The Tekken series was originally formulated for arcades but soon hit households as it unfurled onto varies consoles. The first iteration unveiled back in 1994 and since hasn’t ceased to amaze its audiences with its various sequels with Namco Bandai’s Tekken 6 being its latest addition. Over the years, Tekken has carved a niche for itself alongside other fighting games and entices novices as well as seasoned Tekken players to try their hand at the game. We were hoping that the latest title served a dollop of nostalgia and rightly so it delivered. Among various action and adventure games that made its way into consoles this year, fighting titles weren’t left too far behind. This year saw the likes of Street Fighter IV, and now Tekken 6.
Besides being doused with the Tekken name and familiar gameplay elements, the sixth iteration is packed with some new inclusions as well as an impressive roster of 40 playable characters. What makes this installment even greater is that all these fighters are already unlocked right from the start. You will be able to espy a handful of new faces such as Bob, Leo, Zafina, Miguel, Lars and Alisa. Among these, Zafina sports some noteworthy moves while the android Alisa dishes out some great attacks with her chainsaw hands and many other freaky combos. Don’t be fooled by her naïve appearance though. In one of her moves, she takes off her own explosive head and gives it to her opponent. Ouch! Lars’ moves bear striking similarities to those of Kazuya and Jin.
There is also a bombardment of old familiar favorites like King, Brian, Eddy, Jin, Nina, Paul, Lei, Yoshimitsu with the list going on. Seasoned players will notice that there are a few changes and additions made to the returning characters. These include some acquiring new attacks or sporting different stances. One noticeable observation suggests that the damage from powerful combos in the earlier games have been subdued to a certain extent in this title. Other than this, you can take your favorite formidable character which will come complete with all their veteran moves.
There are a host of moves that can be performed by using the control stick or D-Pad and a combination of different punches, lunges and kicks. Each character has their own unique far and close range attacks. Tekken 6 is more than just mindless brawl. Randomly hitting buttons to get your way through may just work with a bit of luck. But you can easily master different unique combos, techniques and abilities of each character through the Practice mode found in the Offline section. This mode shows you every move with precession including timing. There is a special mode which lets you even select the AI attack that later comes in handy during a match.
Once familiar with the combinations, you will be able to execute Juggle Combos which enable you to flip your opponent high up into the air and deal some serious damage by trying to keep them suspended in the air. There are many other ways to inflict pain. A great recipe comes in the form of a great strategy backed up with counters, quick jabs, power kicks, roll evasions and the ever powerful use of combos. But beware about getting caught off guard. Another strategy which is a new introduction to the Tekken world is the Bound System. This latest inclusion lets you throw a string of combos at the opponent by knocking them to the ground where they will be helpless to do anything in their defense and hence you can inflict some more deadly damage. Each character has his or her own unique juggle and bound launcher. Another new feature added to this installment is Rage. When your health is brought down to just 10%, the character is doused in a red aura and can then increase the damage per hit. This inclusion may just change the outcome of a match.
In Arcade mode, the AI opponent appears onscreen along with their original names as well as their own special gamer titles which imitate online names during a fight. Also espied are their ranks and win/loss ratios. Some of the opponents you face in this mode won’t go down easily. Some are a cinch to defeat and can even emerge from the fight with a perfect. There are others, however, that make you hit continue one time too many times. Each individual character rises up in the ranks as they are tried out in Arcade mode. Ghost Battle lets you fight with a succession of ghost characters and enables you to opt for your next opponent as well. You can even brawl with a friend’s ghost which is virtually downloadable.
Other great ways to put all those moves and combos you’ve practiced into good use is by taking on Time Attack and Survival modes. The Vs Battle mode is just the thing for you to indulge in some old fashioned one-on-one brawl. You can relive all those old arcade memories by battling it out and seeing who emerges victorious and winner of the King of Iron Fist Tournament. Another two-player mode comes in the form of Team Battle with each side having up to 8 characters at their disposal. While in the offline mode, you can also view Tekken 6 cut scenes and movies through Gallery with more content added as you progress through the game. From the Profile mode, the player information can be altered and records viewed. The fight money earned in game can be used here to customize your desired characters. There is a complete treasure chest of customization options at your disposal.
A sure shot inclusion that is bound to entice fans as well as novices is a story driven Scenario Campaign. Besides just fighting against the CPU or a friend, Tekken 6 also offers a 3D story game which plunges the player right into the world of Tekken where everything is under the rule of the Mishima Zaibatsa and their military army. Initially you take on the role of Lars who battles minions through the stages finally facing the bosses at the end of each level. Gradually you get to play as other characters as you progress through the stages. Each level is packed with money and items that will aid in your battle with the annoying subordinates. You can keep coming back for more even after the stage is cleared in order to gain some easy cash and further customize your characters. The plot encounters an interesting twist and is an overall great addition to the Tekken series. One main downside to the Scenario Campaign is that it does not incorporate co-op elements. The player has to get into the story as only a single player and is aided by an AI character. The enemies are also found to be a bit repetitive at times.
Another nostalgic feel can be espied during the opening credits. On the lower right side of your screen, the company has maintained the ‘insert coin’ flashing text. The graphics and environments were realistic and hence deserve the 8.5 rating endowed on them. However at times, there was just too much going on in the background which would distract you from the current fight. What added to the adrenaline rush during combats was the great soundtrack compilation. There are a lot of combos that can prove to be pretty effective during battle. And don’t worry, after some time punching in those succession of buttons will be less from memory and more involuntary. With a little practice and right timing, anyone can pull off that 10-hit combo without breaking a sweat.
The Final Word: Tekken 6 is a fast paced fighter which comprises of a vast roster of characters, each with their unique power and moves list. The game brings home nostalgia to old Tekken veterans while certainly not disappointing new comers and casual fans. With a little practice, executing precise combo moves at the right time and using a bit of strategy would all pay off during the course of the game. Although the title could have done with more co-op elements, Tekken 6 overall proves to be a fitting installment in the acclaimed series. With Tekken’s familiar pick-up-and-play and beat-em-up attributes along with an array of new inclusions, you can expect the game to bring a new flavor to the King of Iron Fists Tournament.
Graphics: 8.5/10.
Gameplay: 6.5/10.
Story: 7.2/10.
Environments: 8.5/10.
Sound: 8.1/10.
Overall (not an average): 8/10.