Dinesh Elumalai takes you on a journey through the totally awesome world of the long-standing and action-packed Tekken games.
Can you imagine a time when Tekken was available on consoles and laptops when everyone was vegetating? Yes, it is true that people may survive completely without playing any Tekken games (perhaps passing the time playing Street Fighter, who knows). The first game in the series was finally launched by Namco in 1994, as if by some miracle. The Tekken era started.
Since then, the series has grown to be one of the most well-known in the fighting game industry, and the developer has made a sizable profit. It is a phenomenon with enormous cultural significance for the large gaming world. Exploring its illustrious past is a great source of amusement for any gamers that enjoy combat (in fact, for everyone else as well).
How many Tekken titles exist?
We are fortunate to have… many of them:
- seven games in the primary series
- Tekken Tag Tournament, a stand-alone series, has two games.
- 5 changes to the primary games
- 11 offshoots
To go into detail about each of them would require a very long story. Let us focus on all the core series Tekken games. We have seen the why, what, and how about the game in our previous article if have missed it kindly go through the following link https://www.sify.com/gaming/tekken-the-best-fights-are-personal/
So, let we start entire 7 primary series one by one with the brief gameplay, release year and some stats on the game in chronological order.
We rarely mention the plot when discussing the Tekken video games. We do this for two reasons. The first is that fighting game stories are not all that crucial. The second would completely defy anyone who attempts to comprehend all of Tekken’s events through prose. The King of Iron Fist fighting competition served as the catalyst for everything, but with time it all grew too convoluted. The fact that Tekken means Iron Fist is all we need to know; the arcade and story modes will fill up the blanks.
Tekken – 1994
It was initially released in arcades (1994). Then, in 1995, the game was made accessible for the original PlayStation console. Everything began with Virtua Fighter, a different fighting game. Although it was published by Sega, Namco recruited the development team to work on a test game for 3D character models. The project was originally called Rave War but was later renamed to Tekken.
Although the original Tekken was technically advanced, it had a long way to go before becoming a successful fighting game. The visuals for the middle of the 1990s were shockingly good. The concept of adding textures to the 3D models greatly appealed to the playing audience. Still, even in compared to other games at the time, the battle mechanics were a little boring. The last boss was criticized by many gamers for being too powerful; although it is not the finest Tekken, it is a fantastic beginning.
This game was also made available for the PS2 in 2005. The corporation sold 1 million copies, which is the fewest in the series.
Tekken 2 – 1995
The second game was launched in 1995 for arcades and in 1996 for PS consoles, not long after the first. It was a vastly enhanced version. This time, the creators work harder to balance the fighting styles. Fighting AI opponents has gotten easier and more tolerable as the difficulty level has increased.
Additionally, Namco introduced a few additional characters and drastically improved the aesthetics. Kangaroos and dinosaurs among them were amusing, which started a positive tradition for all Tekken games. Additionally, the fighting styles of these characters made for a game with a lot of replay ability. Players received a decent selection of stages and a few new modes.
The sales figures for Tekken 2 are impressive: 250,000 copies were sold on the first day, 5.7 million copies were sold total, and it was the top arcade game of 1995.
Tekken 3 – 1997
This game concludes the Tekken series’ initial PlayStation era. The developers took a little longer to complete this project, but the end result was outstanding. Many consider it the best Tekken game ever, if not the best fighting game ever. Tekken 3 was released in arcades in 1997 and on the PlayStation in 1998.
Greater character variation could be found in Tekken 3. As the narrative got darker, it also got more interesting. There were technical advancements in every aspect of the game, including the graphics, mechanics, and overall gameplay experience. The designers improved sidestep dodges and introduced new maneuvers and techniques for dodging strikes. New game modes in Tekken 3 included the beat ’em up minigame Tekken Force and the fighting volleyball game Tekken Ball, which the developer bravely experimented with.
Astonishingly, Namco sold almost 8.5 million copies of Tekken 3! The game was simple to play and provided a wealth of depth for developing virtual fighting abilities.
Tekken 4 – 2001
Because the developers took a break to release Tekken Tag Tournament, the fourth instalment of the main series was only available in arcades in 2001 and on the PlayStation 2 in 2002. The new system enabled the delivery of far more complex graphics and gameplay. For the first time, players may interact with items in the virtual world (for example, pressing the opponent against a wall). Tekken 4’s plot is told through cutscenes in the Story Mode (rather than the Arcade Mode).
Better graphics and typically enjoyable fighting techniques were not enough to duplicate the prior game’s success. Many gamers anticipated to see something along the lines of the original Tekken, but the creators were overly imaginative in certain areas.
The business sold about 2 million copies. Despite some dubious reviews, Tekken 4 was a successful entry into the new fighting video game age.
Tekken 5 – 2004
Its revised version, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, debuted in 2005 for arcades and in 2006–2007 for the PSP and PS3. The original version of this game was published in 2004 for arcades and in 2005 for the PlayStation 2.
Tekken 5 marked a substantial transition toward an attacking fighting style in terms of game mechanics. After the defensive Tekken 4, it was a return to the fundamentals. The fifth episode is regarded by many series fans as being the fairest. Easy-to-use fighters that are good for novices have gotten weaker, so you will need to train a little to obtain some sweet triumphs.
The game now features a different form of balance, one that strikes a balance between traditional gameplay and novel concepts. Although it has a Tekken feel to it, you can see that the moves have new effects and are moving faster. This is the first Tekken game on the list that allows for character customization! Devil Within, a mini-game with a more action-oriented design, has taken the place of Tekken Force. 8.2 million copies of Tekken 5’s original and enhanced versions were sold altogether.
Tekken 6 – 2007
The sixth game’s arcade release occurred in 2007, but its console release did not happen until 2009. Players could now play this fighting series on the Xbox 360 for the first time on a system other than the PlayStation. Of course, there was also a PS3 version.
Compared to earlier games, Tekken 6 boasts a wider selection of characters and several upgrades. You will first notice a significant improvement in the graphics. Since it was clearly designed for the PS3/Xbox 360, it adheres closely to current gaming norms. Even some of the fighters’ amazing appearances do not detract from the realistic nature of the battles.
The game includes many different modes and is well-balanced. It is a fantastic version for both newbies and ardent followers. The multiplayer experience was enhanced by the inclusion of online combat. The creation business, this time going by the name Namco Bandai, sold almost 3.5 million copies of Tekken 6. It is currently playable on PlayStation Vita as well.
Tekken 7 – 2015
Finally, PC players can take pleasure in the renowned fighting franchise. The most recent and finest game in the Tekken series is Tekken 7. It was published in 2015 for arcades and in 2017 for various gaming consoles. In 2020, the game is still going strong! We have added a ton of fresh stuff over the years, and we will continue to do so.
As per usual, Bandai Namco made a ton of enhancements, making it appear like both casual and devoted gamers may easily make the switch to the new game. The programmers use extremely powerful machines to implement their game and graphic concepts.
Even more outstanding fighting mechanics depth and a wider selection of characters are offered in Tekken 7. Even yet, it is still quite approachable (and entertaining) for everyone. Pushing buttons can result in some victories and a lot of pleasure. Of course, you should train a lot more if you want to improve and defeat respectable opponents.
To go over every element in Tekken 7 would take a very, very large article. It has the most cutting-edge customizing system in the series, which is great. It provides an excellent multiplayer online experience. Tekken 7 even encourages individuals to play professionally because it is currently one of the most well-liked fighting genres in esports. Bandai Namco sold more than 5 million copies of Tekken 7 in 2020.
The remaining game release is for your reference with the release year only, based on your interest we shall discuss on those titles in future.
Tag Series
1. Tekken Tag Tournament (1999)
2. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (2011)
Updated Games
1. Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection (2005)
2. Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion (2008)
3. Tekken Hybrid (2011)
4. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Unlimited (2012)
5. Tekken 7: Fated Retribution (2016)
Spin-offs
1. Tekken Card Challenge (1999)
2. Tekken Advance (2001)
3. Death by Degrees (2005)
4. Tekken Resolute (2010)
5. Tekken 3D: Prime Edition (2011)
6. Tekken X Street Fighter (TBA)
7. Tekken Card Tournament (2013)
8. Tekken Revolution (2013)
9. Tekken Arena (2013)
10. Galaga: TEKKEN Edition (2015)
11. Tekken (Mobile) (2018)
Are you a fan of Tekken? Play any fighting video games? Then we have a ton of informative news, guides, and articles for you. Kindly do show your support through likes and comments, based on your interest we will provide much more articles for your view.
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1 Comment
Tekken 5 was and is my ultimate Tekken game, it came with ton of content from day one and after that I stopped buying Tekken games, after T5 they started releasing half baked stuff nicklediming milking this and online locking content so I was done with it all.
Tag Tournament 2 was appealing but also I remember skipping it since they extra charged for some things and were not available in my area, content was limited to certain locations and releases that is the reason why I skipped it.
Not sure if a remaster or re-release had all the content available without downloads tho. But considering never got that either I wouldn’t be surprised if they cashgrabbed it hence why I skipped that too.
I lost all interest in all games that spoon feed and cashgrab content etc. The very same reason why I stopped buying games and stopped even playing them too.