Prototype Jack (プロトタイプ・ジャック Purototaipu Jakku?, in Russian: Прототип Джек) (P. Jack for short) is a playable robot in the Tekken series of fighting games. Prototype Jack was created and designed by Doctor Bosconovitch as the prototype model of the main Jack series. However, after it was stolen by Heihachi Mishima, it was pitted against the main line of Jacks.
Biography
In search of a new, more devastating, weapon, the Russian military began work on the development of androids - superhuman robots built for the purpose of causing destruction. The first step in production was the prototype model of what was to become a line of military robots, which were named "Jack". The prototype was stolen by Heihachi Mishima and his Mishima Zaibatsu, but Russia was still able to produce their main line of Jack robots without the prototype at hand. With the project a success, the first Jack was entered into the King of Iron Fist Tournament. On learning of this, Heihachi entered Prototype Jack into the tournament to face its upgraded counterpart. Prototype Jack was ultimately destroyed by Jack. A couple of years later, the genius Russian scientist, Doctor Bosconovitch, was kidnapped by the new CEO of the Zaibatsu, Kazuya Mishima. Bosconovitch repaired and updated Prototype Jack. After being remodeled and gaining new abilities, Prototype Jack was entered into the second tournament as a rival to the upgraded Jack robot, Jack-2.
It is unknown what happened to Prototype Jack after this. In the non-canonical Tekken Chronicle, some of Prototype Jack's parts, along with parts from Jack and Jack-2, were used in the creation of Gun Jack.[4] Given that Gun Jack inherited some of Prototype Jack's moves, and was partially built in Mishima Industries where Prototype Jack received its upgrades, it is possible that canonically its remains were indeed dismantled and used in the creation of Gun Jack.
Personality
Despite being a robot, Prototype Jack was able to develop some kind of sentience. As a result of being discarded in favor of the main Jack series, it came to resent the Jacks and their creators - the Russian government. As a result, Prototype Jack is an aggressive character, determined to grow stronger and smarter in order to destroy all of its opposition, especially the Jacks, which it sees as potentially obsoleting it and jeopardizing its utility. While silent in battle with the exception of generic grunts and growls, outside of battle Prototype Jack was very vocal about its thirst for strength and intelligence, and frequently practices its newly-learned abilities to the point of perfection to ensure it will never again be defeated.
Appearance
As a prototype model, Prototype Jack's appearance lacks the finesse of the main line of Jacks. In its original appearance, it lacks a human-like torso and arms; its robotic frame is visible and it possesses a pincer and a drill in place of arms. Prototype Jack has a humanoid head, although it is noticeably damaged, and one of its boots is a metal prosthetic. After being remodeled, Prototype Jack gained a new, more distinctive look. It now looks more like the main line of Jack robots, although it lacks the Jacks' skin-like finish; it instead has a shiny, metallic finish. It also now has a rotating hand, a feature which was expanded upon in later releases, allowing it to spin at the waist also.
Outfits
Main Article: Prototype Jack/Outfits
The original build of Prototype Jack wore only green camouflage pants and left the rest of its robotic body exposed. Its second outfit was a bright metal exoskeleton or suit of lightweight body armor, giving it a Robocop-like appearance. After being remodeled for Tekken 2, Prototype Jack received the same outfit of camouflage pants, tank top and combat boots worn by the main line of Jack robots. While these Jacks sport a distinctive Mohawk hairstyle, Prototype Jack differed by wearing sunglasses and a military cap.
Story
Tekken
Version 1: The prototype for Jack was developed in Russia. Since it was just a step in the production, the skin was removed from the mecha. Prototype Jack (or P. Jack, for short) was built only for power, so his power capacity far surpasses that of the completed Jack. The tournament's sponsor, Heihachi Mishima, has entered P. Jack into the contest in order to pit him against Jack.
Version 2: P. Jack is the experimental version of Jack, which Russia developed. As it is only a prototype model, its mechanics are still evident. Its overall balance is bad, but even so, it possesses a power that far exceeds Jack's own. Heihachi has entered Prototype Jack in the tournament to confront Jack, whom it hates.[5]
Tekken 2
Version 1: After the first King of Iron Fist Tournament, the remains of the first Prototype Jack unit (a first-stage model of the final Jack model) were repaired after almost being destroyed by Jack's rampaging combat abilities. Upon reactivation, P. Jack complained that his alter-ego had received a refit, and he repeated his complaint until his fuel ran out. Now resting in Kazuya Mishima's laboratory, P. Jack was left untouched for months before a back-up fuel supply reactivated him, and once again he began his constant pleas for a new look. To quiet him, Kazuya gave his captured scientist, Doctor Bosconovitch, the task of remodeling the robot.[citation needed]
With a cunning memory change, the doctor managed to convince P. Jack that his new body afforded him superior protection to Jack's, despite it being only a hat and sunglasses. Kazuya is currently goading P. Jack, demanding more programmed maneuvers in time for The King of Iron Fist Tournament 2. Having repeated his fighting moves over and over (to such an extent that the doctor disconnected P. Jack's voice box), P. Jack now feels his next encounter with Jack will have a much different conclusion.[citation needed]
Version 2: Prototype Jack, an android built for military applications. Prototype Jack solicited Kazuya's assistance with upgrades after learning that only its successor, Jack, was making advances in that area, and for reasons beyond its understanding, Kazuya promptly agrees and has Dr. Bosconovitch comply with the androids request. Unbeknownst to it, the only changes made were to its outer shell, which was now armor plated. Prototype Jack despises both Jack and its developers, namely Russia. Recent overwrites of its own CPU has resulted in memory loss, causing Prototype Jack even more grief.[6]
Ending Description: Prototype Jack traverses a tunnel and emerges from the shadows into a chamber with a vertical opening. P. Jack turns on the boosters in its legs and rises upward, into the sky. As it flies away, it explodes and three screws drop back onto the ground.
Other Appearances
Tekken: The Motion Picture
In Tekken: The Motion Picture, three Prototype Jack robots are programmed to protect the labs in which Lee Chaolan and Heihachi Mishima had their test subjects hidden. There comes a point in time where the three Prototype Jacks and Jack-2, along with Lei Wulong, have a battle in the middle of the lab.
Tekken Tag Tournament
Prototype Jack appeared in Tekken Tag Tournament as a playable character.
Ending Description: Prototype Jack and Gun Jack are standing facing each other. They nod to each other in unison, then turn to face the screen. They then both lift their arms and fly up into the sky, performing a synchronized version of one of their win poses. This ending takes place at Paul's stage.
Namco X Capcom
Prototype Jack appeared in Namco X Capcom as an enemy character. It first appears in Chapter 14, along with a second Prototype Jack, as part of Waya Hime's army, when she attempts to ambush Bravoman and Jin Kazama.
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Prototype Jack appeared as a playable character in Tekken Tag Tournament 2, sporting the same look it received in Tekken 2 and the original Tekken Tag Tournament. Its fighting style is very similar to Jack-6's, although it has a slightly different moveset, making use of its rotating hand and torso.
Profile:
The first incarnation of the JACK series, developed by Russian engineers. Hoping to be upgraded along with his fellow JACK units, P. Jack had Dr. Bosconovitch add rotating arms and torso, as well as flight capabilities, to his frame. He is generally well-balanced in all regards, but his strength exceeds previously developed JACK units. He runs on gasoline.[7]
Ending Description: An enormous Prototype Jack is being built in a construction lab by many regular Prototype Jacks. A regular Prototype Jack walks toward to the large robot and stares at it. The body of the robot under construction opens and steps descend from its torso. P. Jack enters into the stomach of the robot and sits down at a control panel. It activates the robot and prepares to launch with a countdown while the other Prototype Jacks leave the perimeter. Just as the giant P. Jack launches, a regular Prototype Jack rushes back into frame holding up a large screw. It desperately waving to the pilot in an attempt to get iy to abort the (incomplete) giant P. Jack's launch. The pilot, however, misinterprets the worker's actions as a simple good-bye wave, and does a thumbs up. The Prototype Jacks on the ground are left to watch helplessly as the giant P. Jack launches, rising high into the air before exploding, after which three screws fall back into the hangar.
Gameplay
All Jack robots embody the huge, slow and powerful fighter archetype: they need only a few solid hits to destroy an opponent, but they're very slow and their limited moveset can be predictable, so they require good timing to play well. Jacks deal good damage and possess good pokes and throws, but their real advantage comes from the long range of many of their attacks - most of their punishers are able to hit from afar.
In Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Prototype Jack returned with its moveset changed to be more similar to Jack-6's. There are some differences between the two - Prototype Jack utilizes its spinning limb related moves, while Jack-6 possesses extendable arms - but their core gameplay is essentially the same. Prototype Jack also has moves used by previous Jack models that Jack-6 no longer has.
Fighting Style
While other characters utilize Martial Arts, what Jack robots do is best described as "using brute force to annihilate the opponent", and their fighting style is listed as "Brute Force" accordingly. Prototype Jack is no exception.
Moves
- Prototype Jack/Tekken Movelist
- Prototype Jack/Tekken 2 Movelist
- Prototype Jack/Tekken Tag Tournament Movelist
- Prototype Jack/Namco X Capcom Movelist
- Prototype Jack/Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Movelist
Character Relationships
- Dr. Bosconovitch - Its original creator and also its remodeler in Tekken 2.
- The Jack series - P. Jacks more advanced successors and rivals whom it hates. Defeated by Jack and possibly destroyed by Jack-2.
- Kazuya Mishima - Ordered Dr. Bosconovitch to remodel it for Tekken 2.
- Heihachi Mishima - Entered P. Jack to fight the main Jack in the first tournament, either for Heihachi's own amusement or as defense against the perceived threat of Jack - although Jack's true target was Kazuya, not Heihachi. It is unclear how Heihachi managed to steal P. Jack from the Russians.
Trivia
General:
- Prototype Jack is the only Jack model that doesn't have plutonium blood; instead, it has gasoline in its 'veins'.
- P. Jack is also the only Jack robot that has competed in more than one canonical tournament in the Tekken universe, although there is a large difference between its appearance in Tekken and Tekken 2.
- Unlike the other earlier Jack models, Prototype Jack is fitted with a rocket booster built into its leg. P. Jack's internal support system can provide up to three "detonations" to the booster.
- P. Jack's arm and body are somewhat "loose", as it can spin its hand freely without limitation. This trait has remained unchanged since the first game, when a drill was present in place of its right hand.
- If P.Jack loses a final round in Tekken 2 due to Time Up, it will faint on the continue screen in the same manner as a losing character on Time Up in the original Tekken. This animation also occurs in Tekken Tag Tournament even without a Time Up, and is also used by Roger and Alex in both games.
- As of Tekken Tag Tournament, it is shown that P. Jack's left hand and torso can also rotate, as seen in its moves Drill Upper and Tornado Cutter. Gun Jack also retained the spinning hand mechanism when performing the Ground Zero throw; however later models, such as Jack-5, do not have a spinning hand during this move.
- If Prototype Jack is idle for about six seconds, it will shut down and reboot itself.
- Prototype Jack's Tekken Tag Tournament 2 ending is a re-imagining of its Tekken 2 ending.
- Prototype Jack, along with Jack-2, Gun Jack, Jack-4, and Jack-6 are the only Jack robots to appear in more than one game.
- Prototype Jack's Item Move has it grab the opponent with a crane and uses it to spin them around before launching them away. This can also be used against mid-air opponents.
Gallery
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/cs/list/tekken2/pjack.html
- ^ P. Jack's official TTT2 profile
- ^ Katsuhiro Harada @Harada_TEKKEN, Twitter, 4:21 PM Jun 13, 2024. Note that information is not stated in-game and only comes from a database of information provided by series developer Katsuhiro Harada.
- ^ Tekken Chronicle, p. 70
- ^ Tekken Zaibatsu Tekken 1 character profiles
- ^ Tekken Zaibatsu Tekken 2 character profiles.
- ^ Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U profile.