Bandai Namco is looking to make a bigger impact with the upcoming release of Tekken 8 than any previous entry. As the latest installment in the legendary fighting game franchise, Tekken 8 promises to deliver an experience that both newcomers and seasoned veterans will cherish, taking the high-octane story to new heights.
One of the noteworthy revelations about Tekken 8 regards its expansive story mode. In a recent interview with Famitsu, the game’s development producer, Kohei Ikeda, and marketing producer, Naoya Yasuda, confirmed that the story mode for Tekken 8 will surpass that of its predecessor.
Here’s a translated part of the interview, courtesy of Nosiy Pixel:
Interviewer: Could you tell us more about the Story Mode’s volume?
Yasuda: Of course, it will be more than Tekken 7. …As a matter of fact, when I was informed of how much of the budget we had used for the Story Mode, I went, “O…Oh, my. This is quite the price.” (laughs)
Ikeda: When we first saw just how much we made, even I was very surprised. “No way that we made this much!” I thought. (laughs) Since there are, at the very least, 32 characters, I had a hard time connecting them in my head, but fighting games are all about the charm of the characters, so we made sure to bring out the most out of each of them.
Tekken 8 is set to continue the record-long storyline of the Mishima family, where players will once again step into the arena, choosing their fighter and battling for supremacy in the Iron Fist Tournament.
This time, the story will delve deeper into the tragic saga of the Mishima and Kazama bloodlines, picking up from the ending of Tekken 7 that saw Kazuya Mishima finally defeat Heihachi Mishima in a showdown fans have been waiting for since the rivalry was introduced.
The gameplay trailer hints at a major twist, with Jin seemingly defeated by Kazuya. However, the return of Jun Kazama, Jin’s mother, who’s been absent from the series for a long time, promises to add a new dimension to this age-old blood feud.
The fact that the budget allocated to Bandai Namco Studios is considerably higher than before is a positive sign for the upcoming installment. However, much of the game’s appeal comes from its characters.
While improving on Tekken 7’s story (which was simply abysmal, to say the least) is a step in the right direction, the addition of Azucena and the return of Raven will have a much bigger impact on the game.
Built on Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 will introduce several gameplay mechanics, including a new “Heat System”, which triggers aggressive attacks with special moves and enhancements tailored for each character’s abilities. This system is designed to reward players for aggressive tactics, offering a more dynamic and destructive environment.
The Heat system, which replaces Tekken 7’s Rage Drive, offers players new attacks and more tactical opportunities. This includes the Heat Burst, which allows players to initiate a flashy attack that can be used to chain combo attacks, and the Heat Dash, which enables players to quickly close in on their opponents.
Tekken 8 is set to launch on January 26, 2024, and will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.
