There are names that possess a special nostalgic power, and for many gamers, TEKKEN is one of them. The name TEKKEN immediately whips me back to my childhood when my dad would mercilessly play me on the arcade version, both of us waiting for my mom to holler that our pizza was ready. Developers at Bandai Namco Studios have managed to capture that nostalgia and combine it with the power of next-gen consoles to create TEKKEN 8. By revamping online capabilities, adding new modes, and maintaining the hunt for the elusive “God Tier” ranks, TEKKEN 8 caters to its loyal fanbase and newcomers alike. 

In The Dark Awakens, the main storyline, players work through 15 chapters featuring familiar characters and the infamous King of the Iron Fist Tournament. Although this story doesn’t necessarily require players to do any homework, devs thoughtfully included a video library of short summaries for those who don’t like feeling as though they’re missing important pieces of a puzzle. With stunning graphics and subtitles that may be too fast for slower readers, this is not your typical story mode. Usually, players do most of the work and happen upon cutscenes once they reach a certain point; TEKKEN 8 is the opposite. Player-controlled fighting occurs more frequently in the last couple of chapters, but the nearly seamless cinematics mean gameplay is somewhat like watching a movie that you occasionally get to control.

A brief tutorial during the intense first battle draws players in and gets you invested in both the characters and the storyline. The beauty of this is the ease with which it all grabs and holds your interest, even for those who are new to the franchise. The con? This structure can make it difficult to find a stopping point. Pausing can be done from any point and movies can always be rewatched, but cutscenes and battles alike can leave you thinking, “just one more.” It is easy to get caught up in a cycle of battle adrenaline and wanting to see what happens next, but this isn’t really a bad thing until you hit the point all gamers know: “If I go to sleep now, I can still get x-amount of hours.”  For the loyal TEKKEN community, this structure is efficient because it doesn’t take terribly long to beat, meaning they can get back to the rank-grind that has driven the franchise’s community in recent years. For newcomers expecting a more involved playthrough, The Dark Awakens might leave you wanting more. The good news? Not only does a Marvel-style post-credits scene hint that we haven’t seen the last of this story, but each of the 32 playable characters has an individual mini-story that players can enjoy in shorter bursts. With character stories being made up of only a few cutscenes and fights each, they can be savored or stacked to your liking.

TEKKEN 8’s new multi and single-player modes are changing the way users play the game, regardless of experience level. The new crossplay-enabled Fight Lounge is a virtual lobby where players of a similar rank can hang out, communicate, and battle. Seasoned pros will thrive in this competitive environment, but for the less confident, the Arcade Quest is the best place to start. The Arcade Quest takes newcomers through detailed tutorials on everything from the most basic controls to game-winning combos. It’s here that fighters can learn about the new Heat System that gives a temporary power boost, but it is also where players can learn about Special Style playing. By toggling on Special Syle, fighters remove the need to memorize combo recipes and limb-specific controls, but if that’s your thing, it can be toggled back off even in the middle of a fight leaving players in full control of every move. I learned that using Special Style in multiplayer settings can sometimes yield criticizing chats from TEKKEN purists, but I found it a saving grace when I needed out of a tough spot. No matter your style, the game does its best to welcome everyone.

With a few other modes to explore, TEKKEN 8 has something for everyone, no matter your age or console. With smooth and effortless gameplay, there is almost nothing that this game doesn’t get right. Other than the cutscene-to-gameplay ratio in story mode, TEKKEN 8 is a game that caters to any energy level. Feeling a little sweaty? Head into the Fight Lounge and battle with no delayed response time. Looking to chill? Tackle some of the playable characters’ story modes. Regardless, TEKKEN 8 is sure to meet its loyal fan base’s expectations, but it’s also going to grab the attention of a whole new generation.

SCORE: 9.5 out of 10

Played on PlayStation 5