The history of Tekken

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Tekken is famous within the gaming industry and gaming community. This legendary production has seen over seven new releases since it ruled the arcades in 1994, and the fan base is still thriving. With the latest Tekken instalment due to hit the circuit, there’s no better time to go over the history and lore of this important part of gaming history. 

Image via Getty

A Brief History Lesson 

Tekken originated as an arcade game with an initial release in 1994, but very quickly graduated to PlayStation the following year when the first console came out. Not only was it well-received by critics, it was also largely known for being the only 3D fighting game on the market, attracting a large audience very quickly. 

To this day, Tekken has over 55 million units sold worldwide, with Tekken 7 being the highest-selling game in the franchise thus far, however Tekken 8 is just around the corner and has many ready to continue to add to that number! Covering each Tekken edition is a boss level in itself, so in this new iteration of the hit fighting game, we’re going to pick up where Tekken 7 left off. 

Tekken 7 was different from the rest as it looked at the destiny of the Mishima family. With Heihachi reaching what many thought was the end, this instalment tells the story of what happened to Kazuya and Heihachi. Many thought this would be the final battle but the King of the Iron Fist was just the beginning. 

The graphics for Tekken 7 were a vast improvement from its predecessors despite having a low budget. Many thought the story ended here, but now, over seven years later, Bandai Namco has announced a new layer to the complicated family story. 

The Latest Tekken Addition 

Are you prepared for what looks to be the biggest puzzle piece in the 8-piece Tekken franchise? We sure are. 

Developer Bandai Namco has artfully adapted its latest game to suit the capabilities of both Xbox X/S and PlayStation 5, and we can’t wait to see the gameplay. 

The story follows the rivalry between Kazuya Mishima and his son Jin Kazama, who has spent years training to become the best of the best, and wants to end the chaos from their lineage. Set six months after the events of Tekken 7, this game will feature familiar and unfamiliar heroes, enemies both old and new, audiovisuals to hypnotise, and new conflicts to stir the pot a bit more. 

You know this game is going to be a good one when they host over four beta test sessions with some of the top gamers out there. They’ve taken on board critics and listened to the fans over the last decade, resulting in what seems to be a masterpiece of a game. 

The main difference we can see between number 8 and its predecessor has to be the increase in single-player modes, smoother gameplay and mechanics and, of course, a much, much juicier tale. The budget is way higher this time around, and it’s clear to see why. 

From reviews and sneak peeks we’ve seen, it looks as though the monotonous narrator has been fired and the cinematography has been amped up. Players start with Jin as he attempts to outdo and outshine his father on the streets of New York. 

Conclusion 

Almost a decade later, the wait for the latest Tekken instalment has everyone on the edge of their seats. Bandai Namco did not rush to get to this point but rather took on its fans’ advice and created a masterpiece that is both nostalgic and exhilarating. Any game that survives long enough to make the jump from arcade game to PlayStation or Xbox console is surely worth keeping an eye on. 

With that brief history of the franchise, the 26th of January could not come any sooner for us! Bring on the battles and the family feuds. We can't wait to see who will win this one. 

Image via Bandai Namco

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