Tekken 4

The Tekken sequels have always been cosmetic updates. Namco's never really had it in them to make too many significant changes to the fighting engine. Even in Tekken 3 when they `scrapped' many of the original Tekken and Tekken 2 characters, really all they did was replace them with `new' characters who fought exactly like the old ones. (Forrest Law, Julia Chang, King, Jin Kazama.)

Now we have Tekken 4, Namco is obligated to leave a number of old characters off the roster and introduce a few new ones. Some play like old characters (Christy) and others are all new (Steve). A handful of new moves per character, new improved graphics, and motions that still seem unnatural, unrealistic, and far less interesting than when Tekken first debuted. Oh yes, and the obligated new feature of Tekken 4 - enclosed fighting. We have walls now. In other words, Namco is doing just enough to warrant a sequel without everyone pointing an accusing them of pulling a Capcom.

Typical fighting game-sequel plot where the makers are digging too deep for something that's not there. Character subplots range from lame to interesting, but like the other Tekken games you always feel like they could have skipped even making endings for the characters and had the game be just as effective. Most of the better endings are there to provoke maybe a chuckle, the serious-geared ones tend to provoke a groan. I used to like the whole Mishima regime storyline and father/son/grandson family issues, but since Tekken 3 it's just ridiculous.

At least the Mortal Kombat 5 was ambitious enough to -really- break new ground for the series instead of pull the obligatory sequel-itis stunt Namco has done. Tekken 4 is the best Tekken game in the series, but it's best played if you're a Tekken nut, have skipped Tekken 3, or are just coming to the whole world of Tekken. For the rest of us, Tekken 4 is just Tekken 3 with a handful of minute improvements.