Tekken 8 (鉄拳8 lit. Iron Fist 8?) is the eighth main installment in the Tekken series. It is a fighting game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Arika[1][2][3] and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It was announced on September 13th, 2022 via the PlayStation State of Play.[4] The game was released on January 26, 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.[5]
Prior to the game's release, Katsuhiro Harada revealed, "This new entry will focus on the father and son showdown between Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama."[6] Harada stated that, Tekken 8 is set six months after Tekken 7 and will feature Jun Kazama as a "focal point of the story".[7] In a press release, Bandai Namco Entertainment stated the following:
"This latest saga begins where the previous title left off, with a world mired deep in the devastating war between Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama. After suffering what seems to be a defeat from Kazuya, Jin faces his own fate. His mother, Jun Kazama, appears after her absence from the Tekken franchise to try and turn the tide in this blood feud."[8]
Story[]
- See Also: Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens/Transcript
Yggdrasil, Lars Alexandersson’s rebel army, commence Operation Lightning, a strike intended to take out Kazuya Mishima, the leader of G Corporation. On Lars’s orders, Jin Kazama confronts his father Kazuya in New York City. Both use the power of their Devil Genes during the fight, but Jin fails to maintain control over his devil form, transforming completely and ultimately losing to Kazuya. Kazuya destroys a wide array of satellites, causing widespread communications outages, and announces that G Corporation will be holding the eighth King of Iron Fist Tournament, stating that it is a means to discover who deserves a place in the world under his rule.
Jin has a vision of his Devil form extending a hand to him, but he rejects its offer of assistance. One week later, Jin is recuperating at an Yggdrasil base. He and Lars spar, only for Lee Chaolan to interrupt and share the troubling news that Jin’s strength and abilities have diminished. Jin attempts to use his devil powers, but is unable to access them.[9]
Three days later, Jin almost collapses whilst training. Alisa Bosconovitch goes to his aid, and tells Jin that he is the hope of mankind.
Lee tells Lars that he will be contacting experts who are investigating the Devil Gene. Jin, believing that he will regain his ability to use his devil powers if he is put at risk of death, tells Lars and Lee of his intention to enter the King of Iron Fist Tournament. Lars is concerned that it is a trap set by G Corporation, but Jin resolves to enter.[10]
Three days later, Jin is at the arena for the tournament’s Asia Preliminaries. While he is walking down a corridor, he encounters a young woman called Reina, who tells him she attends Mishima Polytechnic, the same school Jin used to go to. Jin ignores her and walks past her. Jin and Reina are matched in the semifinals. As they fight, Jin realizes she is using Mishima Style Fighting Karate like his late grandfather, Heihachi Mishima. After Reina lands a blow on him, Jin’s devil powers briefly reawaken, seemingly in response to the risk of death he associates with Heihachi’s style. Reina suddenly forfeits the match, apparently having seen all she needs to.
Hwoarang enters the ring despite not being scheduled to fight Jin next. The two fight, and Jin feels a heat within his body that he had previously forgotten. His devil powers awaken in response to it, and he is able to defeat Hwoarang. Jin wonders why he didn’t lose himself to his devil powers in this instance. Hwoarang remarks on Jin’s ‘weird-ass power’, but then says, ‘still, that’s just another part of you.’ Jin meets Reina in another corridor. She tells him that she wants to join him in taking out Kazuya Mishima. Jin asks if that has anything to do with her use of Mishima Style Karate. Reina brushes off his suspicions, telling him she learned it from the internet.[11] Nina Williams, who is working for G Corporation, tells Kazuya that a woman he was looking for is with the Sirius Marksmen. Kazuya tells Nina to ensure that the woman does not leave Italy.
At the Sirius Sanctuary, Ling Xiaoyu and Panda watch Jin’s win against Hwoarang on Xiaoyu’s phone. Claudio Serafino and Zafina, meanwhile, discuss Azazel, the ancient demon that Jin Kazama once defeated, the spirit of which is now sealed in Zafina’s arm. Zafina notes that Jin is growing weaker while Kazuya grows ever stronger. Zafina tells Claudio they must seek out Jin to prevent Kazuya from annihilating the world, and Xiaoyu insists on going with them.
Niklas and Leo Kliesen arrive at the Yggdrasil base. Niklas has been researching the Devil Gene and its origins. Leo recognizes Jin as the one who waged war as head of the Mishima Zaibatsu months before and spars with him. Later, Niklas explains to Yggdrasil’s leadership that devils are humans that possess a fraction of Azazel’s power. Azazel once used these devils as its servants. These devils were able to access their superhuman powers by drawing upon their desire. Lars hypothesizes that Kazuya’s power comes from his avarice. Leo tells Jin that they did not sense any selfish emotions in Jin whilst they were sparring, only warmth.
Victor Chevalier, leader of the United Nations Raven Unit, receives a communication from Raven regarding Kazuya Mishima’s warmongering intentions. Victor resolves to contact Lars and unite the power of their forces to conduct a joint operation against Kazuya.[12]
The next stage of the King of Iron Fist Tournament is held in a coliseum in Italy. Yggdrasil and United Nations forces surround the coliseum, preparing to commence their operation. Meanwhile, Jin faces Leroy Smith, who impresses on him the importance of fighting from the heart, not relying on physical strength alone. Jin defeats Leroy, and then Kazuya appears, declaring that all hierarchies in his world will be determined by strength alone.
Xiaoyu, Claudio, and Zafina arrive at the coliseum.[13] They rush in as Yggdrasil and the United Nations forces storm the arena. Kazuya assumes his devil form and captures Zafina. He uses his power to expel Azazel from her, causing the sky to turn dark. Wounded, Zafina tells Jin that he needs to return to the ‘point of origin’ to purge himself of evil. Jin realizes he must go to his birthplace, Yakushima. Azazel, having once again achieved physical form, is called forth by Kazuya. Azazel tells Kazuya it intends to make him a part of itself, but Kazuya is able to defeat it and force it to become part of him. After absorbing Azazel, Kazuya takes on a more powerful monstrous form.[14] Claudio tells Jin that any attempt to combat Kazuya in this form will fail at this time. He tells him to do as Zafina said. Jin leaves for Yakushima with Xiaoyu accompanying him.
A cohort of fighters stay at the coliseum to hold Kazuya off. Claudio tells Victor that he has a ‘secret stratagem’, but that he will need time to enact it. The other fighters buy Claudio time by attacking Kazuya. Kazuya is able to easily brush them off until Reina approaches him. They fight one on one, and Kazuya recognizes that Reina is using Mishima Style Karate. Reina is resilient, but is ultimately defeated by Kazuya. Claudio is finally able to restrain Kazuya using his magic and fires the Spear of Kephalos at him. Kazuya breaks free, however, and evades the attack. He fires a laser at Claudio. Moments before being struck, Claudio is able to redirect the magical projectile to hit Kazuya, clipping his shoulder. The injury causes Kazuya to become unstable, and he flees to recuperate.[15]
Back at G Corporation headquarters, Nina informs Kazuya that all available troops have been deployed to Yakushima. Kazuya orders that Jin Kazama be left alive so that he can kill him with his own hands. Meanwhile, Yggdrasil and the United Nations forces travel to Yakushima to buy Jin time.
Once they have arrived on Yakushima, Jin and Xiaoyu walk to the shrine where Jin and his mother once trained together. Xiaoyu asks Jin what he wanted to be when he grew up, and he tells her he never desired anything beyond protecting his mother and their home. They reach a clearing and Xiaoyu suggests they spar to see if it will help Jin discover what he needs to do. After they’ve fought, Jin hears a lullaby from his childhood. He follows the sound of it into the opening of a sanctum. His body falters, and he promises Xiaoyu he will return before falling unconscious.[16] Xiaoyu watches over him, but is alerted to danger when she hears loud crashes outside. She fights off waves of Jack-7 robots to protect Jin while he is vulnerable.[17] Yggdrasil and the United Nations forces clash with G Corporation on Yakushima. Lars has Alisa do a scan of the island, and Lars leaves to assist Jin and Xiaoyu when he is informed of their location.
Yggdrasil and the United Nations are able to hold their own until Kazuya, once again in his monstrous devil form, reaches the battlefield. He uses lasers to inflict massive damage on the ground forces, shooting at the battlefield indiscriminately. Reina purposefully stands in the path of one of these lasers, taking the full force of it. Kazuya senses Jin’s location and heads straight for him. As Kazuya leaves, Reina wakes up, one of her eyes now bright red.[18]
Kazuya and Lars both reach Xiaoyu, who has managed to hold off the Jack-7 robots. Lars fights Kazuya to keep him from reaching Jin.[19] Meanwhile, Jin faces his devil form on a plane of his subconscious. His devil form taunts him, telling him that power derived from anger and hatred is essential, and that Jin can atone for his past actions only through solitude. Jin rejects these ideas, stating that awareness of his past mistakes is what will allow him to move forward. Jin then encounters his Devil form as a mirror image of himself. Jin resolves that he is done rejecting his devil form as an innate part of himself, acknowledging that he can only move on if he accepts all he is and all he has done. Devil Jin asks him what it is he truly desires, and Jin states that he is determined to protect those who are precious to him. His devil form grants him all of its power, and Jin realizes that it has made efforts to protect him in the past. He thanks it, and apologizes for misunderstanding its intentions previously.[20]
Jin awakens in time to save Lars from the path of one of Kazuya’s lasers. Jin fights Kazuya in his own devil form, which now possesses one white wing, one black. Jin is able to hold his own against Kazuya, but eventually finds himself struggling to hold back a massive attack that Kazuya intends to destroy Yakushima with. As he attempts to hold the attack off, even if he must die doing so, he has a vision of his mother, Jun Kazama. She tells him that a noble death will cause pain to those around Jin. She reminds him that the Kazama way is to protect the well-being of those around him and his own life. Jin asks his mother if he has the right to desire life after all he has done. She tells him that a Kazama’s power is to foster life and cleanse evil. Jin assumes a new form, Angel Jin. Jun tells him he can use his power to save himself and his father.
In his new form, Jin is able to redirect Kazuya’s attack to the ocean, saving Yakushima.[21] Angel Jin and Devil Kazuya fight in the sky briefly before being lifted into the stratosphere by a large chunk off rock from under the sea as a result of Kazuya's attack, only to continue fighting there. Through this fight, both Jin and his father are purified of their devil afflictions.[22] With their devil powers gone, they continue their fight once more as the ground they fought on returns to the Earth's surface.[23] Jin is able to use all his teachings – from his mother’s Kazama Style Traditional Martial Arts to the Mishima Style Fighting Karate he once rejected – as well as his determination to protect those he cares about to defeat Kazuya. Jin leaves Kazuya unconscious as he goes to regroup with his loved ones. Jin believes the world to finally have been freed from the influence of devils and their powers.
Later, Jun appears to find Kazuya’s unconscious form. Later still, it is revealed that Reina understands Heihachi Mishima to be her father. Additionally, her brush with death in the path of Kazuya’s laser has given her the ability to take on a devil form.[24]
There is an alternate ending if the player loses to Kazuya during the final round of this last battle. In this ending, Kazuya throws Jin and off a cliff and proclaims that, even without his devil powers, power rules everything. He decides to finish his global invasion.[25] Taking into account the character arcs and themes of the overall narrative, it is highly likely that this ending is non-canonical.
Development[]
Details[]
For the full log of updates and news related to Tekken 8's development, please see Tekken 8/Update Log
Tekken 8 was first announced via the PlayStation State of Play[6] YouTube channel, with a short trailer depicting a fight between Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama in Unreal Engine 5. During the Game Awards 2022, a story trailer was shown revealing the return of a number characters, one of whom was Jun Kazama.[7] Arika, a video game company founded by former Street Fighter employees in 1995, responsible for the Street Fighter EX and Fighting Layer series, are handling updates for Tekken 7 as well as some development for Tekken 8.[1][2][26]
During the Tekken World Tour 2022 Finals, another trailer was shown, along with Q&A video that went into more detail regarding the Heat System and direction Tekken 8's system was heading. From February to March 2023, gameplay trailers were released for previously-revealed characters until EVO Japan. Over the next year, characters were gradually revealed, with gameplay trailers released for all the base roster in advance of the launch date. The first DLC was also teased prior to launch. Tekken 8 was available for preorder, with a range of packages available to buy, including an iteration with a light-up Jin Kazama figurine. The game was released on January 26, 2024.
Gameplay[]
According to Harada, Tekken 8 gameplay is intended to focus on 'aggressiveness' and has a new Heat system as well as Rage Arts. The gameplay is intended to reward aggressiveness rather than those who 'turtle up'. There is also a focus on stage destruction, character reactions to these, and making the gameplay enjoyable to watch as well as play, since Tekken is a high level E-Sports game.[7]
Unique intros from previous games still occur.[27] Command lists now include more helpful tips such as counter-hit tools and throw breaks.[28]
Bandai Namco held a closed network test for Tekken 8 in July 2023, which evaluated aspects such as balance, matchmaking, and overall stability prior to the game's official launch. Participation in the test was limited and granted on a first-come, first-served basis.[29]
General Changes[]
Magic 4s no longer exist, and getting a full launch now requires the player to commit using the full, but punishable string. Up to three buttons can now be mapped in the configuration menu. Running now uses the command of f,F. Get-up kicks and spring kicks no longer knock an opponent down, even on Counter Hit.[30] Generic crouch punches are also now categorized as Special Lows instead of Special Mids. Their properties remain unchanged, however.
Several attacks such as the multi-throws now have simplified alternative commands. Some of these attacks, however, can still be enhanced if the player uses the original command.
Tornado[]
In place of Screw is Tornado, characters now have the ability to flip opponents during a juggle combo, causing them to land legs up similar to the Bound mechanic introduced in Tekken 6 but accomplished by launching the character higher rather than spiking them to the ground.
Rage[]
The Rage system returns alongside Rage Arts, although Rage Drive no longer features in the game, as it has been partially subsumed into the Heat System. All characters now share the same Rage Art command, performed by pressing d/f+1+2. Rage Arts are now named attacks in the characters' move lists.
Heat[]
The new Heat System adds unique effects to certain moves and is indicated by a small pink aura that surrounds the character. When triggered, the Heat System buffs several attacks in a variety of ways, such as giving them chip damage, gaining new follow-ups, turning into a Power Crush, etc.
The duration of Heat is shown by a blue bar directly under the player's health and lasts a minimum of 10 seconds but will not deplete when the opponent is hit or grounded.
Health[]
Health now divides between recoverable and non-recoverable, similar to the Tag series. Unlike the Tag series, however, recoverable health can only heal when attacking an opponent, regardless of whether the attack actually lands or if it was blocked. In the launch version, triggering a Heat Engager also heals a portion of recoverable health.
Power Crush[]
The Power Crush returns with some attacks now gaining Power Crush properties exclusively during Heat. Additionally, damage that is absorbed when performing a Power Crush will all be converted into recoverable health.
Stage Gimmicks[]
Aside from Wall Break, Balcony Break, and Floor Breaks returning, five new gimmicks are introduced. Triggering a Stage Gimmick mid-combo also increases the maximum damage scaling from 30% to 21%.
Hard Wall Break: A mechanic where a wall requires two hits to break instead of one.
Hard Floor Break A mechanic where a floor requires two hits to break instead of one.
Wall Blast: A mechanic where an explosion sends a wall-splat opponent thrown upwards and back in front of the wall to extend a combo.
Wall Bound: A mechanic where an explosion instead sends a wall-splat opponent upwards then behind the player to continue their combo.
Floor Blast: A mechanic where an explosion sends a bounded opponent from the floor into the air to extend a combo.
Characters[]
Default Cast[]
Revealed October 31, 2023.
Revealed April 2, 2023.
Revealed August 6, 2023.
Revealed May 27, 2023.
Revealed June 9, 2023.
Revealed October 31, 2023.
Revealed August 22, 2023.
Revealed September 19, 2023.
Revealed May 13, 2023.
Revealed December 9, 2022.
Revealed September 14, 2022.
Revealed December 9, 2022.
Revealed December 9, 2022.
Revealed August 22, 2023.
Revealed December 9, 2022.
Revealed December 9, 2022.
Revealed October 31, 2023.
Revealed August 22, 2023.
Revealed April 2, 2023.
Revealed April 23, 2023.
Revealed February 5, 2023.
Revealed September 21, 2023.
Revealed December 9, 2022.
Revealed August 6, 2023.
Revealed November 12, 2023.
Revealed August 22, 2023.
Revealed August 22, 2023.
Revealed November 2, 2023.
Revealed March 29, 2023.
Revealed August 22, 2023.
Revealed October 31, 2023.
DLC Cast[]
- Season 1 DLC
The following characters were distributed as part of the game's first season pass.
Winter 2024
Unplayable[]
Story Mode Exclusive[]
(bonus final boss)
(main final boss)
Cameos[]
| Niklas Kliesen |
|---|
| Jane |
Stages[]
- Default Stages
(Season 1)
- Story Stages
Cameo
Music[]
The TEKKEN 8 ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK album was released on March 13, 2024.
Trophies & Achievements[]
Tekken 8/Trophies and Achievements
[]
For Gameplay trailers see:
- Main article: Tekken 8/Gallery#Gameplay Trailers
Gallery[]
- Main article: Tekken 8/Gallery
Trivia[]
- This is the second Tekken game to utilize Unreal Engine, with Tekken 7 being the first. Tekken 8 is also the first fighting game that uses Unreal Engine 5.
- This is the second time Arika has developed a game for Bandai Namco, the first being the 1998 arcade game Fighting Layer, which was published by Namco prior to its merging with Bandai.
- This is the first game where the Mishima Zaibatsu is not the host of the tournament, as Kazuya Mishima, head of G Corporation, announces the eighth tournament. In many of the non-canon character episodes, however, the Mishima Zaibatsu hosts the current tournament, with the winner once again gaining ownership of the Zaibatsu.
- This is the first game in which Heihachi Mishima does not appear as a playable character in the base roster.
- Alongside updated graphics, characters now have visible dirt or bruises after incurring a certain amount of damage, similar to the sweat effect in Tekken 7. Clothing also shows stains as the fight progresses, and, like in Tekken 7, some characters wearing head coverings will lose them as the fight progresses.
- This marks the return of Tekken 3 and Tekken Tag Tournament style round 1 announcement intro animations.
- This is the first game where the characters' "Super Moves" (Rage Arts and Heat Smashes (formerly Rage Drives)) have unique names.
- This is the first game since both characters' introductions that Jin has access to Devil Jin's moves in his normal move set.
- This is the first game where the final boss battle takes place in a walled stage since Tekken 4.
- Similar to Tekken 6, the characters' 3D models are used in the character select screen. Unlike Tekken 6, however, characters use unique character select animations and voice lines instead of reused existing animations and voice lines. The versus screen does not use the 3D models.
- Characters have multiple unique pre-fight and win quotes against other characters, with some having special unique pre-fight animations. Unique pre-fight quotes have been implemented in the series before, but Tekken 8 marks the first canonical game with unique animations for these quotes spanning across the cast.
- Previously, in Tekken 6, only Miguel had a unique pre-fight dialogue paired with a unique animation, which occurred when he was facing Jin Kazama.
- The Arcade Quest Mode which was introduced in a Tekken 8 trailer, displayed alongside new customization options, bears much in common with the World Tour mode in Street Fighter 6.
- In the Super Ghost Battle mode, two of the NPCs are named "shimbori_y" and "shimbori_z", which are likely a reference to Yohei Shimbori, one of the producers in Tekken 8. Another NPC is named "Nakatsu", a reference to Tekken 8 director Kohei "Nakatsu" Ikeda. If the player approaches this ghost, it will introduce itself as the game director.
- This is the first mainline Tekken game to launch on console without an arcade port, and currently the only mainline Tekken game to have no arcade port.
- This is the first Tekken game to have no infinite stage for normal battles since Tekken 4, the only infinite stage in the game is the Beach for Tekken Ball.
- A much wider range of merchandise is set to release for Tekken 8 than for any previous game, including t-shirts, hoodies, figurines, original soundtracks, mousepads, fight sticks, and with more announced to come.[31]
- This is the first PC Tekken game where the mouse can be used to navigate menus, including the character and stage select screen.
- This is the first Tekken game to have a shop, besides just DLC.
See Also[]
External Links[]
- Official Japanese Site
- Official North American Site
- Official European Site
- Tekken 8: The Full Game Awards Trailer Breakdown With Katsuhiro Harada
- TEKKEN 8 – New Gameplay Mechanics Introduction
- Tekken 8 Advanced Mechanics and Strategy by the Wavu Wiki
References[]
- ^ a b c 「鉄拳」シリーズにおける開発業務請負に関するお知らせ
- ^ a b c Notice regarding contracted development work for the "TEKKEN" series.
- ^ Arika Working with Bandai Namco on Tekken 7 and Tekken 8
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hPuRQz6IlM
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07FdDRbdurg
- ^ a b https://blog.playstation.com/2022/09/13/tekken-8-breaks-into-a-new-generation/
- ^ a b c https://www.ign.com/articles/tekken-8-the-full-game-awards-trailer-breakdown-katsuhiro-harada?utm_source=twitter
- ^ https://en.bandainamcoent.eu/tekken/news/discover-tekken-8-gameplay-available-now-jun-kazama-return-tekken
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 1.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 2: Wayward Power.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 3: A Ghost from the Past.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 4: Unrelenting Ambition.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 5: A Fate Decided By Fists.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 6: The Devil Progenitor.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 7: Despair.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 8: Humble Beginnings.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 9: A Promise.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 10: All-Out Assault.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 11: For The Hope of Tomorrow.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 12: A Heart Bound in Chains.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 13: Awakening.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 14: Clash Above the Heavens.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Chapter 15: Strength and Conviction.
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Epilogue (Hope).
- ^ Tekken 8: The Dark Awakens Story Mode, Epilogue (Despair).
- ^ https://www.bandainamcostudios.com/en/news/860
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr6Vhhg85mM
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri5QRJVPAdQ
- ^ https://otakuzasshi.com/gaming/tekken-8-closed-network-test-in-july-register-now/
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3Cl2hs0ijA
- ^ Bandai Namco Official Store