Tag Archives: Tekken

Tekken (PlayStation)

Tekken

Developer(s) – Namco

Publisher(s) – Namco & Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

Director(s) – Seiichi Ishii

Producer(s) – Hajime Nakatani

PEGI – 12

It began as an internal experiment at Namco for modeling 3D characters. And later going on to become an early break-out hit on the original PlayStation. As well as tearing up arcades everywhere, Tekken was Namco’s answer to the greatest fighting game series at the time. Such as Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Virtua Fighter (indeed, with many of the original Virtua Fighter team going to design This game). I wrote a more in-depth article going into the facts about the development of the original game. As well as the Tekken series in general for ActionAGoGo a while back in my 10-Hit Combo series:

https://actionagogo.com/2016/05/30/10-hit-combo-volume-v-tekken/

But as far as I’m concerned, although the best of the original Tekken trilogy would be yet to come, the first game in the series remains a favorite among fans of the original PlayStation. And for good reason. 

Graphics – 7/10

For what started out as a simple experiment, It’s amazing to see what the game would later go on to be in every aspect. In terms of the visuals, it features a memorable cast of characters with stages set in real-life places. Such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the countryside of Windemere, England, and the landscape of Athens complete with the backdrop of the Acropolis. The scenery would go on to become more diverse with later installments. But each area is represented well for the time on a system with limited graphics by today’s standards.

Gameplay – 7/10

The game centers around the player characters competing in the King of the Iron Fist tournament for global supremacy in the field of martial arts. Playing out much differently from a traditional fighting game. And not making as much prevalent use of combos as many other fighting games at the time, it provided players with a very different experience from what they would have been used to at the time. The style of play has gone on to be modified and perfected throughout the rest of the series. But for the starting point, it plays out much more fluently than Virtua Fighter. There is also a host of unlockable characters to acquire in the home console version. Giving it that much replay value. 

Controls – 10/10

Again, for what was to become the introduction to a beloved series, it’s surprising how well the controls were handled considering the fact that the same developers had previously worked on a fighting game that had arguably worse controls on a system that was comparable in power to the original PlayStation in the Sega Saturn. The fact that it runs on 80 frames per second really helped to achieve the desired effect. But although it may have seemed, even at the time, a step back where fighting games were concerned due to the lack of a defined combo system, the developers handled the control scheme as well as what could have been expected within its confines. 

Originality – 7/10

The aspect in which this game stands out above all else is its unique cast of characters compared to most other fighting games. Compared to Virtua Fighter, introducing fantasy and science fiction elements also helped to distinguish it from the former in infinitely significant ways. Characters from the Tekken series have gone on to become iconic video game characters, such as Yoshimitsu, Heihachi, and King. And this is where it all started.

Happii

Overall, the original Tekken, whilst not being my personal favorite from the first three games (my favorite being Tekken 2), was nevertheless the ideal starting point and a gaming experience that still very much holds up. Its quirky characters, excellent game design, and somewhat stern level of challenge have had fighting game fans revisiting it for over 20 years. And will also do well to entertain players for generations to come. 

Score

31/40

7.5/10 (Good)

Tekken 3 (Arcade, PlayStation & PlayStation 2)

Tekken 3

Developer(s) – Namco

Publisher(s) – Namco

Director – Katsuhiro Harada

PEGI – 12

Tekken 3 is not only considered to be one of the greatest fighting games of all time. But many regard it as one of the greatest games of all time. It received almost perfect scores from most publications at the time, citing its inclusion of a more diverse character roster, and its improved soundtrack and graphics over its predecessors. Overall, I think Tekken 2 is the better installment out of the original trilogy. But this is a more than worthy sequel in my opinion.

Graphics – 8/10

The most noteworthy aspect of Tekken 3 is the dramatic change in artistic direction. Some classic characters are swapped out for new ones. And the appearances of many classic characters left were also re-imagined. Especially Yoshimitsu. It reminds me very much of how Midway tried to drastically branch out in terms of visuals whilst developing Mortal Kombat 3 when most of the palette-swapped ninja characters were either re-tooled or swapped out for more original-looking characters. The arena designs in the third game are also massively improved. The FMV cutscenes featured in each character’s arcade mode ending are also very well done. Tekken 3’s graphics were among some of the best that the PlayStation had to offer. Comparable to the likes of Final Fantasies VII, VIII, and IX. And it is made very apparent.

Gameplay – 7.5/10

What I like about Tekken 3 is that it is extremely accessible in the sense that it is patently open to both amateurs and professional fighting game players. And both sets of players can enjoy it regardless of experience. Tekken 3 has a good few game modes, including the Tekken Force mode. This presents a 2.5D side-scrolling form of gameplay very similar to Streets of Rage.

But what I like most about paying through Tekken 3 is the plethora of unlockable characters available to obtain. It’s extremely satisfying to play through the arcade mode with each of these characters and see how their stories end. But I think that if the Tekken Force mode was built on much more than it was, then Tekken 3 could have potentially been a lot more addictive than it is. It was actually one of the first examples of 2.5D side-scrolling gameplay. And it could have done with having some more emphasis being put on it to make the game much more interesting.

Controls – 10/10

My opinion of this game’s control scheme is identical to that of the original game, or most other fighting games; there are no problems. And it’s all down to either how fast players can mash buttons. Or how effectively they can execute combos.

Lifespan – 10/10

I would estimate that it would take even inexperienced payers a maximum of 3 hours to unlock every character and complete the arcade mode with every character. But after that, it simply becomes a game that can be picked up and played at the player’s leisure. Without the worry of making conformist progress.

Storyline – 5/10

The story of Tekken 3 revolves around a young fighter called Jin. He enters the third King of Iron Fist Tournament announced by his mentor Heihachi, in order to take revenge on the creature Ogre, who had presumably killed his mother. Although the basic premise is easy enough to understand. And each character has their own unique ending, apart from this, the game’s story is not elaborated on any further than that. People don’t generally play fighting games for their story, but the fact of the matter is that the story is present, but there isn’t very much depth to it. But still, it makes a lot more sense than the story of Injustice: Gods Among Us, and it’s much easier to follow.

Originality – 7.5/10

Of course, with the inclusion of the Tekken Force mode, Tekken 3 stands out among more or less every other fighting game of its time, and the developer’s expression of a desire to branch out from an artistic point of view is more than apparent, as when I first played this game back in the day, whilst I knew I was playing an installment of Tekken, I was quick to notice the amount of change that was implemented.

Happii

To sum up, Tekken 3 is indeed one of the greatest fighting games I have ever played, and I would recommend it to not only hardcore fighting game fans who may not have played it, but I would especially recommend it as a starting point to people who haven’t tried playing fighting games yet, as they will be able to make progress without throwing their controllers across their living rooms.

Score

48/60

8/10 (Very Good)

Tekken 2 (PlayStation & Arcade)

Tekken 2

Developer(s) – Namco

Publisher(s) – Namco

Director – Masamichi Abe

Producer – Hajime Nakatani

PEGI – 12

Making significant improvements over the original game, Tekken 2 was a best-seller in the UK in particular. But is also often regarded by most critics to be one of the greatest fighting games of all time. Including me. Back around the time of its release, I spent a lot of time playing this game. Not only was there more to do and unlock than in the first, but it also seemed a lot more accessible.

Graphics – 7/10

The first of many enhancements made by the developers with the second game was in the graphics. Most notably, the increased diversity in both level and character design. In many ways, it reminds me of the transition from Mortal Kombat II to III. Only, in this case, there was less for the developers to worry about. Since there were considerably fewer palette-swapped characters in the original Tekken than in Mortal Kombat II. But regardless, they still managed to branch out in very different artistic directions in the way Midway did with Mortal Kombat III.

Gameplay – 8/10

As well as there being new modes added to keep things fresh compared to other fighting games of the time, there are seven more characters to unlock than in the first, with the introduction of a few new faces. As well as the classics. But with new characters also came new movesets for players to become accustomed to over time. This in itself added more variety to the game than before. Though many of the movie sets are simply recycled for all of the secret characters to use, unlocking them still felt particularly rewarding.

Controls – 10/10

I’ve always found it impressive how seamlessly fighting games made the transition from 2D to 3D throughout the fifth generation of gaming. The first Tekken had a particularly impressive control scheme, which presented no complications whatsoever. But the second game perfected this formula. As combat and movement were made a lot more fluent and even easier to cope with. This to me, is most probably the reason why the second game is a lot more accessible than the first by proxy.

Originality – 7/10

The developers also did relatively well to differentiate the Tekken franchise from other games in the genre. Especially considering the fact that the franchise was not originally intended to be a fighting game at all. It was one of the first to establish a stable storyline, as well as one of the first to include 2D backdrops in 3D environments, which is still one of my favorite forms of graphical rendering to this very day. The second game built greatly upon what had already been accomplished with the first game, making it one of the most standout titles of the fifth generation in my opinion.

Happii

To summarize, Tekken 2 went leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor and still remains a very entertaining experience, which I would recommend to any fan of the fighting genre who may not have played it yet. As well as being one of the best fighting games I’ve ever played, it’s also my favorite in the Tekken franchise overall.

Score

32/40

8/10 (Very Good)