It took them nearly seven years since the last one, but here we are for, possibly, one last time. For months, I’ve been writing about the newest installment in the TEKKEN franchise, learning everything there is to know and accessing the game however I can. When BANDAI NAMCO initially announced all the Closed Network Tests and even a Closed Beta, it was a necessity to get in on the action immediately.

As the days and weeks passed, certain gaming events I covered gave everyone else a go at it. Whether it was with your friends or total strangers, on high end PCs or next-gen consoles hooked up to 8K TVs — I knew that everybody has been dying to see this game. Obviously, there are good reasons to be excited about it — the Heat System, all the fighters, TEKKEN Ball, customizations; you name it!

Yet, at the heart of all the exciting gameplay mechanics lies the culmination of, possibly the bloodiest and most heated family affair in all of video gaming history. For three decades, the Mishima saga has seen multiple patriarchs stand at the brink of the world’s destruction to remain in power. After TEKKEN 7, one father-son saga ended and another equally violent one emerged as the curse of the Mishima bloodline took center stage.

Ladies and gentlemen, a new challenger approaches: TEKKEN 8!

A more refined and intense King of Iron Fist Tournament

The TEKKEN franchise does not miss when it comes to the combat aspect of their games, and TEKKEN 8 remains consistent with this cause. Whichever among the 32 characters you choose comes with a wide variety of attacks, combos, and signature moves that have been made more refined throughout the years – especially for the returning fighters. However, this time, their path to aggression is more evident with the introduction of the Heat System.

Previously, I’ve talked about the Heat System and how this would play an integral part in fighter mastery within the game. Now, in its perceived most complete form, all my fights felt more fluid and intense with every move I made. Coupled with getting into a Rage state when your HP bar is low, every battle felt incredibly nerve-wracking.

Also, one thing the developers added into the Heat System that wasn’t present during the CNT and Closed Beta was the healing factor upon activation. Honestly, this would make fights last a bit longer and give you more opportunities to go all out instead of immediately becoming passive. 

No arcade release, no problem

Fun fact: did you know that this will be the first TEKKEN video game that won’t have an arcade version? Given the shifts in the world’s way of doing things due to the pandemic, playing fighting games online became the primary means for players to play with each other. As such, in TEKKEN 8’s case, there may not have been a reason to even have one in the first place.

In its place would be one of the game’s newest features in the Arcade Quest and TEKKEN Fighting Lounge. The Arcade Quest served as the gateway for new and returning players to simulate the experience of playing the game in an arcade-style environment.

Also, this had effectively replaced the Offline Ghost Battle mode from previous games that allowed you to earn a rank for specific fighters of your choice. Meanwhile, the TEKKEN Fighting Lounge serves the online hub to challenge players from across the world.

For me, this was a crafty way to simulate the experience and introduce players to a bit of history within the franchise. This would serve as any player’s practice ground to hone their skills, practice combos, and even earn a rank to showcase their mastery of the game. Also, this would be a way for you to flex your customizations and even move in the overworld. Speaking of those customizations…

Time to give yourself and your fighters some flair

TEKKEN 8 also introduced an entire hub of customizations you can apply for your avatar and fighters before getting into the lounge. Previous games in the franchise only ever gave you access to just the fighters, with rarer accessories and features locked behind story completion or in-game currency. With the addition of avatars, the customization options were endless, sort of.

I had a lot of fun messing around with the customization options for the avatars, especially when you can literally turn them into fighters. From the color combinations to the facial features and outfits, the sky’s the limit for you! Also, I know that it comes as a Pre-Order bonus, but getting to be Kinjin or Kazuya as a chibi was pretty cool!

Just for good measure, here’s goth Devil Jin Kazama!

Fists meet fate in one final epic encounter

For three decades, we have witnessed a violent affair between Heihachi Mishima, his son Kazuya and the game’s main protagonist, Jin Kazama. In TEKKEN 7, Kazuya had finally overcome the demons of his past — meaning, his father — to ultimately turn into his pure Devil form and send Heihachi to his eternal doom once and for all. This time, there was no coming back for the then-Zaibatsu patriarch, and Kazuya returns to the G Corporation with a burning desire to take over.

Six months later, Jin reemerges with forces led by his trusted allies, Lars Alexandersson and Lee Chaolan. The objective was simple: in order to subdue the Devil, Jin must tap into the curse of the Mishima bloodline and fight with that devil inside him. As the ultimate battle finally comes with the fate of the world at hand, father and son will meet with fists to maintain a generational hold onto global power.

Except it’s no longer about that anymore

The thing that made this game’s storyline worth going through for me was that Jin Kazama, in a way, gets his long due redemption arc following his journey through every TEKKEN game. Since his introduction in TEKKEN 3, he was already challenged to protect those he loved and failed at it when he failed to defeat Ogre, which led to his mother, Jun’s death. To make things worse, he also received the curse of the Mishima bloodline and activated the devil’s power within him prior to TEKKEN 4’s events.

Similar to Kazuya’s path, Jin even led his devilish intentions to plunge the world into the global war during the events of TEKKEN 5 till TEKKEN 6. As he assumed control of the Zaibatsu, his ambition grew and caused several other destructive elements to re-emerge (i.e. Azazel, the boss of TEKKEN 6). Eventually, he realizes that while he could not stop the destruction, he would do anything to make sure that he could save it. However, he would be out for the entirety of TEKKEN 7.

TEKKEN 8 lays out the seeds of Jin’s eventual refusal to allow the negativity of the Devil Gene consume him as much as his father did. Ultimately, It was a breaking of the chain of an entire bloodline that fed off bloodshed for so long. In my mind, the developers went the extra mile to make it seem like he was completely misguided on treating the gene as a curse to begin with.

Pair that with a Story Mode that integrated both the tournament and the eventual final encounter between Jin and Kazuya well was beautiful. To me, the long term storytelling finally came into fruition in the final chapter of a father and son shedding blood at the expense of the world.

We begin anew?

If you wanted a more polished, more refined, and more action-packed fighting game to start the year, TEKKEN 8 immediately passes every checkpoint imaginable. The last seven years was well spent in developing a fighting game that had introduced new mechanics, a story worth going for, and new characters plus key returnees to learn and master.

There is a lot to be excited about, especially with the four DLC characters coming up. We could see new fighters get added, or it could literally just be a slew of returnees like in TEKKEN 7. Who knows, maybe one or a few of them could also hint at what the storyline will be for the next one?

TEKKEN 8 became sort of a soft reset to bring what worked then, with what can work now. Three decades since the first one, and the franchise remains as one of the top tier fighting games of all time. As it stands, January 26 can’t come any sooner!

TEKKEN 8 will be released exclusively on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam on January 26, 2024. Pre-Orders for the Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate Versions are now available on said platforms.