After Capcom’s massive success with Street Fighter 6 and NetherRealm Studios’ controversial Mortal Kombat 1, Bandai Namco is preparing to join in on the fun with Tekken 8. In light of this, PlayStation has shed the spotlight on two new characters: Reina and Victor Chevalier, each bringing their own flair to the storied franchise.
Reina emerges as a character of contrasts. She’s been conceptualized with an acrobatic fighting style rooted in Taido, a martial art known for its swift and graceful movements. However, her persona isn’t just about agility. Reina’s character design ingeniously blends charm with an underlying sense of menace, reflecting her dual nature both in personality and combat skills.
Her arsenal includes techniques like knife-hand strikes and eye pokes, showcasing brutal efficiency. Interestingly, Reina also possesses moves from the iconic Mishima-style karate, adding a layer of complexity to her character. This diversity of techniques makes her a formidable presence in the game, especially when fighting near walls.
To bring authenticity to Reina’s Taido techniques, the creators collaborated with Tetsuji Nakano, a four-time Taido World Champion. Nakano’s expertise in various martial arts significantly enriched Reina’s character, ensuring her movements are not only visually striking but also true to the essence of Taido.
The design process for Reina was spearheaded by Mariko Shimazaki, known for her work on Tekken 7. Tasked with capturing the essence of a young, mysterious martial artist, Shimazaki delivered a design that perfectly sums up Reina’s multifaceted nature. Her brilliant work in the fighting franchise underscores the character’s duality and hidden depths, which makes Reina a breath of fresh air in the ever-expanding Tekken universe.
On the other side, we have Victor Chevalier, a character with a fascinating past in the military and a key role in the game’s storyline. Victor is not just a skilled fighter; he’s a living legend in the French military and the founder of the Union of Nations’ armed forces.
His colorful background, marked by frugality and a flamboyant love life, makes him a potential fan favorite for Tekken fangirls. Victor’s introduction in Tekken 8 is set to impact the game’s narrative significantly, especially with the growing influence of Kazuya Mishima and the G Corporation in the Tekken universe.
Tekken 8 producers earlier teased a bigger story for the upcoming title than its predecessor. From what we’ve seen so far, their words are proving to be true, as Tekken 8 is shaping up to be more than just a sequel. The introduction of Reina and Victor not only adds new dimensions to the gameplay but also augments the narrative-rich expansion of the franchise.
Tekken 8 is scheduled to release on January 26 and will be accessible on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
