Tekken 6 (PS3, Xbox360)

I’ve been a fan of the Tekken series ever since the first game. There is something about the fluidity of the combat that is unmatched by any other brawler series.  As the series has come out with sequel after sequel, they have managed to stick to the core engine and gameplay that have made it so successful over the years. As good as it has been, does the game still hold up with the new standards set by today’s fighting games? Read on…

GRAPHICS (8/10)

There is nothing wrong with the graphics. Most of the polygons are smooth and the character models are fairly detailed. That being said, I feel that the graphics haven’t changed very much since the last incarnation. Unfortunately the last game was released for the PS2. While the graphics are definitely smoother than the last game, there isn’t the huge graphical improvement one would expect when making the jump from a previous gen console to the current gen. Even though the characters look good for the most part, there are certain angles which could use more anti aliasing and less jaggies. I may be nitpicking a bit, but seeing how smoothly Soul Caliber (produced by the same Namco family) looks and runs, I expected Tekken to look better than it does.

The fighting arenas are actually pretty gorgeous.  There are a few stages that are sub-par, but for the most part the environments are all very crisp and brimming with details. This is where the game’s graphics truly shine. While the character models may not be the greatest, the environments are pretty enough that you may wind up getting kicked in the face while zoning out on how nice everything in the background looks.

STORY (7/10)

The story is just as confusing as ever. I’m not even sure what the hell is going on to be honest. It centers again around the Mishima bloodline. As usual, all of the members of that family are fueding over who retains power and control of the empire. In a nutshell, another King of Iron Fist Tournament is held and there is some supernatural being at the end (isn’t there always??) and a ton of confusion leading up to that point.  To be perfectly honest, when did we ever need a reason to kick ass?  While the story isn’t that great, it doesn’t detract from the game much. Add to the fact that there are 40+ characters each with their own unique ending. I’m sure if you really pay attention and you unlock the endings for every character you should be able to piece together most of what is going on with the plot.

GAMEPLAY (9/10)

The gameplay hasn’t changed much from the last game or the game before that.  It seems that they have pretty much perfected their fighting engine and have taken the Madden route of adding minimal changes to an already successful formula. While the gameplay is very responsive and intricately deep, the gameplay is starting to show its age a bit. I guess its the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, just repackage it and charge 60 bucks for it.”

Even without much change, the game is still a blast to play.  Tekken freaks will be able to pick up and play this one right where they left off. The game boasts 40+ characters to choose from right off the bat. Unlike most other fighting games, no two fighters are alike. They all have unique move sets and abilities that will take a great deal of time to truly master. On the flip side, Tekken newbs will be able to pick this one up and jam right away. The controls are fairly easy to pick up, however in order to be truly good you need to invest some time to learn all of the little details of each fighter. Button mashing will only get you so far, as veterans of the series no doubt have their combos ready to counter any attack thrown at them.

Perhaps what is most interesting about this series is that is has a rabid following like no other fighting game. Tekken fanatics study the frames per second (FPS) rate of each move so they know which is faster and what moves can be used to cancel out other moves. If you allow yourself to get sucked into the deep gameplay experience, you can easily get wrapped up in this game for a while. I remember with Tekken 3, aruguably the best and deepest game of the series, I was a fanatic, studying every fighter’s move list and how to counter them. While I didn’t feel the same level of immersion with this game, its good to know that most of my knowledge and timing from previous games still holds true with this latest one.

MULTIPLAYER (6/10)

I have not tried the 360 version of this game, but my experiences so far with the online modes have been garbage. It takes forever to find a match and when you do, it is laggy to the point it is almost unplayable. I’ve read online that they may be releasing some type of patch to try and fix this, but the real question is: why release a game that isn’t ready yet?? Those looking to pick this game up with the hopes of kicking ass internationally will be sorely disappointed.

While the online is lackluster, the real gem of the series is fighting someone one on one, mano y mano. It is best fighting someone in your own living room, as it is priceless to see their face as they watch the replay of their character getting KTFO. While this may seem a bit old school, it is still just as fun as it was with the previous games, and at the moment, it is the ONLY saving grace of the multiplayer.

OVERALL (8/10)

Seeing as how the game came out yesterday morning and I’ve been pretty much jamming it almost non-stop, I haven’t gotten as in depth with some of the modes as I would like. Tekken has tons of goodies to offer even the most rabid fans of the series.There are a number of cool modes in this newest game, yet they are all things we’ve seen in the series before. Tekken Force mode (the game’s version of a “campaing” mode) weasels its way into this game also, and it is just as horrible as it was before. Honestly, besides all of the gimmicky modes tacked on, the real focus here is the arcade mode.  Arcade mode definitely delivers.

It seems like for everything the game does wrong, it manages to do something right. The gameplay is as tight and fluid as ever, even if it hasn’t changed much. If you are new to the Tekken series, this game is worth picking up as everything will seem fresh. If you are a casual fan of the series looking to pick this game up and relive some of the glory of past games, you may wind up a bit dissappointed. If you are a Tekken fanatic, you will like this game no matter what anyone says. Personally, I enjoyed this game a ton, but not nearly as much as I thought I would. Maybe my tastes have evolved a bit since the last few games in this series.  Bottom line- this is one of the best, if not THE best, 3-d fighting games on the market right now. If you have an urge to throw down, you should definitely give this one a try.