The year was 1994, and no-one other than SNK could match the arcade 2D dominance of CAPCOM.
Namco wisely took a different direction, and decided to hire the architect of SEGA's 1993 3D hit "Virtua Fighter", Mr. Seiichi Ishii, (and a other former SEGA employees connected to the development of Virtua Fighter) as well as utilizing it's own in-house staff to help develop Namco's own (and first) 3D fighter.
Thus was born "TEKKEN". (originally under the development title of "RAVE WAR")
The basic wafer thin plot revolved around the "Iron Fist" (the literal translation of the games Japanese title "TEKKEN") tournament in which various contestants entered for numerous motives and reasons, bizarre or otherwise.
The game? In comparison to the likes of "Street Fighter II", "The King of Fighters '94" and "Mortal Kombat II", which were highly popular during the time, TEKKEN lacked the speed and glitz of it's 2D rivals. However, it DID have great, yet highly memorable 3D character designs, fascinatingly unique fighting styles and more importantly played like a dream. Released when Sega's Virtua Fighter was also wowing the arcade crowd, TEKKEN offered a depth and intuitiveness of play not found in any other game. The simple idea of four buttons corresponding to each limb and hold the joystick backwards to block made triggering complex attacking and defending maneuvers almost instinctual. Pure genius.
Fast Forward...
The date: March 31st, 1995. The place - Japan. A mere three months after it's original arcade debut, TEKKEN was released alongside Sony's first video game console - the PlayStation. The transition from arcade to PlayStation was almost nigh-on flawless. With the inclusions of a new rendered opening introduction, individual character ending movies, an optional arranged soundtrack, all exclusively and painstakingly created for the Sony Playstation release of TEKKEN, not to mention the extended number of playable characters which were not available in the arcade version...it was indeed TEKKEN nirvana for those able to afford Sony's behemoth. Namco had surpassed any and all expectation, as TEKKEN went on to become a global best seller....and the rest as they say, is history.
Ultimately, TEKKEN, was and is the game that would give Namco a worldwide franchise, following and recognition that only few other video game companies could perhaps ever match or hope to achieve.
A franchise that continues to this very day, on todays generation of PlayStation.
