There are many things to be grateful for when it comes toTekken 8. The game is a complete package, with a substantial roster, excellent online stability with cross-platform features, character-specific endings, and a fun arcade mode that will help you learn to play with a character of your choosing. And then, there’s the story mode.
Tekken 8 doesn’t have the first story mode in the series, but these modes have always been either lacking or just decent, even when the story itself was good. But now, with a fantastic story, cinematography, animation, music, and many other qualities, Tekken 8 has by far the best story mode in the series, with many gorgeous moments to talk about.
Spoilers ahead
14The Opening Sequence
Setting The Stage
The story’s opening does a fantastic job of building expectations. We have over-the-top fun, Jin and Kazuya trash-talking while also recapping important events and a fun battle to warm us up.
We also have the premise of this game’s tournament, where Kazuya wants only the strong to survive, and whoever loses the tournament will be killed and have their home country destroyed. Stakes have never been higher.
13Reina Appears
The Mystery Begins
Reina is one of the game’s new characters, and she’s been shrouded by mystery ever since her announcement. Her first appearance and fight only ignited these questions, even for the characters in the game.
Not only does she use Mishima-style fighting, but she is interested in learning how to triggerthe Devil Gene. It’s also funny to see her acting like an upbeat girl around the other characters, hiding the true personality she only shows a few times.
12The King Of The Iron Fist Tournament
There’s An Actual Tournament To Play
It’s common for fighting games to have tournaments as their plot since that’s an easy way to justify the fighting, and Tekken has done that in all their games. Still, this is the first time in the series that it actually feels like you’re fighting in a tournament.
There are qualifier matches and a first round of matches for the tournament, where you’re able to choose who you will play as untilyou reach Jin’s fight,which is mandatory to use him for story reasons.
11Jin Vs. Leroy
The Path Of Self-Acceptance Begins
Speaking of Jin’s fight, he faces Leroy Smith in the tournament, in a fight that goes multiple rounds and has some nice story moments there. Jin is struggling with not being able to use his Devil powers, something he sees as a curse, but still uses it in combat.
Leroy notices his lack of strength and helps Jin take his first step on his personal journey: letting go of fear of his power. Even in a fight for his country, Leroy still helps out an opponent in need.
10Azazel Returns
R.I.P. Zafina
As good as having a tournament was, it got canceled quickly. With everyone charging towardlong-time antagonist Kazuya,he takes the upper hand and attacks Zafina, removing Azazel’s soul from her arm and resurrecting the beast.
Not only do we have Azazel back, which was rather unexpected, but we also have Zafina being killed - technically, she could still be alive, but her talking to Jin has some strong “last words” vibe, and she doesn’t appear again.
9True Devil Kazuya
R.I.P. Azazel
Though Azazel’s return was fun to see, he’s not the main baddy. We have a fun fight sequence against him, with us controlling Kazuya, ending with Kazuya absorbing Azazel’s power and becoming the ultimate Devil.
His new form is horrifying, and his powers grow exponentially thanks to Azazel, showing our heroes that taking Kazuya down this time will be their most difficult challenge yet.
8Claudio’s Sacrifice
Why Is Everyone Dying All The Sudden?
With Jin going to Yakushima to sort his powers out, a beautiful fight sequence happens with the heroes trying to hold off Kazuya. Among these, we fight him as Reina in her attempt to trigger her Devil in a near-death scenario.
Still, Kazuya’s new powers prove to be too much, and Claudio uses his exorcism to channel a mighty strike against the Devil. Though it only wounds him a little, it’s enough for Azazel to attempt to escape, forcing Kazuya to flee the confrontation to deal with Azazel’s soul.
7Jin Vs. Xiaoyu
They Finally Got Time For Themselves
Jinand Ling Xiaoyuis an old ship in the series that hasn’t left the harbor for decades. The game always teased something, at least from Xiaoyu’s side, where this could grow into a romance or at least something platonic.
That said, it has been multiple games where these two have barely, if at all, interacted with one another, so it’s nice to see them talking, sparring, and Xiaoyu saying she’ll be there for him.
6Yggdrasil Vs. G Corporation
Tekken Force Is Back!
With zero warnings, the game suddenly turns into a beat ‘em up, where you fight hordes of soldiers with a character chosen by the plot. Still, this section happens many times with different characters, giving you a lot of variety here.
Among Lars, King, and Steve, among others, this is one of the most distinct parts of the story. You still have one-on-one fights to break repetition, though.
5Lars Vs. Kazuya
He Deserves His Time To Shine, Too
Lars has been around for a while and was even the protagonist of Tekken 6. That story mode isn’t as great, though, which may have made some fans not too fond of the character.
Still, Lars shows how much of a Mishima he is, fighting Kazuya in his Devil form with nothing but his raw power, even making Kazuya see Heihachi in his half-brother Lars.
