acequeenking | Feb. 3rd, 2024

I am sorry this is basically now a Tekken journal for a bit.

Basic non-spoiler things:

- The storymode in this is simple shounen anime but it, as the children say, "eats." Is it stupid at times? Yes, but mostly in a fun way. I appreciate a lot that this one actually does move the story forward in a way Tekken 7 and Tekken 6, even, at times, did not. Feels like the story is getting out of the rut it was stuck in for a while.

- KAZUYA FANS, THEY DIDN'T FUCK UP KAZUYA. I REPEAT, NAMCO DID NOT FUCK UP KAZUYA. I was worried about it, I think we were all worried about it. But Kazuya fans get SO MUCH GOOD FOOD. A Kazuya smorgasbord. Would I have wanted more Kazuya? Of course. If it were up to me, Tekken 1-8 would entirely be about Kazuya and so would Tekken 9 be, too. I am a spiders georg of Kazuya stans. I should not be counted on to give you accurate accounts of how much Kazuya is too much. But I think Namco did a very good job and that his character remains true to what he always has been -- but gets new nuance too.

- Lee Chaolan fans will be happy. As a Lee Chaolan fan, I am happy at least. I think this is the most plot relevant he's been in years and he's not JUST running around yelling excellent. Also his house is a stage. And it's fantastic.

- I actually felt weirdly proud of Lee and Kazuya in a weird way??? Having related to them as teenagers, watching them all grown up now (and then some lol Lee is 48, Kaz is 50) watching them doing things in story mode, I got kinda misty???? Wild.

- Jin is gonna be love it or hate it and I think a lot of it will depend on how much you loved T6 Jin or hated him. He's very pretty either way, though, truly his daddy's boy (haha). Some nice moments with friends that will make good ship material for the Jin babes.

- Lars got his pretty face back and we're all happy about it after the ugly stick he got smacked with in Tekken 7.

- Jun is very pretty and her and Asuka have been pretty heavily retooled to accommodate two Kazamas. Jun's style is more flowy, traditional Kzama style and Asuka is now the Kazama bruiser. Jun is REALLY lovely and I hope she stays in the storyline both because of her role and because she's really fun to play (and, for the first time, a fucking TANK lmfao she will probably get balanced down, she is better than Kazuya OR Jin).

I have THINGS to say about her STORY but I will say her special match opener/closer with Kazuya is literally perfect.

- I hate Asaka's new outfit but it's leagues better than her Tekken 7 one. :) Everyone else is fucking fantastic in outfits.

- Gameplay is v. good and v. hard. I am still not very good at this series all these years later. But I keep trying. *laugh* If you want to play with me, I would love to play with you and show off...my pretty outfits I've made instead of getting better at the game lol.