|
|
| Developer: Namco |
| Publisher: Namco |
| Producers: Seiichi Ishii (Arcade) Masamichi Abe & Masahiro Kimoto (PlayStation) |
| Platform: Arcade, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 (Tekken 5 version), PlayStation 3 / PlayStation Portable / PlayStation Vita (PlayStation Classics) |
| Release date: Arcade
|
| Genre: Fighting |
| Mode: Single-player, Multiplayer |
| Arcade System: Namco System 11 |
Tekken 2 (鉄拳2 Tekken Tsū?, lit. Iron Fist 2) is the second installment in the Tekken fighting game series. The game was first released in arcades in 1995, and later released for the PlayStation in 1996. It was included in the Arcade History mode of Tekken 5, released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2, and was later released in 2007 for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and Playstation Vita via the PlayStation Network.
Gameplay
The gameplay in Tekken 2 is much like its predecessor, with a few additions. It continues to use 2D backgrounds in its stages, features an infinite playing field, and uses a fighting system that utilizes four buttons: left punch, right punch, left kick, and right kick. Distinct additions included sidestepping and attack reversals for some characters, back throws, and chain-throws, while tackles were modified to inflict more damage when running from a greater distance. Unlike its predecessor, Tekken 2 allowed players to alter the games settings via the Options menu, and introduced new Team Battle, Time Attack, and Survival modes alongside the previous games Versus and Test modes.
Story
A worldwide martial arts tournament was nearing its finale. A large purse of prize money, which was to be awarded to the fighter who could defeat Heihachi Mishima in the final round, provided an incentive for warriors from all over the globe.
Financed and sponsored by the giant financial group, the Mishima Zaibatsu, the first Tekken tournament began with eight fighters, all of whom had emerged victorious from various matches held around the world, brought together by different motives, all possessing the skill and power necessary for victory.
Many battles were fought, but only one lone warrior emerged with the right to challenge Heihachi Mishima for the of "King of Iron Fist" title. This warrior was Kazuya Mishima, Heihachi's cold-blooded son. Bearing the scar given to him by his father, he enters into vicious combat with Heihachi on the same field where he was struck down and dropped from a cliff at the age of five.
After a grueling battle which raged on for hours, Kazuya emerged victorious by utilizing the power granted to him by the supernatural entity known as Devil.
As Heihachi's broken body lay on the ground, Kazuya dropped to his knee and lifted his father into his arms. Kazuya walked slowly to the edge of the same cliff from where his father had thrown him as a child. He stared out over the landscape, and let go of his father's body. As Heihachi's body plummeted, Kazuya's smile gleamed in the sunlight.
Two years have passed. The Mishima Zaibatsu under Kazuya's leadership has become even more powerful, with its tendrils reaching to all corners of the world. Soon after his father's apparent death, Kazuya disappears into the shadows. However, rumors of his immense power, and a dark side, slowly begin to spread throughout the world.
Two years after the end of the first tournament, a message is relayed from the Mishima Zaibatsu fortress to news agencies all over the world announcing a second tournament with a prize a thousand times that of the first.
Like his son before him, Heihachi survived his fall into the ravine thanks to his superhuman resilience. He then retreated to the hills to meditate in order to rekindle and enhance his fighting ability. He enters the King of Iron Fist Tournament 2 to reclaim his conglomerate and dispose of Kazuya once and for all.
The roles of primary protagonist and antagonist from the first game (Kazuya and Heihachi respectively) were reversed for Tekken 2, with Kazuya being the selected character's ultimate opponent (with the exceptions being Kazuya himself, who instead faces Heihachi, and Devil/Angel, who faces Jun instead).
Like the first Tekken game, there is a canonical ending, which is Heihachi's ending. Heihachi flies in a helicopter with an unconscious Kazuya, heading towards a volcano. Heihachi then tosses Kazuya into the volcano, before fleeing as it erupts. This is confirmed to be canon in the PS2's intro to Tekken 4, which shows the scene of Heihachi dropping Kazuya into the volcano.
Characters
| Returning characters |
|---|
| Heihachi Mishima |
| King |
| Marshall Law |
| Michelle Chang |
| Nina Williams |
| Paul Phoenix |
| Yoshimitsu |
| Anna Williams (unlockable) |
| Armor King (unlockable) |
| Devil (unlockable) |
| Ganryu (unlockable) |
| Kazuya Mishima (unlockable) |
| Kuma (unlockable) |
| Kunimitsu (unlockable) |
| Lee Chaolan (unlockable) |
| Prototype Jack (unlockable) |
| Wang Jinrei (unlockable) |
| New characters |
|---|
| Jack-2 |
| Jun Kazama |
| Lei Wulong |
| Alex (unlockable, acts as a costume swap of Roger) |
| Angel (unlockable, acts as a costume swap of Devil) |
| Baek Doo San (unlockable) |
| Bruce Irvin (unlockable) |
| Roger (unlockable) |
| Cameos |
|---|
| Jane (cameo in home console intro and Jack-2's ending |
| Doctor Bosconovitch (cameo in Yoshimitsu's ending) |
Stages
| Stage | Character |
|---|---|
| Morning Fields | Jun Kazama |
| Serene Forest | Yoshimitsu |
| Athens | Nina Williams |
| The Great Wall | Marshall Law |
| Pagoda Temple | Heihachi Mishima |
| New York City | Paul Phoenix |
| Akibahara | Jack-2 |
| Church Sanctuary | King |
| Arizona Desert | Michelle Chang |
| Hong Kong Rooftop | Lei Wulong |
| Szechwan Fields | Wang Jinrei |
| Cambodian Wetlands | Kunimitsu |
| Taj Mahal | Anna Williams |
| Korean Temple | Baek Doo San |
| Launch Pad | Lee Chaolan |
| Hills | Kuma / Alex |
| London Ruins | Prototype Jack |
| Nowhere Desert | Armor King |
| Kyoto at Sunset | Ganryu |
| Grand Canyon | Bruce Irvin |
| Eternal Darkness | Kazuya Mishima |
| Mirror Darkness | Devil / Angel |
| Beach | Roger |
Gallery
Videos
Trivia
- This is the only game in the series where the arcade intro has the option of remixed music.
- The existence of Kazumi Mishima (Heihachi's wife) was alluded to for the first time in Tekken 2; ("Heihachi and Kazumi") can be seen carved into the floor of Heihachi's Pagoda Temple stage, in which their names are written in the style of Aiaigasa (a romantic expression to show love between couples).
- The floor carving was later seen in the very first trailer of Tekken 7 (where Kazumi made her canonical debut).
- Popular landmarks can be seen in some stages, for example - A destroyed (or partially buried) Big Ben can be seen in Prototype Jack's stage and Stonehenge is visible in Jun Kazama's's stage.
- Close up images of the sub-boss and final boss (Kazuya Mishima and Devil) are used as the background of the pre-fight loading screen. This would later be used again in Tekken 6, showing Kazuya's son Jin Kazama and Azazel before their respective fights.
- The final part of the intro in which the screen shows Heihachi's face and then moves up towards the sky, eventually showing the game's logo, would later be mimicked in Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection.
- All characters from the previous game return in Tekken 2, with the exception of Jack who was replaced with Jack-2.
- In Heihachi's ending in which he throws his son into the volcano, Kazuya is clearly seen wearing his purple tuxedo. In Tekken 4, this scene is replicated only Kazuya is now wearing his white pants instead.
- In Practice Mode, if the player's character is left standing idle for a few moments, a thought bubble will appear above their head with a random image, such as fruit, Pac-Man or the Pac-Man ghosts, inside. If the player leaves Practice Mode paused for a long time, a countdown will start and the game will eventually return to the title screen.
- Once all 25 characters are unlocked, the Tekken 2 logo on the title screen will contain an image of Kazuya Mishima's face.
- The game states only 23 characters are selectable, as it doesn't distinguish Alex and Angel as separate characters. Any records set by Alex and Angel are credited to Roger and Devil respectively.
- In the arcade version of Tekken 2, the announcer does not say 'Devil' or 'Angel' when either character is selected.
- Kazuya's boss outfit is not selectable in the arcade version.
- The Japanese PlayStation version has a Theater Mode, a feature that overseas fans wouldn't have until Tekken 3.
- If a memory card with completed Tekken 2 save data is inserted when playing Tekken 3 (with theater mode unlocked), the endings for Tekken 2 can be viewed and the game's soundtrack played; this also works for the original Tekken.
- The word "replay" now flashes.
- If a character is selected when holding the select button, he/she will become much larger and have a high-pitched voice. The size change can be done twice, however, the character's physical size and reach are unaffected, despite their appearance. For example, Yoshimitsu's sword still has the same range even though it is much larger. To disable the cheat, the battle must be lost and a different costume or character must be selected.
- If a character is selected when holding both Select and Up, he/she will have the above effects, and also bounce higher when juggled. A sound is heard upon loading the stage if this cheat is enabled.
- If L1 and L2 are held before the first stage, the game will enter a first person wireframe mode, similar to Nintendo's Punch-Out!!.
- The inputs for the above effects are hidden in the PlayStation (PAL) version's instruction book, disguised in a stylized font. Text written down the sides of various opposing pages read "Hold Select to super-deform" and "Hold L1 and L2 for close-up action" respectively. The text is always in English, regardless of the language section. Additionally, text in the same font on the back of the games case reads "Indisputably the greatest beat 'em up of its generation: Tekken 2, unparalleled genius.".
- In the records area, positions beyond the number 20 are displayed erroneously as 21th, 22th, and 23th. This was fixed when Namco released the Western versions of Tekken 3 (the Japanese PSX version of Tekken 3 still displays 21th).
- In Tekken 5's Arcade History version, Heihachi's KO sound is not played when he is defeated. Instead, one of his attacking sounds is heard.
- In the arcade version, when defeating an opponent with Heihachi's Neck Breaker, Heihachi will not say anything when the opponent's neck cracks. The sound does play in the replay, however.
- The original arcade version of Tekken 2 (denoted as Ver.A in the test menu) has a few moves missing compared to later versions and ports, whilst other moves have a different notation. Additionally, most throws lack sound effects of the opponent being hurt. The PlayStation version, as well as the Tekken 5 Arcade History version, are based on Tekken 2 Ver.B (with the latter retaining the Ver.B logo on the title screen).
- The most notable difference between the AI in the arcade versions is the Ver.A AI favors combos and string hits, whereas the Ver.B AI favors small pokes and blocks much more. The PlayStation version has similar AI to Ver.A, however, it also differs slightly from the arcade. Three examples are:
- The CPU will always jump a shoulder charge in the arcade version, yet in the PlayStation port, they fall for it.
- The CPU will always block the first half of the Frankensteiner move in the arcade version, but they will run straight into it in the PlayStation port, taking damage from both the hit and the throw.
- In the arcade version, the player can defeat the CPU with a Jack character or Kuma by sitting down and punching, but in the PlayStation port, the CPU will always block it or knock the player over.
- The majority of sound effects were remade for the PlayStation version, along with the announcer's voice. These sound effects were also used on the Tekken 5 Arcade History version, however, the original arcade announcer remains, and custom sound effects exclusive to the PlayStation version are missing (e.g. extra bone cracking sounds, Kunimitsu's knife slash, Anna's KO sound). The PlayStation version makes heavy use of a reverb effect, however, the effect is in the sound files themselves and is not controlled by software, unlike the arcade version.
- In the PlayStation (PAL) version's instruction book, Jun's bio references Wang, with his given name incorrectly spelled as 'Jinfrey' in the English, French, German, Italian, and Dutch sections, and 'Junfrey' in the Spanish section.
- In the PlayStation version, if only one controller is connected, the screen will say CREDIT 0 / INSERT COIN on the disconnected side. If both controllers are disconnected, the game will also display INSERT COIN on the title screen.
- There was an unauthorized pirated version of the game made for the Famicom/NES.
- Pictures of all the characters from the roster in this game are found in the "Tekken 2 Retro Series", excluding Heihachi Mishima and Prototype Jack. Paul Phoenix has two pictures, one for the body with arms, and the other one with his head.
- Michelle Chang's name is missing a lowercase "g" at the end of her surname in the Tekken 3 theater mode with the Tekken 2 disc inserted.
- The lineup of the initially available characters on the character select screen is different to the first Tekken, with Jun and Lei added at either end, and Heihachi replacing Kazuya.
- The announcer uses all the characters' names, including Devil, Kuma, Armor King, Ganryu, Anna Williams, Kunimitsu, and Prototype Jack, while their names are not announced in the first Tekken game.