Tekken 6

Fierce legions of Tekken fans have been awaiting this game since the arcade version first appeared in Japan way back in 2007.  The release was expected in 2008, but the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions have only just landed.

True to Tekken form, there is the usual list of over-the-top characters to play with, and one of the most inviting aspects of Tekken 6 is that you have access to 40 characters from the very beginning, the most offered by any Tekken game ever.  Each has a vast catalogue of moves to memorise, so to truly master them all you’ll find yourself having to invest a lot of time.  With so much to learn, players who are new to the game may find the sheer number of characters intimidating especially as the portraits of each character on the selection are very small; the bewilderingly large array will have some struggling to distinguish between them.

For the old hands, Tekken 6 introduces 6 new characters.  These include: the sizable and almost spherical Bob; the mildly metro-sexual Leo; cooler than thou smoldering Spaniard Miguel; downright creepy Zafina; Alisa, a fembot with chainsaws for hands, and Lars.  These last two are the main characters in the “mini game”, Scenario Campaign.

One of the reasons that Tekken is so beloved is the quality of the cutscences.  The opening scene of Tekken 6 is particularly cinematic, and fans are unlikely to be disappointed by the visuals.

The sound is also good, and the bone crunching effects when you land a powerful blow lend the game a satisfying realism.

Another area where this game scores highly is in the controls.  True to Tekken form, there’s a four button system with one assigned to each limb.  Players can combine two punches for stronger move, and same applies to kick moves.

This means that even inexperienced players will be able to pull some flashy stunts from the very beginning, but there is still a lot of depth for the old hands.   Each character is capable of a variety of combos, throws and juggles, which require a high degree of precision to pull off.  Bounding moves let you keep your opponent in the air at lower altitudes, leaving them prone to a stream of punishing combos.  The emphasis on juggles means that there is less tit-for –tat action than you may be used to in other fighting games, and matches can move very quickly.

So, while Tekken 6 is simple to play it takes a long time to master.  Add the large number of moves to the huge character list and you’ll be absorbed for months.

Another addition to the game is the Rage system, which comes into play when you’re almost dead.  Inside the last 10 per cent of health your character starts to glow (this can be customized so that you appear in a whirl of fire or a cloud of ice) and in this mode your attacks become extra powerful, a feature that may just save you from defeat, but usually once you’ve reached this stage you will be dispatched by one quick blow from your opponent.

Practice mode is a good place to start.  While it doesn’t cover the basics such as blocking or moving, each move is demonstrated in a way that even newcomers will understand, so it’s a good place to hone your skills before plunging into the game proper.  Even old skool characters like Heihachi have some new moves, so it’s worth taking the time to explore the possibilities rather than trying to button mash your way through.

Almost everything you do in Tekken 6 will earn you money, but if you’re serious about unlocking the custom options then you’ll have to play through the least inspiring element of Tekken 6, the Scenario Campaign.

Sadly, this element feels as half hearted and unfulfilling as Force mode from Tekken 3.  In scenario Mode you follow Lars and Alisa in a set up that feels more like an RPG.  The repetitive enemies are tiresome, the camera is frankly pants and the targeting system leaves a lot to be desired.  Campaign mode is also where you’ll find the end scenes for each character

All in all, Namco has missed the mark with this mode.  It just looks and feels dated, and you won’t be blown away by the locations or visuals in this section.   As we mentioned previously, the game has been on hold for the last two years but even taking this into account, Scenario Mode looks like something out of the late 90’s.

Even the controls seem less effective in this mode.  The moves become difficult to orchestrate and we ended up whacking random buttons in frustration.

The plot, which emerges through the generous number of cutscenes, is convoluted and complex, but scenario mode is still worth playing through if only for the item pick-ups along the way.  As you fight, your enemies will drop a variety of pieces of clothing which have a variety of properties such as improving defence, adding extra moves etc.

There are some other odd moments in Tekken 6.  In one location you’re treated to a “yodeling” backing track, surrounded all the while by a flock of irritating sheep.  These have a tendency to disappear from view from some camera angles, but spend most of the time distracting you from the gameplay by bouncing around the screen if you happen to connect with one of them, before standing up again with a sheepish grin as though nothing has happened.  Die sheep, die!

Also, some of the new characters have some odd moves, though admittedly this is part of the game’s charm.  One lady chose to fling her head at me before it exploded, while she happily regrew another.

Luckily, the other offline options are more successful.  You can choose to play in Ghost mode, Arcade mode or versus team battles where you and your opponent battle with up to eight characters in a true test of skill.

If you intend to play the game online, however, you’d be well advised to install it on your console first.  The online lag is a bit of a problem when trying to employ split second timing, but while not perfect, online modes are still playable.

We also found that the loading times in Tekken 6 leave a lot to be desired.  When playing before installing the game we often found ourselves twiddling our thumbs for upwards of 20 seconds at a time.  Even after installation, there was still a noticeable delay.

Aside from these gripes, Tekken 6 does what it says on the tin.  Players can customise the look of the characters to their hearts’ desire and on the whole, fans will be satisfied.

Despite the addition of the new modes and characters, not a great deal has changed since Tekken 5, but the format has been well received in the past and really didn’t require a whole lot of tweaking.