

Power Crush attacks – specific moves that come equipped with armor and blow through oncoming attacks – toss another layer of depth into an already satisfyingly complex fighter.

The 3D fighting foundation holds true to form, with extended juggle combos feeling better than they ever have before. With an impressive 37 characters to choose from - including Street Fighter guest character, Akuma – as well as hundreds of attacks and combo strings to learn, a deep and rich fighting game experience lies in wait for those willing to put the time in. Once you get past the thick barrier of entry, Tekken 7 becomes a world of possibilities. Watching Eliza, Tekken 7’s first DLC fighter who happens to be a narcoleptic vampire, struggle to stay awake whilst conversing with Lili was just too good. The main arc focuses only on a handful of fighters, and the remainder of the cast gets their own side stories that are short, but sweet, and do a great job of bringing out each character’s personality. It's a useful feature for those who just want to run through the story mode, but doesn't teach anything about the actual game.įollowing the feud between Kazuya and Heihachi is interesting, and Tekken 7 shares an emotional backstory for Kazumi that had me hooked, but pacing issues and events occurring without much explanation kept me from ever really getting immersed in the story. I found myself clearing most of story chapters on normal difficulty without ever using the joystick. Holding L1 and hitting any face button will execute an effective special move, eliminating any real need to do anything else. Instead of a crash course on the basics, the game’s main story arc gives players the option to use simple shortcuts to work their way through the game’s 14 chapters. Unfortunately, we see a step in the opposite direction with Tekken 7’s “story assist.” In a world dominated by 2D fighters, Tekken 7 really should have done more to bring new players into the 3D realm and make them want to stay. You’ll find helpful tips here and there during loading screens, but it’s really not enough to introduce players to the intricacies of the 3D fighting titan that is Tekken. It also tells that Rage Arts can be initiated with R1 (on PS4), and… that’s about it. The game’s story mode provides on-screen notation at the start showing that each face button is mapped to your character’s limbs. Though this might not present a problem for veteran competitors, someone like me who has played Tekken games in the past - but definitely needed a refresher - really could have used some guidance to hit the ground running. Tekken 7 lacks any kind of tutorial or instructional course for newcomers. However, getting to a point where you can comfortably participate in said experience is a challenge. These features make bouts even more epic and are a welcome addition to an already enjoyable experience. Matches have more of a cinematic feel to them due to the powerful Rage Arts – hard-hitting super moves that players can access when their health is low – and the slowdown that occurs when two attacks are set to land at nearly the same time and decide the match outcome.
Tekken 7 review series#
The 3D fighting series has always provided highly detailed character models and gorgeous backdrops on which to do battle, and this installment keeps the tradition alive and well. A little over two years after its arcade release in Japan, Bandai Namco’s latest entry in their legendary fighting franchise has come to consoles, and though it’s bigger and badder than ever, it falls short in a handful of important areas.ĭespite its age, Tekken 7 still looks great. Though the opposite of this phenomenon is seldom seen in this day and age, it certainly exists, and it’s Tekken 7’s biggest flaw.
