At a certain point, one has to stop caring whether “Tekken” makes any sense and just go with the flow. That thought came across my mind as I watched Brian Cox from “Succession” narrate a catchup video on the current state of the saga.

The nearly 30-year-old franchise boils down to absurd Mishima family disputes in which father and son fight each other and toss the loser off a cliff. That doesn’t necessarily mean they kill each other because just like any soap opera no one traditionally dies in “Tekken.” They just come back angrier, more ruthless and perhaps with new abilities.


A DESTRUCTIVE FAMILY FEUD
When it comes to the Mishimas, a dormant devil gene lies within its bloodline and it awakens in some family members when they’re in a crisis. It’s given them unbelievable durability. As for the rest of the 32-character roster, they have their own personal stories that players can access in Character Episodes option, but they don’t rise to the level of the epic war between Jin Kazama and his father, Kazuya Mishima.

The conflict between the two drives the story mode titled “The Dark Awakens.” It takes place across 15 chapters, in which players mostly take the role of Jin but they have a chance to dabble with other characters a woven narrative. They control characters in a tournament story arc while in chapter 10 an alliance of fighters battles Kazuya’s G Corporation army. Again, everything’s over-the-top but it’s enjoyable if you acknowledge this is all camp.

Jin Kazama fights his dad Kazuya Mishima in Tekken 8
Jin Kazama, left, has to come to grips with his power as he battles his father Kazuya Mishima in “Tekken 8.” (Bandai Namco) 

As for the fighting system, the developers keep elements of the previous iteration but tweaked them to create combat that rewards aggressive play. Rage Arts acts as comeback mechanic that’s activated when health is below 25% and deals massive damage when it connects. It’s also accompanied by show-stopping animation. Meanwhile, Power Crush is back and it’s a way for players to fend off aggressive opponents with its ability absorb damage and connect with an attack.

All of this is done with impressive visuals on the Unreal 5 engine. It’s one of most impressive-looking titles in the genre, and it’s a title full of just the right visual flourish without becoming gauche.

Law battles Paul with nunchuks in Tekken 8
The visuals in “Tekken 8” get an upgrade thanks to the Unreal 5 engine. (Bandai Namco) 

BRINGING THE HEAT
The new “Tekken 8” feature is the Heat System, which can be activated at any time through a button or via a combo. The Heat State opens up more powerful moves and allows players to deal damage to blocking foes. The only issue is that it’s temporary, doesn’t last long and can be only used once per round. It’s easy for novices to pick up, but experts will thrive as they figure out how to deal damage and open up adversaries to combos. The system introduces a cat-and-mouse element as players figure out when to use it.

Producer Katsuhiro Harada also tries to make “Tekken 8” more newbie-friendly with an alternate control scheme called Special Style. It lets players perform juggling air combos and other complex maneuvers with a few button presses. It’s also a way for players to try out character without feeling as though they need to spend hours in practice mode to memorize combos.

Players create an avatar for Arcade Story
Players have several options to customize their character in Arcade Story in “Tekken 8” though the characters themselves don’t look very good. (Bandai Namco) 

GETTING INTO THE FIGHTING GAME SCENE
One of the more interesting elements is how it introduces a new mode called Arcade Story. This is where players create an avatar and delve into the fighting game community. It’s reminiscent of the online mode in “Street Fighter 6” except it has a simplistic plot where players work up the ranks. They start off with friends at a small neighborhood arcade and enter tournaments, make a name for themselves and climb the ladder challenging others at higher-profile venues.

Arcade Story is actually a good way to jump into the game for novices as it slow-rolls players through the aspects of the fighting systems. Unfortunately, it’s nowhere near as comprehensive or as easy to use. Despite that, the mode had another benefit: It’s a path for newcomers to ease into online play. Arcade Story mimics the experience, and through its characters, it also highlights aspects of fighting game culture.

It’s not all about being the best fighter. Sometimes, there are other reasons people play. One element the Story highlights is customization. In “Tekken 8,” players can customize the look of any fighter by unlocking costumes or spending fight money that they earn through different modes. The gear drastically changes the look of characters, allowing players to express themselves.

Most of all, gamers just want to play “Tekken 8” for fun. Not everything has to be a serious tournament and the developers brings back a mode called Tekken Ball, which adds a volleyballish element to the fighting game. It’s a blast and silly at times, but that’s something that “Tekken” has come to embrace. It’s a series that has turned the raw and awkward plot it has built into a funny and campy strength.

‘Tekken 8’

Three stars and a half
Rating:Teen
PlatformPlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Seres S, PC