Tekken 8 hands-on: Newbie friendly mode for newcomers and Super Ghost Battle to push your limits means there's something for everyone
The latest Tekken fighting game wants to make it fun and easier for new players, and it does it well. But that doesn't mean pro players will feel left out.
Taking on one of the longest-running video game storylines as a complete noob felt daunting, but developers Bandai Namco Studios and Arika have taken that into consideration with the latest iteration of the classic fighting game Tekken.
Tekken 8 comes with a new mode called Special Style, which is aimed at making it easier for new players to get into the game. However, the mode still tries to instil some basic understanding of fighting games.
You only need to press a few buttons to execute combos or special moves, but you still have to grasp the basics of movement and blocking.
If you're feeling up to the challenge, then you can play through in Arcade mode. This means you will need to know all the moves and be able to use them, but this gives you more control.
The great thing is you can swap between these modes at any time, so even if you pick up one of any 32 characters and don't know how to play them, no biggie.
During my hands-on session, I was able to play from chapter 1 to 4, muddling my way through with Jin Kazuma's movesets and generally having a banging good time. The great looking graphics also help sell the experience. I also got my introduction to the Tekken's storyline, which is basically how Jin Kazuma's trying to stop his evil father from taking over the world.
What's happening in Tekken 8?
Jin, who inherited the Devil Gene from his father Kazuya Mishima, can transform into Devil Jin when sufficiently motivated. Kazuya, who's a super rich person, takes over the world with his city destroying Devil powers and tells the world that they need to send representatives for a fighting tournament.
Losers will get their country shut out of resources, so everyone's trying their best to win. Our protagonist Jin, who unsuccessfully tried to stop his evil Dad, lost his mojo and joins the tournament to regain his Devil powers. Along the way, he meets and battle new and old friends, and meets new characters.
Tekken 8 features four new characters, two of which I tried.
Reina is a mysterious schoolgirl with powers related to the Mishima clan and attacks with her fists, while Victor Chevalier is a sword and pistol user who can teleport. He's voiced by French actor Vincent Cassell, which gives him quite the star power.
There's also Jack-8, the latest version of the series' robot, and Azucena Milagros Ortiz Castillo, a Peruvian MMA fighter.
What else is there in Tekken 8 besides story mode?
Besides an intriguing story-mode, the game also comes with an online mode called Arcade mode. You create a chibi version of your avatar, then go around visiting arcades to battle other players and become the best. It's sorta based on the real esports Tekken World Tour tournament.
I found this mode really interesting, because it pits you against harder and harder AI, while you can earn items to customise your character as you progress. You also learn how to play your character better, and hopefully live out your virtual dreams to become a world champion. The producers of the game, such as Katsuhiro Harada, also make cameo appearances, so keep an eye out for them.
If you're an aggressive person, you'll like Tekken 8's combat. You build up Heat which lets you toggle Heat State, so you can deal damage even if your opponent is blocking. You can do this once per round, and have to manage when to use it. Used well, it can turn the tides.
You can also execute a Rage Art, which is like a super move, to help you either clinch a win, or get your opponent low enough so you can figure out your next steps. You can use it when your health drops below 25 per cent.
For those wanting to get better at Tekken 8, then Super Ghost Battle mode will help you out. You play against an AI-powered mirror character, who then learns your moves and either executes them better. It will even copy your quirks and patterns.
You can also play against other players' Super Ghost, which will make for great training. I suspect pros will love this mode as they can practice against their rivals easily.
I also got to try Versus mode, which is your standard player versus player. However, I only played against computer opponents during my hands-on session.
Tekken Ball also makes a return, which has you and your opponent trading blows by hitting a ball. It sounds ridiculous, but it was a lot of fun trying to figure out how to play it. I really liked rallying back and forth before doing a smash to deal massive damage.
Tekken 8 is looking fun so far, and I look forward to the full game when it comes out. If you want to try it out for yourself, then the good news is that the demo hits the PlayStation Store on 14 Dec.
Those on Xbox and Steam (for PC) will have to wait till 21 Dec. Tekken 8 will be released on 26 Jan, 2024 for the Xbox X/S, PlayStation 5, and Windows.
Aloysius Low is an ex-CNET editor with more than 15 years of experience. He's really into cats and is currently reviewing products at canbuyornot.com
