This game is one of my favorite video games of all time, it's also one of my favorites in the fighting game genre, and my favorite game in the "Tekken" series at least for now. "Tekken" is one of my favorite fighting games franchises and has had its share of high and low kicks, this game kicks way high.
I really like the wide range of options you must help in making the game anyway you want to play. But there are several things that really make this entry stand out. For one thing I really like is that it went back to the basic format. I honestly did like the fourth entry and what it was trying to do which made it slightly unique from any other entry. But like a lot of people, I preferred the classic format, and it really is the best way to go as it keeps things more focused and condensed. But they still have some impressive environments to fight in and really like how when you crash down or even fly off from a blow and crash into something and you see it. Seeing things like that just reinforces the feeling that your blows or the blows of another are really making an impact and delivering damage.
I even like the fact that whole moon jump which plagued previous entries and other third dimension fighting games is no more, I never really liked it because it meant little control of your character but also really cut into the momentum of the game. When you jump its medium which feels right not just in a realistic sense, but you have a better sense of control and gives you a small opportunity for either attack or evade. But also, really love the movements of the characters, which look even more crisp, fluid and well refined.
Really love the wide variety of characters you get to pick from and fight, this entry has at least at the time one of the biggest rosters in the series, which is fine by me the more the merrier. But this also guarantees loads of replay value as you can't just stop at one character to play and see what he or she is made of.
Like all good fighting games, it's easy to learn but hard to master, there is a command list to see on the grocery store list of moves and combos. I always look at it occasionally, to see if I can try out and execute another move set just to make the fights more interesting but is also just plain handy whenever you need it. And you do need some skill to go through each fight, for as you get further it means tougher fights where luck alone isn't enough. This ramped up difficulty just make the game even more entertaining and rewarding as it's your own skill that gets you further.
Of course, each of the characters is new and old, and each has their unique skill set, whichever character you're comfortable playing as it's all a matter of preference. I'll just pick out a few of them as there are a lot of characters, I like playing more than once, but these are my personal picks.
Jin: He's my main man, you get a good feel for his persona and depth as he's a person that is afflicted with the same curse as his father but unlike him, he can keep it in check due to being a person more levelheaded in the fires of torment. But as we see he can channel all that internal fire into something good. I really like his fighting style, which is based mainly on Karate, as he's more balanced as he's medium level in strength, speed, and power. Really like some of the kicking moves and combos from the multiple side kicks to even the trademark axe kick.
Marshall Law: He's my number two in my book. Really like him from the fact that he's obviously an homage to Bruce Lee. There is some depth to him as he' s a bit of an underdog that had hard luck but of course as we know in the realm of fighting games luck can change in an instant. However, he's got killer moves, his style obviously is Jeet Kwon Do as there is a lot of speed and power. Really like doing the kicks but most of all that trademark back flip kick, which is just awesome, especially when you do it multiple times, when that happens your opponent has no chance.
Christine: She's my main woman as she is hot and sexy with persona to boot, she kind of looks like WWE female wrestler Raquel Rodreguez. Or at least close both have the same hairstyle, physical look even a bit of that wrestler's persona is like the character in this game. Christine's got valid motives doing what she does like all of them, but you just get a feel she's mature but at the same time energetic, vibrant, and really likes to have fun. Really love the Kaipara style in use as it's a dance martial art style, it's just really cool just putting on some of those moves that looks almost like break dancing. Just fast, flexible, though also erotic which is a big turn on for me.... I'm human sue me, and I really do pick her out for her fighting abilities mind you.
Ling Xiaoyu: She's my number two, she's cute, sexy, and hot wrapped in one package with the good persona with it. She kind of looks and reminds me of actress Zhang Ziyi which makes it all the better as she's one of my personal fav actresses. Her style is Wu Shu Kung Fu as we see her perform the dancer like movements to deliver some graceful punishment. Just watching and utilizing her movements are just beautiful as there is just a flow and fluidity to them, as it shows the use of flowing energy without force to creates big impacts.
This vintage fighting game classic kicks high and beyond.
Rating: 4 stars.
