Tekken is without a doubt one of my favourite fighting games of all time, one that I have been playing as a very young kid back from the days of the first playstation. Not only that but it was immensely popular as well, with me and my friends talking about different characters and sharing the combos we had learned. It was basically one of those games that boosted the fighting games culture when it was ported to the consoles from the arcades, and making competitive fighting more mainstream. Not only that but it had so many unique modes and dramatic character stories. Fast forward 23 years with the series being just as old as me, the 7th iteration has finally released. After all these years does the series maintain the accessibility and uniqueness it always had?

In a simple answer, yes! One of the most enticing aspects of the Tekken series was always its 3D space that added an extra layer to the combat and movement. It was different from most other fighting games at the time. Luckily everything that made that 3D space utilisation is still present here and more easy to work with than ever, where you can do everything from sidestep to go backwards and forwards simply and tactically. The controls are just as simple as well, with specific attacks to specific buttons that are easy to remember but hard to master in combos. It reminds me why I fell in love with this fighting series even though others perplexed me, it is simple to pick up and play with clear visual indications of hits and actions.

Even though I think that for a newer generation of fighters today, there could have been better, more guiding tutorials to ease new players into the experience, players are still given the option to practice their moves with recorded combos and simple objectives with any character of their choosing. Each character’s fight style and combos are based on different fight styles from around the world, and because of this are unique with how they look and fight. Another thing that may help newer players is the introduction of a mechanic that lets you unleash a special move once you are on the last few units of life, giving you that one last extra chance.

One thing that always stood out to me in Tekken was the amount of unlockables you could purchase ranging from cutscenes to costumes and accessories for your characters. This has most definitely returned with a myriad of items to buy, all of which can be unlocked by currency that is accumulated the more you play, which in turn can unlock a lot of items such as artwork, music and posters as well.

Speaking of characters, Tekken 7 once again features an impressive roster of both new and returning iconic characters, totalling to more than 29. One of the most interesting additions is perhaps Akuma from the Street Fighters franchise, who not only is a faithfully translated character, but also one that plays a significant role in the game’s story. To talk about the game’s story, it’s based on the legendary rivalry between the Mishimas and the rise of the tournament that see them going head to head against each other. The only little problem I had was that it was entirely too focused on the Mishima family and could have shown some other sides as well, but still I quite enjoyed the exaggerated and dramatic story that fits well in line with the rest of the series.

By this point in the review, readers might be well informed that the game is accessible and fun to play, but what about for returning hardcore players? Is it still as technical and rewarding as before? Absolutely. Even though long combos and especially the carry combo damage has been reduced so that it is more forgiving to new players, it is still just as important to learn through combo practices and mastery of a character.

Those of you who may not be aware what a carry combo is, its basically used to juggle your enemies towards the other end of the screen by maintaining a chain of combos that maintain attacks blocking the other player from moving or attacking until they hit the wall at the other end. The beauty of strategies like Combo Carry is that even though it takes a lot of practice to master them against an active player, they can be cleverly utilised during tough spots. The new balancing techniques also gets players thinking about the risks and rewards, as to whether they want to do a long combo or short but more damaging ones so on and so forth. For those of you that are new and are looking to really get good, like always the community is one of the best around that have recorded tutorial videos and tips everywhere from YouTube to blogs who are more than willing to help you utilise everything more effectively.

Lastly, the presentation quality is still very Tekken, with fast paced action music that is filled with both new and old unique fighting music. Characters have been given an uplift as well with some characters now supporting different looks and equipment making sense to the continuity. In essence its still got the whole air of an anime trapping with certain exaggerations or actions, but in a rather good and nostalgic way.

Hands down Tekken 7 is one of the finest and most balanced fighting games in recent times, that not only takes everything good about the old games, but has balanced certain mechanics and their imparting damages so that it doesn’t intimidate new players. Everything from the wealth of unlockable content to unique game modes is still here and whether you are just someone who wants something to play with your friends or family at home or competitively against strangers online, its got something for you. Tekken is definitely back and still as easy to learn and as hard to master as before, all set to the backdrop of a dramatic Mishima feud.

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