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PreviousTekken 6 Hands On
Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 Hands On by Matt Edwards
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Sitting down to my first round of Tekken in over a year, I'm a little concerned. As a fan of the series since Tekken 3, I've always been a solid Law or Yoshimitsu player, with both characters' 10-hit combo strings hardwired into my brain. But with my opponent sat next to me, a look of serene assurance across his face, it occurs to me that this year's Street Fighter IV addiction may have dulled my 3D fighter fundamentals. I needn't have worried. After a shaky start and some mild profanity, the Jeet Kune Do chef scraps a round-three victory with a well-timed one-inch punch. Yep, this is going to be an all-nighter for sure.
The preview code Namco's provided is, with the exception of online play, more or less complete, and a quick trawl through the menus reveals the usual offline modes including arcade, versus, team battle, time attack, survival, gallery and practice - but it's really staggering to see the choice the sixth King of Iron Fist Tournament character-select screen offers. There are 41 fighters to choose from, and although that's not taking into consideration a slight overlap (Mokujin, Kuma and Panda), it's still very impressive for a 3D brawler. With the exception of Jinpachi Mishima, everyone from Tekken 5 and Dark Resurrection has made it into Tekken 6. Although if I'm being really finicky, Jack-5 has been upgraded to Jack-6.
Many are familiar - significantly tweaked yet recognisable from Tekken 5 - but with that many combatants it's not too surprising to discover Tekken 6 introduces players to new blood in the shape of two guys and two girls. The most intriguing new fighter is the bulky Bob. He's a martial arts genius who always lost to larger opponents and so, as fits with the traditional Tekken logic, decided the best way to overcome this was to become the largest fighter around. Bob looks like a flabby beefcake, but he's surprisingly nimble, and more than once an AI Bob catches me off-guard with his swift gut-barge counter.
Yoshimitsu now wields two swords, but he's lost most of his unblockable moves.
The other new man in Tekken 6 is Spaniard Miguel. Unlike Bob, Miguel is a rough and ready fighter with the predictable hint of a matador about him. In gameplay terms his style isn't particularly flamboyant, relying on solid one-two hit power mixed with average speed, and he also has the 'savage' stance and a deceptive taunt move which ends with an unblockable sucker punch. Far easier on the eye are tomboy Leo and tribal assassin Zafina. Leo is a Bajiquan practitioner who can dish out some nasty knee and elbow strikes, whereas Zafina is schooled in Kalarippayattu, with stances called tarantula, scarecrow and praying mantis. "Seductively unnerving", it says in my notes.
The consensus is that Tekken is less hardcore than the likes of Virtua Fighter, but all this really reflects is the superhuman demands Virtua Fighter makes on your reflexes; Tekken 6 is no button-masher, whatever anyone says. You can cheese it up with Eddie Gordo all day, but any player worth their salt will use the side-step, throw and counter systems to bring mash-happy shenanigans to an abrupt end. Advanced play focuses on mind-games and anticipating your opponent's attacks. Virtua Fighter 5 is certainly more technical, but Tekken 6 has depth whilst offering more accessibility and choice.
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Latest News
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Tekken 6 patch adds campaign co-op [18]
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Tekken 6 online patch on Thursday [12]
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Tekken 6 lag patch in development [13]
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UK charts: DJ Hero debuts at No. 20 [67]
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Tekken 6 gets October US release [14]
Latest Screenshots
7 August, 2009 [4]
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Comments: 1-32 of 32 in total
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muscleblade
12/10/09 @ 12:55
-1
@GreyBeard
The difference between a "hands on" article and a preview is that its posibble to put some facts in it and not just guesses and predictions. |
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+6
In Tekken 5 a player's best strategy was often to launch the opponent into the air, and dish out the most impressive juggle combo they could muster before their opponent touched down and rolled to safety. But in Tekken 6, certain moves have Bound properties, which allow the player to bounce their opponent off the ground in order to continue a combo yet further.
Yes, this means that in Tekken 6, a player's best strategy is ALWAYS to launch the opponent into the air. That's my only concern with this version. I expect to be bounced around like crazy when I go online, but I have to admit that doing a juggle of your own was always satisfying for me. |
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+8
Looking forward to this. Tekken was always my fave fighter games. Only thing I find a little worrying is whether it'll be too juggle-centered. I've hated juggle combos since day one. I mean, I do them myself, of course - but they do seem a little cheesy, given the fact that once you're in the air you can't counter or block attacks. I would have liked an in-air evading roll or something similar. Just to balance things a bit.
Still, this is gonna be a wonderful party game. :D edit: Hehe, interesting to note that someone shares my sentiments there.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 12/10/09 @ 14:06
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+3
"given the fact that once you're in the air you can't counter or block attacks"
I think they call that the reward for the other guy launching you in the first place, it's not like you start in the air or that jumping is a large part of the game like it is in some fighters. I'm not a massive of fan of games where you have no input for a few seconds at a time either, but that's Tekken at the end of the day. |
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4thVariety
12/10/09 @ 13:12
+2
I wonder if it is still possible to complete arcade mode by stomping your foot on the controller.
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Br0ken_Engli5h
12/10/09 @ 13:24
+3
@Ilmaestro
I think he just means that launching is a pretty low risk/high reward strategy. That's unless launchers are massively unsafe and you risk having the same done to you if it's blocked. I don't know as I haven't played a Tekken in years. The possible problem with this is Namco's (past) shitty netcode as it made a lot of moves that were unsafe offline; spammable online without much fear of getting hit. It'll be a day-one purchase for me as I'm a sucker for fighting games, but I just hope they've upped their game regarding netplay this time. |
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-3
"Tekken 6 is no button-masher, whatever anyone says. You can cheese it up with Eddie Gordo all day, but any player worth their salt will use the side-step, throw and counter systems to bring mash-happy shenanigans to an abrupt end"
Button-mashers shouldn't be able to win against anybody, not just "players worth their salt". If I have learned to block and still don't consistely win against a button-masher then there is something wrong with the game. And there IS something wrong with Tekken. |
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designerheadache
12/10/09 @ 14:24
0
please let this be better than the previous couple of versions. I really feel Tekken has lots its way, all the fighters feel similar and it just kind of feels (to me) like "why bother". Unlike for example Virtua Fighter where i feel that series has progressed with each iteration and encouraged you to really dig deep in to each character to learn how they play and really find your niche.
Or maybe Tekken 2/3 were a blip and i am expecting to much from this series :/ |
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FenderMaster
12/10/09 @ 14:45
+2
the developer needs to be aiming for Street Fighter IV and BlazBlue levels of lag-reduction.
lol at holding Street Fighter 4 as a high water mark for netcode... aside from that, good preview, I'm far more of a 2D fighter fan, but if theres a demo, I'll definirely check it out |
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+6
@ilmaestro: Yeah, I hear you. I'm usually good at blocking, and my defensive game is generally pretty good. It's just that most other attacks in the game has counters, dodges or blocks. Even throws can be countered if you're quick enough/good enough. Once your opponent has landed a good juggling starter, there's really nothing you can do, but wait till the juggle is over. If you're fighting a good juggler, you're basically f*cked. :P
I just wish the gameplay was a little bit more balanced, so that juggles were reversable if you're skilled. |
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+5
The growing part of Tekken i have hated the most has been the total juggle-fest its turned into so reading about Bound moves that allow:
" in order to continue a combo yet further" fills me with nothing but dread for this latest itteration. Even in Tekken 5 once you got knocked up/down it is very likely your round is over. Some people have said it above, theres no defense or blocking once you are up, theres no risk to the laucher... This sounds even worse. I'm all for a juggle routine netting a couple or so nice hits from a skilled players input - not ones stretching out to the death of the opponent whether they hit the floor or not - wheres the fun in that? |
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+4
"In Tekken 5 a player's best strategy was often to launch the opponent into the air, and dish out the most impressive juggle combo they could muster before their opponent touched down and rolled to safety. But in Tekken 6, certain moves have Bound properties, which allow the player to bounce their opponent off the ground in order to continue a combo yet further."
Is this...supposed to be a good thing? Honestly. |
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-5
I would like to be a proper review made for a journalist capable to do 2 Electric Wind GodFist in the same sequence. Otherwise, I couldn't care less about the press reviews.
If any want a serious opinion about the game, then must try luck in tekkenzaibatsu.com or sdtekken.com. Most of Tekken 6 BR reviews in the 30th will be made from people unable to play with decent level skill -some of them doesn't even like fighting games-.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 12/10/09 @ 18:04
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BlitzwingHaz
12/10/09 @ 17:31
+2
Yeh but fighting games should be accesable to people who don't know just frames and bound combos too.
I've played Tekken for years and it just seems to keep getting better, but the bound combo thing looks a bit ott. I hate someone losing half their lifebar because the other guy got a lucky uppercut in there. Dying to play this though, but I really wish they'd put in a character creation mode in there. |
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RandomTerrain
12/10/09 @ 18:55
+2
What? Even more juggling. Why? I haven't heard anyone say that want that. Grrr.
Otherwise it does sound fun, and I'm tempted to pick it up. I wonder how much Yoshi's moves have changed. |
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WinterSnowblind
12/10/09 @ 22:15
+2
Looking forward to the game, Tekken Force Mode even looks quite good, which is saying a lot considering how bad Tekken 5's Devil Within Mode was. But can is there offline multiplayer at all? All the previews only mention the that it has online co-op, I'd be disappointed if I couldn't play it offline with a friend.
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+1
As others have said the juggling kinda puts me off. Playing 5 on the hardest setting was more a game of luck as to who got in that launcher first. The AI would just bounce you off the floor, off the wall, off the floor until your health depleted so your strategy just immitated this. i do like Tekken but feel it's lost its way a bit. Hope this turns out to be a bit deeper.
@DunkelDog maybe me too. |
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Br0ken_Engli5h
13/10/09 @ 09:17
+1
I don't have a Wii. You can use your "pro" sponsorship money to buy me one if you'd like, though.
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notmyrealname
14/10/09 @ 00:23
+1
tekken has never been easy. It is more accessible though because a lot of the moves look very nice. Still it's a very tactical fighter and definitely not to be underestimated (although soul calibur has maybe more in tactics of movement, blocks, counters, position etc). People who talk about timing = tactical need to think again.
*edit* It's always people who like the less popular than tekken franchises that say tekken is for idiots. I'd like to challenge those people for tekken:P I think I've played all major fighting games of the last 8 years and I definitely dont count Tekken as the easiest. Definitely not.
Edited 2 times,
most recently on 14/10/09 @ 01:25
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0
@mkreku: "but all the females look like slutty supermodels?"
It does seem to be 'for the boys to ogle' but looking like slutty supermodels can help you win. If your opponent spends their time trying to get a flash of your (fighters) knickers every other move, they arent really watching what you are doing so it gives you an edge. I see it as a form of distraction and a valid tactic to deploy in battle... honest ;) |
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0
Interesting that the article only mentions Lars and Alisa as being playable in Campaign Mode. Maybe they have to be unlocked before they're playable normally?
"I would not be surprised if the male/female player ratio in games like these were 99/1. Why can there be fat male fighters but all the females look like slutty supermodels? I want to play Big Bad Berta from Bulgaria! " Me too - I think you can apply a similar crticism of games in general though, or to mass media in general in fact.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 14/10/09 @ 14:41
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Comments: 1-32 of 32 in total
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