Like a sleek, devastating cruise missile, Tekken 5 streaks onto the PS2 with little advance warning. Who knew that Tekken 5 would become not only a series high point, but also an early favourite for Fighting Game of the Year? Hey, if you were expecting Grand Theft Auto: Halo 2 Edition, that’s your fault. Tekken 5 rocks.
When Tekken 4 arrived, fans immediately frowned upon the weakened juggle combos and the emphasis on pinning opponents against walls. Tekken 5 casts off those shackles and makes a decisive return to the glory days of Tekken 3. Brian, Paul, and Nina are back to their old lethal selves, the cruel mass nerfing from Tekken 4 just a distant memory. Juggle combos again reign supreme. Wall hits are present but are no longer a constant, overpowering element. The new characters (including the Wesley Snipes look-alike Raven) and hardcore returning favorites (such as Jack-5, Wang and Anna) form a truly all-star Tekken roster. For series fans, this is all incredible news. Of course, some folks won’t be satisfied by Tekken 5’s incremental but much-needed, tweaks.
Players who expect a completely fresh experience here are missing the point. Like Gran Turismo 4, Tekken 5 sets out to right past wrongs and make sweeping but subtle changes to the core gameplay. In these tasks, the game succeeds brilliantly. If it’s okay for GT 4, why not Tekken 5?
Heavy hitter
Where Tekken 4 took place in dull locales like airports and parking garages, Tekken 5 showcases some of the most beautiful, creative environments ever seen in a fighting game. One memorable example is the moonlit match set in a vast, shimmering field of dandelion tufts. The character models also look more convincing, as Namco has finally updated the character animations to create smoother, more graceful combos. Tekken 5 makes a few audio strides, too, with explosive sound effects and driving background music that is noticeably less techno-driven than prior installments.
Tekken 5 is an excellent game, better than it has any right to be. But the premium bonus content (including arcade-perfect ports of the first three Tekken titles, plus a spiritual successor to Tekken Force) catapult the entire package to ‘must-have’ status. If you missed out on Tekken before, this is the perfect chance to get acquainted.
In the end, Tekken 5 is so energetic and refreshing that you have to wonder why Namco saddled series mainstay Nina with the cheesy adventure spin-off Death by Degrees. Judging by Tekken 5’s success, the old girl can still stand on her own merits just fine, thank you.
Specs
Tekken 5
Requirements: PlayStation 2
Rating: 95%
Price: 54.99
Contact: Gamestop 01 872 4305
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