Tekken 6
Iron fisting.
Stages too are interactive in a way that's entirely new to the series, if not to fans of rival Tecmo's Dead or Alive. Walls shatter, expanding the play area one moment, while floors disintegrate, throwing both players into a tiny cellar with far more limited floor space the next. These real-time changes in environmental space force tactical adjustments from moment to moment. The environments can also be used to extend combos, players free to bounce their opponents off walls and floors to extend the length of hit strings, ensuring those with good enough timing can chip away at their rival's health with long, impressive chains.
Of course, getting to grips with the hundreds of different combo strings in the game is another matter entirely: Tekken 6's character roster runs to 40, the largest yet seen in the series. We ask Harada what the benefits and drawbacks of including so many distinct characters are for the game. "The benefits are pretty compelling," he reckons. "By providing a broad range of different designs and fighting styles we think it's possible for everyone to find a character they are comfortable with. It also decreases the chance of everyone picking the same few characters. However, there are many drawbacks to this approach to. Balancing the game becomes a nightmare as the set of variables increases exponentially. Also, having to develop storylines, movies and distinct move lists for such a broad range of characters pushes the cost of development sky-high. But on balance I think it's worth it."
No expense has been spared in delivering the definitive version of Tekken 6 to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The number of bonus modes and extras is dizzying. Chief amongst the bonuses is undoubtedly the scenario campaign mode, an overhauled version of the Tekken Force seen in previous titles, that transforms the one-on-one fighter into a Streets of Rage-style scrolling beat-'em-up. Here the control system becomes a hybrid of the conventional move-sets with free movement - each character enjoying their full move list from the main game, yet now able to run around long environments filled with multiple enemies.
Players can team up with a friend over PSN or Xbox Live and it's by playing through this mode multiple times that the huge array of bespoke clothes and accessories are unlocked to customise characters. Unlocking the full range of customisable options for all 40 characters will likely take hundred of playthroughs, a focus that means the developer has spent a great deal of time smoothing over what has previously been an awkward transition from one genre to another.
It's clear that Namco is hoping players will invest more than just their time into this Tekken release. Timed to coincide with the game's release, the publisher has teamed up with legendary Japanese arcade stick maker HORI to release a GBP 150 wireless 8-button stick that will compete for the affections of the hardcore with Capcom's Street Fighter IV Tournament Edition. Additionally, a UK tournament commencing around Fresher's Week will run in city centres across the country, culminating in a grand UK finale in early November. Clearly Capcom's successes in promoting Street Fighter IV to the nation in similar ways earlier this year have not gone unnoticed.
However, whether Tekken 6 can replicate its rival's success is as much down to the mechanics as the promotions. "I'm certain this is the best Tekken we've made so far," Harada enthuses. "We've tweaked and balanced and carefully considered every decision that's been made along the way. With each new release in a big franchise like this you have to sit down and decide where you're going to go next. Now that we've nearly arrived, I think we've charted the right course."
Tekken 6 is due out for PS3 and Xbox 360 this autumn.