Iron First Tournament is coming to PS5. To prepare my mind, body, and spirit for the occasion, I spent a few hours training in the latest version of Tekken 8. After trading with some of the best players in the world across a variety of new modes, I can’t wait to earn money. My place among the elite when the game launches on January 26th.
And if you can’t wait too, I have good news. The demo will be released on PS5 on December 14.
Arcade Quest hands-on
I was excited to see what the new Arcade Quest mode had to offer, which plays out as a completed campaign rather than a simple bonus mode. The premise is simple enough – create a fun version of yourself and play through digital arcades to become the best player in the world.
The new mode puts your own digital avatar into a crew you can hang out with, train with, and compete with. They will cheer you on during matches when you achieve great accomplishments and give you real tips to make you a better player. This mode takes the fun of turning the story mode into a journey of self-improvement. Rise to the top mode with friends, digital and real, in essence. It was surreal to have a digital friend giving me tips on how to improve based on the match he was watching.
Matches play differently depending on who you challenge. During my time in the game, one crew member was only interested in hanging out with friends, and they barely got into combat, which allowed me to get two perfect victories. Some characters have nefarious reasons for challenging you, such as only agreeing to matches they believe they can win.
“Originally, this type of game was born in arcades. They’ve kind of disappeared in the West, and even in Japan recently,” said game director Kohei Ikeda, “but the cool part about it is that you’ll show up at an arcade, and your friends will be there, or you can create a New friendships, and you all share that passion for the game, you were able to learn new things while you were there. It was a great experience. So people who have experienced that culture before can say, oh, wow, I remember that. It was awesome. Or younger players who may have heard of it can get a little taste of it online.
As you become a well-known competitor in your local arcade, you’ll eventually move to new cities and take on their local players to grow your crew’s reputation and personal reputation. This addition makes sense in-game, even without the fate of the world at stake.
PlayStation x Tekken
During my play session, I knew Tekken was a visually elegant game, but seeing and feeling it in action shows how Bandai Namco is evolving their game. On top of Tekken 8’s sharp visual fidelity, there’s amazing attention to detail. The way the stage collapses has always been overwhelming, but seeing the characters’ hair and clothes blow in the wind, get wet in the rain, and even reflect light adds to the depth of the combat experience.
“We really wanted to achieve a high level of graphical quality for the game,” Ikeda said. “Responsivity is really important. And the very short loading times that you have now for the PS5 generation fit well with the game and make it an even better experience.
The DualSense wireless controller’s haptics also shined as it responded to hits landed on my character. I can now physically feel when my opponent hits me for a ring to put down nicely. When I was hit by Heat Smash, a new super attack in the game, the bone-crushing attack had a trembling sensation in my hand, making me think I was defeated. Even outside of combat, my touches responded to action in a cutscene, meaning there was rarely a moment when I wanted to put down the controller.
“When you feel the destruction of the environment, the power of the characters’ attacks, and that really sensitive kind of finely tuned vibration of the controller lends itself really well to the player experience,” Ikeda said.
Touches also power the new Heat System, a mechanic that puts the fighter in an aggressive state, making you feel like an unstoppable force within the game. The mechanic caused the DualSense controller to respond with intense vibrations from simple attacks. As I rushed at my opponent, I gained the sense that only a miracle could stand in the way of my brutal blows. I’ve never been the type to pull off flashy combos on my opponents, but with the new heat system, I almost feel like the game is challenging me to defeat my opponent and put on a show while doing so.
“I would say that for Tekken, but also for fighting games in general, I’ve noticed that [for] “A lot of people are really divided on whether you want to use an arcade stick or a controller,” Murray said. “But a lot of people seem to really prefer the PS5 controller. It seems to be very comfortable.”
Tekken Ball Till You Drop game
Tekken 8 also looks to its past to advance the future of the franchise. Tekken Ball returns after a decade, defeating players with a large number of round objects, dealing damage when they fail to block an incoming sphere.
The in-depth and enhanced character customization options in Tekken 8 made for a goofy time, allowing me to create the most ridiculous version of my favorite fighters before heading to the beach. She managed to turn the hot-tempered Hwoarang into an eccentric tooth fairy.
Another improvement over the previous feature is Super Ghost Battles, where the AI learns your fighting styles in real-time and starts playing just like you. During a never-ending mirror match, my AI doppelgänger hit me with my favorite combos, forcing me to learn how to better block and escape heavy beatings. The more I spam my standard special move, the more my ghost will pressure me with the same special move.
I wish I had more time with the title to see what other unexpected things could have happened to it, but the time I spent improving my grip was well spent.
Tekken 8 will be released worldwide on January 26 on PS5, with a beta on December 14.
Get ready to dive into the world of arcade gaming with PlayStation.Blog’s hands-on experience of Arcade Quest, Super Ghost Battles, and Tekken Ball. Step into the virtual arcade and get ready to test your skills in a variety of challenging and exciting games. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or new to arcade-style gameplay, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in these thrilling experiences. Join us as we take a closer look at these games and get a taste of the arcade action that awaits on PlayStation.