Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Review

By Richard Leadbetter Published 23 March, 2007

Tekken it home.

Version tested: PlayStation 3

It's not often that you come across a game that redefines the sector it operates in, but to put it quite frankly, Tekken: Dark Resurrection is absolutely staggering. With its very first PlayStation 3 E-Distribution Initiative title, Namco has effectively annihilated just about every preconception you might have about budget downloadable games.

This isn't a decades old arcade port looking to sneak a few quid out of you for nostalgia's sake, it's a conversion of the very latest instalment of a hugely popular coin-op franchise, a game less than two years old. Not only that, but it's running in full 1080p, pleasingly enhanced with liberal use of the RSX chip's 'off-the-shelf' visual effects. It's not in any way limited either, matching the original arcade game in terms of content, including all 35 characters. It plays identically to the arcade version, has all the moves and techniques, and even has all of Tekken 5's stages built in as an unlockable Easter Egg.

'Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection' Screenshot 1

All for a pitifully small £6.99.

That's it. Seven Great British pounds. There are no downloadable 'levels packs', 'bonus fighter unlock keys' or 'extra character content' to pick your pocket with, Fagin-style - even the extra costumes and fighter customisation elements are all included in the price. Dark Resurrection doesn't define itself and its content level by its price-point, instead it comes across a title made to be the best it could possibly be according to its original remit. And in that sense, it is absolutely magnificent.

Being a straight arcade conversion, there are very few surprises though. Boiled down to its essentials, Dark Resurrection is basically Tekken 5 with some attractive knobs surgically grafted on in strategic places - the key improvements being slyly purloined from Virtua Fighter 4 Evo. Just as in the latest VF outings, you're now able to create an arcade-going avatar, indulge in battle against other virtual arcade-goers and win extra rankings, character costumes and accessories. After each battle, you're able to select your next CPU opponent according to his or her skill level, the idea being to tailor the challenge level of the game according to your victories and defeats. For a quick solo-player blast, an original arcade mode is also available, as is a two-player versus mode.

'Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection' Screenshot 2

Dark Resurrection's arcade port remit also defines its limitations in that all the usual goodies associated with Namco's home conversions are totally absent. There are no mini-games, no amusing CG end movies (though you can use in-game currency to buy a few movie bonuses), no online options. There's no dojo or training mode either, so learning a character by bringing up the command list mid-bout is the only option available. The only other slight disappointment is that while it's great to have another 1080p PS3 title, all the graphical tricks in the book can't disguise the occasional ugly low-poly moment, a couple of which have made it into this feature's accompanying screenshot gallery.

But the bottom line is that Dark Resurrection is an excellent 'story so far' game that delivers pretty much the whole Tekken experience thus far for an astonishingly inconsequential seven quid. More than that though, it's a hard-hitting fly-kick to the face of the software industry - a standard bearer that redefines the value and content level of downloadable games, and one that will hopefully bring more spruced-up last gen conversions to the new gaming platforms. How about a 1080p, RSXed up version of Burnout 2: Point of Impact for starters?

8 / 10

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Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

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Comments (20) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • lambtron #1 5 years ago

    Woah. Jin looks a bit comical!

  • AcidSnake #2 5 years ago

    How about a 1080p, RSXed up version of Burnout 2: Point of Impact for starters?

    Oh absolutely!
    Now that would make me really want a PS3!!

  • Steroyd #3 5 years ago

    Tekken: Dark Resurrection is absolutely staggering. With its very first PlayStation 3 E-Distribution Initiative title, Namco has effectively annihilated just about every preconception you might have about budget downloadable games.

    Damn straight.

  • Moz #4 5 years ago

    Downloaded it last night, but was too tired to play by it downloaded, looking forward to it when I get home though :o)

    Have it on the PSP, and liked it but the PSP controls cripple your hands trying to play something like Tekken.

  • asphaltcowboy #5 5 years ago

    My one worry is that now, everything they release after this will have to have as much value as this massively good valued package, otherwise it'll be bombarded with cries of "rip off!"

  • Moz #6 5 years ago

    Well what they've missed from this review, is that the prices for the downloads are currently an introductory price, until some time in may. When it's suggested the prices will go up.

  • simiankid #7 5 years ago

    What is this mythical RSX chip?

  • simiankid #8 5 years ago

    Aha! Cheers Disc, you've saved my geek street cred.

    /mops brow

  • agparrot #9 5 years ago

    Sounds like bumper value... but... I'm not buying one! NOT! NOT NOT!

    Am I?

  • Drpwnage #10 5 years ago

    7 quid bargain.

    I think I paid at least 25 for the PSP version.

  • SBfistfun #11 5 years ago

    Sb prefers Dark Erection

    MMMMmmmm DAMNNNNNNN

  • dominalien #12 5 years ago

    I'll get it as soon as I get back from work today. Happy days ahead!

  • VampiricEye #13 5 years ago

    Meh, the PS3 costs a whopping 500 quid here in Denmark. I wouldn't pay that much just to get a cheap Tekken game.

  • Waldo #14 5 years ago

    After spending all that money on a PS3, most people will only be able to afford "budget" games for the next little while.

  • SomaticSense #15 5 years ago

    What? It's still good?

    So, no excuse for me to use my 'Tekken the piss' pun then?

    Damnit....

  • Feanor #16 5 years ago

    "Meh, the PS3 costs a whopping 500 quid here in Denmark. I wouldn't pay that much just to get a cheap Tekken game."

    "amazingly it does more than play Tekken."

    GLOL.

  • Les #17 5 years ago

    "and one that will hopefully bring more spruced-up last gen conversions to the new gaming platforms."

    No, please, don't. I understand that it's an easy (and therefore attractive) way for developers to milk some more cash from their assets but as a gamer I want those download stores to be filled with new, original and creative games. The kind of stuff that EA, Ubisoft, etc. will never be able/dare to create: the game equivalent of the art house movie.

  • bdc #18 5 years ago

    I'm a bit disappointed that the score is based on the price point. I downloaded it, only to find it's pretty damn thin on content. Sure it has all the fighters, but WTF no gallery or training modes and no endings?

  • AOFanboi #19 5 years ago

    What do you mean no content? Tons of accessories and skins and stuff to buy for every character. Ending? Only Soul Calibur and Mortal Kombat has decent stories among fingting games. This is the best NOK 80 I have invested in a game in a long time. It easily beats some full-price titles for sheer quality and playability (yes F1 I am looking at you) and that's as much as you can hope for.

  • Loser #20 3 years ago

    @ DrEggtimer

    The price went up when they patched in online multiplayer.