follows the same format as other titles of this ilk. You
have the hot keys that determine what type of attack you will launch and the
d-pad will locate the attack. As in hands high, or a spinning leg whip low –
depending on the combination of buttons used. Each of the available fighters has
a style that is their own, which gives the game a nice feel as you play with the
different characters. The controls are easy to use and the options package is
rudimentary at best. You can go into the game shop and customize the characters
a bit, but the real meat and potatoes of this title is the combat. The effects,
when the opponent is hit with a devastating attack, work but are not
spectacular. You won’t find yourself awed by the blows or the attacks. String
together combos and you might be able to juggle your foe in the air, but for the
most part, this game strings in some repetitive action sequences – like the way
the ground erupts when a character is slammed into it.
The game is
built for one to two players, either competing for the high score in a solo
outing or to emerge the winner in head-to-head battles. The sound is typical of
the genre and previous Tekken fighters.
One of the
more entertaining features of the game is the way it enables players to juggle
opponents – but this is a task that will require a certain amount of proficiency
with the controls and solid timing. Basically, if you are adept enough, you hit
your opponent, bouncing them up into the air and subsequent attacks keeps them
up in the air, defenseless and taking damage. Think of it as keeping a balloon
aloft but tapping it when it starts to descend.
The game
itself has some entertaining elements and is somewhat typical of both the
franchise and the generic qualities found in other fighters of this nature.
However, give the game a few props in that, graphically, it does a nice job of
moving the franchise into the next-gen era.
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Gameplay:
7.5
A fighter that
is tied to the concept of mashing buttons, but there is a bit of a difference –
sure, it is reflexive, but you need to know what buttons to mash and when. The
game plays at a decent framerate.
Graphics:
8.3
Solid graphical
elements and fun animations.
Sound: 7.5
A solid
adjunct to the graphics, but no real surprises here.
Difficulty:
Medium
If you have
played this type of game before, you know what you are getting involved with so
you will have an easier time with the game than those launching it for the first
time.
Concept: 7.0
A few new items
but this follows a familiar format.
Multiplayer:
8.0
It is always
more fun to beat on another player, and trash talk, than to pummel AI.
Overall: 7.9
A solid Tekken
title that does not tread much in the way of new ground but manages to tantalize
graphically and produce its share of entertaining moments.
