Summary
- Tekken 8's success is evident through two million copies sold in the first month, setting a new standard for the franchise.
- The game's gripping storyline laid to rest long-standing narratives while leaving space for potential future exploration.
- Tekken 8's new gameplay mechanics, like the Heat system, deliver a strategic and rewarding experience for both beginners and seasoned players.
After launching in January 2024 to overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, Tekken 8 has continued to go from strength to strength, with post-live support from developer Bandai Namco continuously improving the user experience. The series' future seems to be safer than ever, a fact which is underlined by Tekken 8's sales of over two million copies within the first month of launch. The game's story also managed to tie up several narrative threads that had been lingering for decades. All things considered, the eighth installment of the popular franchise has been a resounding success so far, and will rightly be seen as a turning point for the franchise.
Tekken has been around since the mid-90s, and as a result, has the distinction of having the longest-running cohesive story in any video game series ever. While this is an impressive feat, it isn't without its drawbacks. Many of Tekken's main story themes, such as the ongoing Mishima family conflict, have arguably gone on for too long, with a conclusion long overdue. Tekken 8 has managed to provide this, while still leaving some intriguing threads open for future installments.
Tekken 8: Complete Lee Chaolan Lore Breakdown
Among Tekken 8's huge roster of launch fighters is Lee Chaolan, a skilled fighter who has been in and around the roster since the first Tekken.
Tekken 8's Success Bodes Well For the Series' Future
Tekken 8 examined the origins of the series' devil gene story arc. The exact nature of Kazuya and Jin's blood was one of the focal points of the series for a long time, and fans will be pleased that this has finally been resolved. Heihachi Mishima's death during Tekken 7's climax provided a similar degree of closure, but with Kazuya still alive at the end of Tekken 8, it remains to be seen what part he will play moving forward. Even without the devil gene, Kazuya is still an extremely dangerous adversary, so he could still prove to be a thorn in Jin's side. In terms of the gene itself though, newcomer Reina is revealed to be Heihachi's daughter in a post-credits scene, as well as showing off her own devil form. This means that the series may not be done with the devil gene just yet.
One thing that Tekken 8 leaves open to interpretation is the mystery surrounding Jin's mother, Jun Kazama. Presumed dead since the events of Tekken 3, Jun makes her return in the eighth mainline installment, but is only seen by Jin as part of dream sequences, leading the player to conclude that she is dead. This is thrown into turmoil during Tekken 8's ending, however, when a mysterious figure is seen to be walking up to Kazuya's unconscious body. Upon closer inspection, this figure appears to be wearing the same shoes as Jun, implying that she may in fact be alive.
Tekken 8 Has Breathed New Life Into its Gameplay
In terms of its gameplay, Tekken 8 has proved to be a cut above its predecessors, with a focus on faster, more aggressive play styles which are proving to be popular among newcomers and veterans alike. Tekken 8's new Heat system has shown that its combat can be every bit as strategic and rewarding as its main rivals, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, enhancing the overall experience for players of all skill levels. Deciding how and when to use Heat has added a layer of strategy missing from previous entries.
With Bandai Namco's focus on post-launch content and support through balancing patches, Tekken 8's competitive community should thrive for a long time. New fighters will be added through paid DLC, which means there will likely be a significant period of time before Tekken 9 sees the light of day, especially when considering the gap between Tekken 8 and its predecessor was nine years. Either way though, the future of the franchise looks to be in great shape, thanks to the huge strides made by Tekken 8.
Tekken 8
- Released
- January 26, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
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.
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Arika
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Tekken
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- Metascore
- 90
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
