There was a second this weekend, in the course of a very prolonged set of Tekken 8 with a buddy, the place I remembered half the explanation I like Tekken. It was a brutally shut bout, and this spherical got here proper all the way down to the wire.

It was so shut, actually, that we initiated two slow-motion finishes. The Tekken crew had applied this characteristic for Tekken 7 as a option to spotlight these nail-biter “who lands the hit” moments. We acquired two of them, and properly, you possibly can see for your self how that went right here:

Stunning. Tekken is, for my cash, some of the constantly enjoyable combating video games round. It’s the kind of sport that I believe anybody can decide up and, inside just a few seconds, get pleasure from. Partly due to a comparatively simplified management scheme, laid out round simply 4 buttons, matches really feel centered on the punches and kicks, way more tangible and comprehensible components to deal with than fireballs, large floating swords, or different mechanics.

That’s to not say Tekken is a straightforward sport to be taught as a result of, my goodness, everybody will inform you that’s not the case. Certain, it’s simple to mash some buttons and have a very good time in Tekken. However studying Tekken, bettering proficiency, climbing the ladder? That’s a unique story altogether. And what I’ve felt over my first weekend taking part in Tekken 8 is that, whereas that climb isn’t any much less daunting, every step is extra helpfully laid out than ever.

Welcome to the King of Iron Fist

Going into Tekken 8, I wasn’t positive who I’d decide up and gel with; Asuka was my T7 major, although I’d simply as simply bounce round to whoever caught my eye. I spent a while taking part in a spherical or two as each member of the T8 forged and gravitated in direction of Reina, the newcomer with a little bit of Heihachi Mishima type in her strikes and on-screen presence. I made up my mind I used to be going to “get good at Reina.” Oh boy.

It’s essential to notice right here that Reina is a reasonably advanced character. I wouldn’t try to pit her towards, say, the numerous stances of Lei Wulong. However she’s a robust, stance-heavy character who depends on each information and dexterity. It’s been some time for the reason that phrases “Electrical Wind God Fist” meant a lot to me, but it surely rapidly turned my world within the coaching lab.

So, after testing some concepts and actually, actually tough strings in matches towards pals, I made a decision it was time to hit the lab. Combo challenges and different useful instruments have develop into commonplace in combating video games, and I used to be glad to see them in Tekken 8. Bandai Namco even has one in every of my favourite options, a percussive beat for button presses whereas watching a combo demo, so you possibly can hear the timing. I’ve been in a position to internalize strings most likely twice as quick as regular due to that alone.

What I used to be stunned to see, although, was the wealth of further instruments for studying in-game. As a result of it’s not just a few combo challenges and a fast character file. Proper there within the menu was one thing referred to as Punishment Coaching, a phrase I’ve often reserved for holidays and particular events.

In Punishment Coaching, you possibly can observe totally different choices your character has to punish others. Your foe whiffs their punch? Right here’s a very good combo-starter to hit them with. Get caught by a sweep? Have a rising jab to counter. It’s all very simple to learn and perceive. Even higher, in contrast to the combo challenges, these concentrate on sensible utility. They encourage you to learn and reply in variety.

Play it again for me

The lab choices alone are already nice, however replays add the cherry on prime. A characteristic that was added to Tekken 7 additionally returns for 8, the Replay Ideas. Whereas watching a replay in Tekken 8, the system gives automated recommendation, informing you what choices you would have resorted to in sure conditions.

Now, in my very own replays, a few of these quantity to “tech the throw, dummy.” However I’ve already seen others get some actually fascinating, insightful hints from the system on their very own replays. Add within the capability to “take over” the replay, and also you’ve acquired a built-in coaching simulation, a what-if machine that makes it simple to spot-practice errors.

Now, I do know that going into the lab and doing observe is vital to getting higher. I know this. Nevertheless it’s not at all times a straightforward factor to do, day after day, on the street to getting higher at one thing as advanced and aggressive as a one-on-one combating sport. So, having these instruments lay out the strategies for enchancment so neatly and successfully actually helps relating to choices. Now, what about motivation?

The search to develop into stronger

Historically, a giant barrier to private combating sport enchancment isn’t simply the complexity, mechanical dexterity, and even the repetition; it will also be a social stress. For some of us, myself included, it’s draining to get off work, activate the PlayStation, and get bodied by a King for an hour or two. Even when I do know I’m studying, the “You Lose” display screen will get previous, particularly if you already know there’s a human being on the opposite aspect.

Finally, the piece de resistance of all this, no less than to me, is Arcade Quest. It’s a brand new mode launched for Tekken 8, as a kind of different story route. Slightly than the cinematic, in-universe story spun in the principle Story Mode, Arcade Quest allows you to make a particularly Xbox 360 avatar and go on a shonen anime journey to develop into the best Tekken participant round, sizzling off the heels of Tekken 8‘s launch.

Sure, it’s a bit meta. Nevertheless it actually, actually works. Development in Tekken 8‘s Arcade Quest includes going to arcades and beating up the locals, the identical manner that Zoey Handley infamously acquired employed right here at Destructoid.

I’ve solely performed slightly little bit of Arcade Quest, however I’m already enamored with the methods it so simply methods me into having fun with the Ranked grind. Right here, I’m combating CPU opponents, made to seem like actual ones, with their very own characters and expertise. Over time, I can earn factors and rank up, via a development path that mirrors the Ranked mode on-line.

Every part is basically the identical, but it surely’s eradicating the sensation of dropping repeat video games to people. Right here, I can simply grind towards the CPU for a bit. There’s, for no matter purpose, much less dread within the pit of my abdomen booting up Arcade Quest than hopping into the Ranked queue. And if the final word aim is making my stunning Nickelodeon-looking avatar a real champion on this fictional Tekken-obsessed world, all the higher.

Ascending to Ruler, he thinks, wistfully

As I wrote above, I’ve just about settled on Reina. I firmly imagine that, finish of day, you need to decide the character who’s acquired the buttons you wish to push essentially the most. And Reina has good buttons. She’s acquired this one transfer the place you sprint, after which uppercut, after which spin-kick within the air. I’ve not landed it as soon as, however once I do, I hope it feels the way in which I think about some folks really feel on the summits of mountains.

Actually, that’s what it’s about. The climb. A lot as I wish to assume I get pleasure from it, I do want these strategies to persuade me to choose up the stick (or controller, or hitbox) and stick with it. Tekken 8 makes that actually simple. It’s acquired unbelievable observe and studying instruments. Plus, a single-player mode that wishes you to really feel just like the protagonist in a Tekken brand-deal battle anime.

Preventing video games have been having a little bit of a renaissance over the previous couple of years. Avenue Fighter is again in motion, Responsible Gear hit its Attempt, and much more area of interest entries like Melty Blood and Underneath Night time have seen an uptick in visibility. It’s good to see that Tekken is taking all that momentum from the long-running success of 7 and placing it in direction of 8. This isn’t a evaluate, per se; it’s simply me saying rattling, it feels good to be taking part in some good-ass Tekken.