Tekken 8 Review: King of the Iron Fist Gloriously Persists

Having immersed myself in Tekken 8, courtesy of an early copy from Bandai Namco, I can attest that the game answers the prayers of a dedicated Tekken enthusiast. As the franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary, Tekken 8 boldly addresses minor flaws that lingered in its predecessor, Tekken 7.

The reinvention of this iconic series is nothing short of remarkable. Tekken 8 boasts a plethora of new aspects and features that captivate players, whether engaged in online battles or navigating the depths of the single-player experience. My comprehensive review aims to provide a glimpse into the marvel that the developers have crafted within the framework of the established Tekken system, without giving away the entirety of the experience.

Let King of the Iron Fist Begin

Tekken 8 extends the Mishima saga, immersing the world in a war between Jin Kazama’s Mishima Zaibatsu and Kazuya Mishima’s G-Corporation, unfolding in the aftermath of Tekken 7. The game kicks off with a spectacular showdown in New York, where Jin and Kazuya engage in a flashy battle, leaving destruction in their wake.

Unhesitant to draw from its rich legacy, Tekken 8 skillfully balances intense fights with beloved CGI cutscenes, offering nostalgic throwbacks to cutscenes from previous games that resonate with long-time players.

Maintaining the flashy allure of its predecessor, Tekken 8 delivers an exhilarating experience with battles set against the backdrop of visually stunning and reactive stages. However, beneath the surface glamour, the plot starts to unravel upon closer scrutiny, revealing inconsistencies that challenge its coherence.

The introduction of Reina, a fresh character in Tekken 8, unveils hidden motives behind her seemingly innocent facade. However, the execution of her character and the overall plot left me dissatisfied. Notably, there’s an instance, spared from spoilers, where the game sacrifices well-established lore for mere shock value, and regrettably, this recurs throughout the single-player story titled “The Dark Awakens.”

While Tekken 8 brings closure to the Mishima storyline initiated in Tekken 5, the conclusion felt rushed and struggled to align with the broader narrative.

Despite these drawbacks, approaching the game with an acknowledgment of its over-the-top and eccentric narrative allows players to overlook plot inconsistencies and appreciate the epic, albeit unconventional, finale. While “The Dark Awakens” campaign falls short of expectations, the other two game modes offer a more satisfying experience.

Duke out in the Character Episodes

Tekken 8, in line with its predecessors, includes character episodes for each fighter, with the exceptions being Jun Kazama and Reina, who unlock after completing the main story. These episodes offer entertaining what-if scenarios, injecting additional life into the game through character-specific lore.

Distinct from the main plot, these episodes maintain the wacky and enjoyable nature of Tekken narratives. Completing four matches per character unlocks new in-game items, providing a satisfying supplement to alleviate any disappointment from “The Dark Awakens.” Most of these character stories are enjoyable, serving as a reminder of the eccentric and sometimes absurd nature of Tekken narratives.

Cutesy Tutorial Is a Nice Change

In addition to the storyline, Tekken 8 introduces new single-player content called Arcade Quest, presenting a comprehensive game tutorial camouflaged as a story where players emulate the journey of a newcomer. Creating an in-game character, you progress through the process of learning the game, ultimately aspiring to become the world’s best Tekken player.

Arcade Quest seamlessly integrates into the game, serving as a valuable tool to brush up on core mechanics, with newer elements introduced in a more straightforward manner. It not only prepares players for challenges but also functions as a useful warm-up tool for those without internet access, making it a recommended game mode for newcomers.

The overall single-player content in Tekken 8 provides ample value, offering familiar customization options, entertaining moments with Tekken Ball, and the versus mode, among other features. While it may not match the breadth of Capcom’s Street Fighter 6, it proves to be a perfect fit for many players. In the end, the plot alone nearly justifies the investment, providing a satisfactory gaming experience.

The Brand-New Battle System Spices It Up

Beyond the narrative concerns with the Mishima storyline, Tekken 8 undergoes a transformative upgrade in the gameplay realm, reshaping the overall dynamics of the game. In contrast to the risk-laden nature of Tekken 7, where attempting unconventional moves often resulted in severe punishment, Tekken 8 introduces the Heat system, a game-changer.

Activated by the command 2 + 4 (Triangle and Cross on a DualShock, Y and A on an Xbox controller), the Heat system propels your character into a unique state. During this period, if your opponent blocks any of your attacks, they incur chip damage, leading to a significant shift in the gameplay dynamics. This novel addition allows players to inflict up to 40% damage on a confirmed hit and opens up the potential for powerful combos.

The chipped damage is visually represented by a white silhouette on the health bar, and opponents can counteract it by entering the Heat state themselves. This innovative feature injects a fresh and strategic element into Tekken 8, encouraging players to explore new offensive tactics and fostering a more dynamic and engaging combat experience.

Heat can be canceled into a heat rush, extending air combos. Rage Art’s return in Tekken 8 is more extravagant, with each character featuring flashier and more extreme sequences than Tekken 7. Core fighting mechanics remain intact, and legacy characters play similarly in Tekken 8, with some tweaks.

For example, Asuka, my Tekken 7 main, has undergone moveset changes, rendering some existing combos unplayable. Special styles cater to new players, offering simplified gameplay for casual enjoyment.

Tekken 8 offers auto-combos executed with a button press, catering to players who prefer a more casual gaming experience. This feature enables enjoyable gameplay with friends less versed in fighting games.

In essence, the new aggressive playstyle aligns with my preferences, favoring a headfirst approach to maximize damage against opponents. The introduction of the Heat system in Tekken 8 significantly transforms the series’ dynamics, creating a refreshing experience.

Importantly, the change isn’t so drastic that adaptation becomes challenging. It serves as a positive reinvention, enhancing the series without losing its identity but rather improving upon its already impeccable foundation. Personally, I appreciate and embrace this innovative system.

Test Your Might Online

Note: The Tekken Lounge mode and the new lobby features couldn't be fully experienced as intended due to the limited netplay population and constraints. We couldn't find anyone to test these features with during the review period. Updates on these game modes will be provided once Tekken 8 goes live.

In the contemporary landscape, online features are integral to the appeal of fighting games. Tekken 8 owes its smooth online experience to the rollback system and crossplay. During the review period, the system worked as intended, and I’m pleased to report that most of the limited matches played were enjoyable without significant input delays. While a few exceptions existed, indicators were in place to address the issues.

Out of the five matches played, the majority ran flawlessly. Matches against a player with 65ms on Wi-Fi, a wired PC player with a ping of 280ms, and a PlayStation player on Wi-Fi with 130ms all exhibited zero lag. However, there was one instance with a 400ms ping, and that particular game felt noticeably less smooth and responsive.

The rollback system functions as intended, effectively addressing the issues that plagued Tekken 7’s netplay. While it has some limitations, the remarkable online experience in Tekken 8 left me with a smile. With minimal concerns about slowdowns and stutters, the gameplay becomes immediately enjoyable.

The collaboration between Bandai Namco and Arika for net code development appears to have been mutually beneficial, promising a favorable experience for fans of the series.

Improve Your Knowledge in Practice Mode

Tekken 8’s practice mode receives a substantial upgrade, retaining all the features from Tekken 7. It provides a comprehensive set of tools catering to various skill levels.

For those unfamiliar with frame data numbers, visual instructions are available. Sample combos offer a resource for learning basic combinations, and punishment training aids in understanding how to counter a character’s attacks on the block. With these tools, players can grasp the fundamentals without the need to search the internet for details, though that remains an option.

After enhancing your character knowledge, you can directly initiate ranked or quick matchmaking from the practice screen in Tekken 8. Quality of life changes like these always brings joy, and this one is no exception. Additionally, the training mode has evolved significantly since the pre-Tekken 7 era.

During those times, players relied on passionate groups documenting every intricate game detail. The appreciable launch inclusion of accessible changes in the practice mode marks a positive shift. Personally, I dedicated numerous hours to practice mode for mastering Reina. Catch me in the Asia 1 lobbies when the game drops.

Tekken 8 Graphical Performance

Utilizing Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 prioritizes top-notch visuals, addressing the criticisms Tekken 7 faced due to dated character models resulting from the use of arcade models in home versions.

Fortunately, Tekken 8 avoids this issue, with meticulous attention dedicated to refining every visual aspect. The result is arguably one of the most visually impressive fighting games on the market.

During our review, we employed a gaming rig featuring the following components:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5600
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti
RAM: 16GB DDR4 @ 3600MHz
Storage: WD SN570
Resolution: 1080p, Refresh Rate: 75Hz

Upon launching Tekken 8, various graphical settings are available. However, the game is capped at a maximum of 60FPS regardless of the chosen hardware. This limitation is in place to maintain a consistent frame rate, crucial for preserving the netplay experience, even with the implementation of rollback.

To address this constraint, Bandai Namco has integrated frame-generation upscaling options. DLSS, FSR, and Intel’s XeSS are provided to ensure that the game maintains its visual quality without sacrificing performance. Testing the game with both DLSS and without upscaling revealed consistent performance in either scenario.

In terms of CPU-GPU utilization, our testing revealed variable CPU usage ranging from 16% to 32%, while GPU utilization fluctuated between 20% and 39%. These figures remained relatively consistent regardless of the presence of DLSS.

In summary, Tekken 8 runs effortlessly on PCs with lower-end specifications. Despite the minimum specs indicating the game can run at 60FPS on a 1050 Ti, there are doubts about achieving this smoothly. In such cases, it might be advisable to opt for a PS5 rather than persisting with a lower-end PC configuration.

Final Verdict: Is Tekken 8 Worth Fighting For?

In conclusion, Tekken 8 stands as a well-deserved sequel that lives up to expectations. The revamped battle system enhances the gameplay, encouraging an aggressive playstyle. Despite a somewhat underwhelming single-player story, the character stories retain the signature wacky fun the series is known for.

One major concern was how Tekken 8 would handle its netcode and online experience. Fortunately, the title excels in this aspect with robust rollback implementation and crossplay support, ensuring a seamless online experience. Additionally, Bandai Namco has prioritized accessibility in training and tutorials, making it the most user-friendly experience to date.

Tekken 8 successfully joins the ranks of modern-age fighting games like Street Fighter 6 and Guilty Gear: Strive, contributing to the renaissance of the genre. With a wealth of content and updates available at launch, the game promises ongoing improvement. In light of this, I highly recommend everyone to experience Tekken 8 and indulge in the exciting new combat system it offers.

Pros and Cons

Tekken 8 introduces a groundbreaking gameplay experience that revitalizes the series, catering to both newcomers and seasoned players. Despite inconsistencies and occasional rushed moments in the main story, the exceptional online experience and diverse game modes compensate for these shortcomings. In essence, Tekken 8 represents the pinnacle of the franchise in its illustrious thirty-year history.

Tekken 8