2023 was an incredible year for video games but an especially strong one for fighters. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Street ♛Fighter 6 set a new bar for the genre with its masterful mix of casual and competitive options. At the same time, Mortal Kombat 1ဣ featured the series’ best combat mechanics, even if it 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:left a sour tasteꦰ wiꦕth its Premium Store.

It’s been a long time coming, but Tekken 8 sets the stage for 2024 to be another landmark year for fighting games with one of ꩵthe series’ best story modes, a great roster strengthened by three memorable newcomers, and a new focus on aggression that effectively shakes up the core mechanics. Arcade Quest might not live up to the series’ more interesting single-player modes in a game that feels like it could do with one more big solo offering, but that doesn’t stop this King of th𒁃e Iron First Tournament from shining.

Beyond looking and sounding better than ever, it might initially seem like Tekken 8 hasn’t changed much from the last game. While the focus on juggling, combos, directi꧟onal attacks, and smashing people through walls over flashy specials and projectiles is ♉still at the heart of , the introduction of a new Heat meter that can be used for dashes and powerful attacks changes things up considerably.

While Tekken 7 was a strategic and block-heavy affair that was just as much about thinking and defending as it was attacking, the Heat mechanic results in♑ Tekken 8 being the most aggressive and fast-paced entry in the series yet. Once you’ve learned each character’s complex moveset and learned how to use Heat Smashes effectively, matches can be over in the blink of an eye - a far cry from the more methodical match-ups of the past.

Most of the online rounds I played in Tekken 8 lasted around𒐪 30 to 40 seconds. Don’t expect a time-out with such an aggressive focus.

At first, I wasn’t a huge fan of the Heat meter as I felt its powerful cinematic attacks were too overpowered and, combined with the returning Rage Arts ultimate attacks, made things a little too fast-paced. That was my old Tekken brain talking, though. I soon came to grips with Heat Dashes and Smashes and started using them stඣrategically, eventually finding them to be a refreshing change of pace. In fact, after 20 hours with Tekken 8, I can’t imagine ever returning to a more defensive-based game, though it may prove divisive for long-term fans.

Tekken 7 is a tough act to follow after wrapping up the series-spanning rivalry between Heihachi and Kazuya, but Tekken 8’s The Dark Awakens is even stronger. It has a more emotional and character-driven core that manages the impossible and makes Jin likeable again, as well as having some of the most epic moments I’ve seen in a fighting 🥃game. The final chapter alone places this as one of the best Tekken campaigns and, while short, is a treat for fans of the series.

Jin’s redemption is a huge part of the story here, but The Dark Awakens also shines a spotlight on Tekken 8’s three newcomers, Reina, Victor, and Azucena, who are some of tꦕhe strongest additions to the roster Tekken has ever seen, in terms of both their unique movesets and personalities. Reina is the highlight by a country mile, bringing some of Heihachi’s mechanics over with a refreshing twist, creating a vibrant character who should be leading Tekken moving forward. I do miss Bob and Christie, though.

Outside of the main campai༒gn, Tekken 8’s other major single-player content is Arcade Quest, which lets you create your own avatar and fight your way across themed arcades to compete in the Tekken World Tour. Unlike some of the series’ previous single-player modes like Tekken Force or Scenario Campaign, Arcade Quest d﷽oesn’t change the core gameplay loop and features the same one-on-one fighting you’ll see in the rest of the game.

Arcade Quest is also the best place to see how wil꧅d characters can look, thanks to the upgraded character customisation options with even more options than Tekken 7.

What Arcade Quest lacks in variety, it makes up for by being an essential training tool for newcome⛎rs to the series. Each arcade has a new tool to teach the player, such as how to punish attacks or perform combos. It’s a lot less subtle about being an in-depth tutorial than Street Fighter 6’s World Tour mode was, but it’s still appreciated considering how complicated Tekken can be if you’re not just mashing buttons.

If you’re not a newcomer, thᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚough, Arcade Quest won’t offer you much more than five hours of single-player fights and a cute narrative about there being no “right” way to play Tekken.

As great as it is to just play more Tekken 8, it&r💞squo;s a shame that the only other substantial single-player mode outside the campaign is geared towards newcomers and doesn’t mix the core mechanics up. It feels like another unique single-player mode would have fit in well here because, as endlessly entertaining as online battles are, there’s not much for solo players to do beyond mopping up Character Episodes. As great as it is, Tekken Ball doesn’t count.

Tekken 8’s Character Episodes, while short, are a big step up from Tekken 7’s and have a ton of personality instead of just showing a ♛battle between two characters.

Even if Arcade Quest isn’t as strong as previous single-player Tekken modes, its ability to open up one of the genre’s more complicated series is admirable and does feel worth trading more single-player content for in the long run. It also doesn’t stop 💮Tekken 8 from being one of the best entries in the series, thanks to its memorable single-player campaign, great additꦍions to the roster, and exciting mechanical focus on aggressive and fast-paced gameplay. Tekken is back, and it’s just as strong as it’s ever been.

Score: 4.5/5. A PS5 code was provided by the publisher.