The success of the first TEKKEN game got the fledgling series off to a good start, and as if to capitalise on this early success, Namco released the follow-up, TEKKEN 2, just a year later. As with all emerging franchises, it was up to the sequel to make or break TEKKEN’s reputation, to build on the successes and improve the weaknesses of the previous title, to make its mark in gaming history.

 TEKKEN 2

Thanks to improving technology TEKKEN 2 boasted faster, more fluid gameplay which decreased recovery time and sharpened the increasingly combo-based action. On top of this, a graphical overhaul resulted in more detailed characters, backdrops, and most spectacularly, CGI cut scenes, which were fast becoming an aesthetically pleasing staple to the TEKKEN series.

Namco opted to take an if it ain’t broke don’t fix it approach to the button configuration and fundamental gameplay dynamics, adding additional moves to the characters’ respective command lists, but little else in the way of changes.

New characters such as the Jackie Chan inspired Lei Wulong and Taekwondo expert Baek Do San, also joined the growing roster of combatants, and helped showcase the speed and fluidity of the new game with their ambitiously complex fighting styles.

As with its predecessor, the true success of this game comes from its striking cast of new and improved characters. Indeed, we will see with each instalment of these retrospective articles, how the TEKKEN series enjoys taking liberties with its creative endeavours; meshing the innovative realism of its gameplay with its increasingly surreal cast of characters. TEKKEN 2 came on leaps and bounds from the original game, throwing a genetically modified Kangaroo/Dinosaur into the mix, along with the strikingly original Angel/Devil character, which represented the internal struggle of the protagonist turned bad, Kazuya Mishima.

TEKKEN 2 – IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

Angel/Devil:

Though TEKKEN 2 is the only canonical appearance of these characters, Angel and Devil mark the franchise’s first major foray into the realm of the supernatural. Where in many cases the introduction of such fantastical creatures to an otherwise realistic game just shouldn’t or wouldn’t work, Angel and Devil are integrated seamlessly into the central plotline, physically representing Kazuya’s moral tightrope between good and evil.

Devil’s striking debut, as the last bout of arcade mode, set a new benchmark of expectation for the series narrative which would continue in future instalments with Jin’s inheritance of the ‘Devil Gene’. The notion of evil prevailing over a series protagonist (to this date we can assume permanently) was yet another bold new step for TEKKEN to take, and Devil’s lingering presence in the background of every game since echoes the significance this character has had on the entire direction of the series.

Although it seems Angel and Devil will only be appearing in non-canon instalments for the foreseeable future, both have been beautifully redesigned for their role in TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT 2 and, most importantly, will still be shooting laser beams out of their eyes.

Yoshimitsu:

For all TEKKEN’s character design feats, Yoshimitsu has to be among the best. Though never involved directly with the main story arc of the game, the demonic looking swordsman appears in every game of the series and numerous Namco spin-offs, with each instalment giving him a crazier incarnation than the last.

The Medieval Knight attire from the first game is traded in for a traditional Samurai look for TEKKEN 2, and both Yoshimitsu’s battle stage and character design in this game are the last of his more subtle developments. His physical appearance in future instalments sees him radically disengaged from reality, appearing as a lightsabre wielding ‘alien’ in TEKKEN 3 and some kind of undead skeleton in TEKKEN 5. This raises certain questions about the character that fans are dying to know, chiefly about whether he’s actually alive or not. The speculation regarding Yoshimitsu’s enigmatic appearance combined with his increasingly flamboyant fighting style fuels his ongoing popularity, making him among the most enduring favourites of TEKKEN franchise history.

Finishing Touches:

TEKKEN 2 went further than its predecessor not just in terms of graphics and technology, but also with its re-playability value once Arcade mode was beaten and all the characters were unlocked. Here we see the introduction of various modes which would become commonplace additions to the series in later instalments.

Survival mode, Time Attack mode and Team Battle mode each brought their own exciting new challenges to the table, which offered plenty of additional engagement for gamers before the days of online gaming. Survival mode is especially brilliant as, even playing with your favourite character, it takes some real skill and real luck to make it more than twelve rounds before getting KO’d by the increasingly difficult computer opponent.

As with its predecessor, TEKKEN 2 also boasts an eclectic soundtrack and range of engaging stages, from the serene feudal Japan inspired soundtrack of Yoshimitsu’s woodland stage (The Headshaker) to King’s epic Church theme (Ring A Bell). Indeed, with the aging Heihachi and his archaic attire filling the leading role (in evil-Kazuya’s stead) and the otherworldly inclusion of Angel and Devil; this entire game, music included, takes on an almost mythical feel which makes it both a timeless and original addition to the TEKKEN series, and a classic video game in its own right.

Next time, new blood debuts with the release of TEKKEN 3….

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