Tekken’s upcoming installment is getting an all-new battle system.
After Tekken 7’s great success, it’s no surprise that Bandai Namco is going all in for Tekken 8, which is set to be released on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
The Tekken 8 gameplay will be more aggressive, according to Katsuhiro Harada, and there will be a new “Heat” gauge, as well as returning gameplay features from Tekken 7, such as the Rage system-based attacks.
Rage Drive has been separated and reworked as a Heat system-based move, leaving Rage State limited to using Rage Art only. The gameplay will reward aggressiveness in the upcoming installment.
At the Tekken World Tour 2022 Global Finals, Tekken 8 game director Kohei “Nakatsu” Ikeda and executive director Katsuhiro Harada presented a keynote about the upcoming game’s fighting mechanics.
They also took the time to showcase a new trailer showing returning character Nina Williams.
In the new trailer, Nina has donned a new edgy outfit instead of the iconic wedding dress she wears in Tekken 7.
Nakatsu and Harada reiterated that the keyword for the new installment is “Aggressive”. According to the two The Rage System, Recoverable Gauge, Heat System, and Controller Style are four elements that have been changed or added to Tekken 8.
Fans of the series will know that the “rage” system has been part of the series since Tekken 6. Tekken 7 added Rage Arts, which are powerful attacks that could only be activated while raging, and rage drives which were more powerful versions of regular attacks.
Rage Drives have been abandoned in Tekken 8, and Rage Arts will cause more damage as your health drops.
A major change is that Rage Art is activated in the same way for each character. In Nakatsu’s words, “all characters have the same command, which is to forward diagonally down with both punches.”
Another new addition is the “Recoverable Gauge”. Recoverable Tag allows you to get back some of the damage you take while blocking in aerial combos. Here it will be a white guage replenished by going on the offensive.
Nakatsu said about the new system:
“We have made it so that the player regains strength by hitting with an attack, or by making the opponent guard against an attack. In other words, it is as if adrenaline is released from the body to recover from the damage.”
As for the “Heat system”, it allows the fighter to power up for a short time. Here the character will be covered in blue fire and their unique abilities enhanced.
To go into “heat” condition a player simply presses R1 on their controller. It will also automatically be engaged whenever the payer uses a heat engager.
Last but not least, Nakatsu and Harada discussed Tekken 8’s two-controller styles. Arcade Style is described as having a high degree of freedom. While Special Style is the evolution of the Easy Combo and Assist features from Tekken 7.
You can play the game like an action game by pressing the attack button for each character, as Nakatsu explained.
There is no release date for Tekken 8 yet, but a closed alpha test will occur soon. Starting with EVO Japan 2023, it will be held in “selected locations throughout the world.”
Tekken 8 looks to be a breathtaking new fighter but only time will tell if all the hype Is true.
The new installment in the franchise has many fans talking and we will undoubtedly hear more news on Tekken 8 in the near future.