Summary
- Yoshimitsu's character in Tekken 8 has evolved to have a more serious and edgy design, making him more appealing to players.
- Yoshimitsu has a wide set of offensive options with his large moveset, but executing his ninja maneuvers and stances can be daunting.
- The Heat system in Tekken 8 is especially tied to Yoshimitsu's mechanics, with many of his key moves being Heat Engagers that can power up attacks and steal opponents' life. For those looking for a challenge and a tough-but-rewarding fighter to master, maining Yoshimitsu would be ideal.
Featuring a focus on the mechanics of its brand-new Heat system, Tekken 8 has set itself apart as an evolution of its predecessor from nearly ten years ago. The struggles of the Mishima family will take center stage yet again, but there still seem to have been new developments in the lives of all the other returning characters among the 32 found in Tekken 8’s launch roster. These changes have affected one classic fighter that has appeared in every entry, but he has also stayed true to his core design in a way that could make him more appealing to pick up than ever.
Showing up in every numbered Tekken game and beyond, Yoshimitsu is an instantly recognizable icon of the fighting genre to even many casual gamers. Despite the alien, demonic, and insectoid characteristics he has exhibited, Yoshimitsu’s true nature is that of a cyborg ninja with noble intentions to protect people. His time with his eponymous cursed blade has been a struggle due to its evil curse, and the emphasis on this element of his character in his gameplay trailer may have influenced his more serious and edgy design in Tekken 8.
Complete Tekken 8 Roster Breakdown
The upcoming Tekken 8's entire roster has already been revealed, and it's filled with returning fighters along with a few newcomers.
Yoshimitsu’s Space Ninja Trickery is Back
Tekken's Strangest Character in More Than Appearance Alone
Yoshimitsu’s defining trait is obvious to anyone who even spectates him in combat, the sheer strangeness and unpredictability of his large moveset. His depth of moves, which has expanded across the series alongside the rest of the cast, makes him a character with a wide set of offensive options despite how the apparent complexity of executing on his ninja maneuvers and stances can be daunting. Utilizing Yoshimitsu effectively can take not only a solid grasp of Tekken 8's system mechanics, but also the specific properties of his various stances and how they connect with each other.
Yoshimitsu’s Latest Incarnation is the Deepest Yet
The Tekken series is known for featuring characters with massive lists of moves that cover a plethora of situations, but Yoshimitsu is one that tends to have an especially high number. Between his basic sword stance and all the follow-ups of its alternatives, he has well over 150 options that a new player will need to become familiar with. If dedication is put into understanding his unorthodox playstyle, however, Yoshimitsu can be one of the most rewarding characters for players that want to leave opponents frustrated while breaking the typical mold. The changes of Tekken 8’s systems have brought some major changes to his combo routes, and there are even moves from his incarnation in another popular franchise that have been borrowed.
Yoshimitsu Has Always Required Quirky Skill
Yoshimitsu's Interactions with the Heat System
Series creator Harada sought to redefine Tekken’s gameplay with the Heat system that has become essential to the core game plan of much of the cast, but Yoshimitsu is especially tied to its mechanics. Not only are many of his key moves now Heat Engagers, but Heat is able to power up attacks out of stances, bypass stances to access their moves immediately, and even inflict a unique property by stealing the opponent’s life. He's also gained the benefit of new moves last seen in his Soulcalibur 6 iteration, but the changes to moves like Flash, which is no longer a launcher, seem to still keep him balanced and tricky.
The Challenge of Learning Yoshimitsu
Despite how well-known he is in fighting games, and how visually striking his fighting style can be in practice, Yoshimitsu is not a commonly picked character for a reason. His bold, unconventional attacks can leave him wide open in ways that many players may not be prepared to play around. The same can be said for the likes of Tekken's Mishima family, but the quirks of Yoshimitsu are unique to him in a way that requires a unique focus. For those who are interested in a deeper challenge and have already come to understand several of Tekken’s more basic characters, he can be the perfect option when it comes to adding unpredictability and humor to the battle.
Tekken 8
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- January 26, 2024
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Arika
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S
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.
- Franchise
- Tekken
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
