PlayStation LifeStyle » Tekken

School Girls Fight Demons in Tekken Hybrid Screens

Heath Hindman — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:08:00 +0000

As you may have heard from E3, Tekken Hybrid will bundle three things: an HD remake of PS2 game Tekken Tag Tournament, the computer-animated movie Tekken: Blood Vengence, and Takken Tag Tournament 2 Prologue, which is an elaborate demo of sorts. TTT2: Prologue will additionally boast 3D support and some extra playable characters from the movie. Below are several new screenshots of the prologue in action, which feature characters decked out in the ever popular school uniform.

The game is set to release in November, exclusively on PS3.

[Source]

Tekken Hybrid Includes Tag Tournament 2 Prologue

Tyler Minarik — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 08:35:56 +0000

Tekken Hybrid was just announced recently at E3 as yet another PlayStation 3 exclusive, where two out of three portions of the product’s content were revealed, leaving the remainder a mystery until now.

For those of you who missed the announcement, Tekken Hybrid is a new bundle pack which will include an HD remake of Tekken Tag Tournament, originally released on the PlayStation 2, as well as the upcoming feature length CGI movie, Tekken Blood Vengence. However, it was also teased at the time that there would be more content on the product’s blu-ray disc, which turns out to be Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Prologue. Prologue is a stripped down version of what we can expect to see when Tekken Tag Tournament 2 eventually releases, and includes four playable characters from the Blood Vengence movie, as well as 3D support. So far the announced characters include Alisa, Devil Kazuya, and Xiaoyu, leaving the fourth a mystery.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tekken creator and project director Katsuhiro Harada commented on the upcoming package in a press release, stating:

There is no better collection of the TEKKEN experience than TEKKEN Hybrid, with a full-length 3D CG movie, bonus video content, plus the acclaimed classic, TEKKEN Tag Tournament HD, which of course includes the fan favorite TEKKEN Bowl. Furthermore, TEKKEN Tag Tournament 2 Prologue includes character modeling and costume design that is not included in the arcade version of TEKKEN Tag Tournament 2. Bringing together a movie, bonus video content, a full HD remake, and a special prologue of the latest TEKKEN arcade title all in one disc has been challenging, but has resulted in a truly innovative and unique product in the PlayStation 3 system’s history.

When Tekken Hybrid releases Tekken Tag Tournament HD will come with a full trophy set for the PlayStation Network. Tekken Blood Vengence will see a separate DVD release for those who are only interested in the movie. The entire package is slated to release sometime in November, and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe will apparently be publishing the product in Europe. November is already a packed month for great game releases, so we’ll keep looking for a solid release date as the holiday season approaches.

[Source]

PLAY This – Xperia Play Launch Titles Reviewed

Paulmichael Contreras — Fri, 27 May 2011 23:16:32 +0000

The time is upon us in the United States. The Xperia Play has officially launched at Verizon Wireless stores across the country, after being available for pre-order last week online. While the phone may have disappointed some with its hardware specifications, there are still plenty of people who see this smartphone as a unique gaming-centric device. Curious how the launch games perform on this phone? Find out in our newest feature after the break.

First on our list: Asphalt 6: Adrenaline. For the uninitiated, it’s the latest entry in Gameloft‘s popular arcade racer. It features drifting, numerous shortcuts per track, nitrous for quick boosting, and combat in the form of shunting opponents off the road. The game controls decently with regular smartphone controls, as do most games in this genre via just an accelerometer. But Asphalt 6 does include support for the left analog touchpad on the Play. While it takes a bit getting used to, the touchpad has quickly become my preferred method of driving. You can also use the d-pad without changing control schemes. One of the only gripes with this control scheme, at least in my experience, is that holding down the X button to accelerate can get tiring in career mode, and there is no option to change the button layout to your liking. Still, there is a lot of gameplay here included on your phone, and it will definitely help you get used to the subtleties of using the analog touchpad. The soundtrack is a bumping techno collection, and it really showcases just how great the stereo speakers hidden in the Xperia Play are. There is also multiplayer via Gameloft Live, but be forewarned – the people who play this game online are usually hardcore vets of the series with Lamborghinis, Bugattis and other supercars. Only go online once you’ve unlocked a supercar or if you plan to play in a private match. That is, unless you like having your ass handed to you.

Verdict: PLAY

Next is Bruce Lee: Dragon Warrior. It’s a fairly standard fighter, with graphics that are well above the PlayStation Portable. You start off with only two fighters and one arena to choose from, and must earn the rest from the career mode. The career mode has a decent storyline to go along with it, so it isn’t just fight after fight. Fighting fans will probably be appeased, though it will leave you awaiting with bated breath for a more thorough fighter such as Street Fighter or Tekken. Regardless, the game controls extremely well using the directional pad and face buttons. Combos are easily performed, and of course this game is likely nearly unplayable on regular smartphones without being on nearly autopilot for many of the combos. Sadly, there are no multiplayer options here, as it’s just you against the computer.

Verdict: PLAY

Third, you have the original Crash Bandicoot. This is the first of many promised PlayStation One classics planned for the Xperia Play. It was crafted just under 15 years ago by Naughty Dog, well before they developed the genre-busting Uncharted series. It runs in Sony‘s own isolated emulator, and by runs I mean absolutely screams. It is always locked at a constant, high framerate, with no stuttering whatsoever. There are numerous control options, so you are likely to find your best setup here. Playing this game can remind you of how demanding oldschool games were – some levels require exact timing in your jumps. Play this game for instant nostalgia.

Verdict: PLAY

Sports buffs may be looking forward to the inclusion of EA‘s Madden 11 on the Xperia Play. Unfortunately, this is easily one of the worst of the bunch of games preloaded on the phone. The graphics would hardly look out of place on the DS, and the audio is atrocious. Sure, you have John Madden’s likeness as one of the game’s two commentators, but when all you hear during the rest of gameplay is an extremely repetitive crowd, playing through an entire game can become quite tedious. Also, some portions of Madden 11 are touchscreen only, such as when selecting a play. It’s not all a lost cause, however – the game does control well enough with the touchpad and buttons, and there is even a season mode and roster management. For those really pining for a properly-conrolling football game, my suggestion is to start a music player app before launching Madden, turn the crowd noise volume as far down as possible, and play a decent game of ugly-looking football while rocking out to your own tunes. Everyone else should wait until a better version of this or something else comes along.

Verdict: Skip

Enter Star Battalion. It’s a sci-fi flight action game, another entry by Gameloft. There is a story mode, but it is hard to care about the characters or why you’re destroying a particular set of enemies since the story feels a bit rushed. But the game does boast pretty largescale battles, with countless AI-controlled characters duking it out. Control is done via either the directional pad or both analog touchpads, which is a nice offering to ease you into getting used to the new input method. The framerate stays nice and solid, and dogfights can actually get pretty intense. There is multiplayer here much like in Gameloft’s other launch title Asphalt, but there hardly seems to be anyone online. Perhaps that will change when more people get their hands on the Play, but the game seems a bit niche to begin with. This is a good game to get used to the analog control scheme with, especially considering it is included on your phone at no additional charge.

Verdict: PLAY

Up next, we have The Sims 3 from EA. If you are a fan of the series, you will probably be entertained by this game. You control one Sim at a time, and tend to their needs as they present themselves. Analog control is supplemented by smart usage of the touchscreen, and since this game has many different elements to it and things to manipulate, you will make good use of both the gamepad and screen. Customization is a bit light for characters, but there are more options for the house your Sims live in. It’s obviously a very causal game, so look to The Sims 3 if you have a few minutes to spare and don’t really want to play something fast-paced.

Verdict: PLAY

Last but certainly not least is the classic Tetris, the third entry from EA. This game is not located in the Xperia Play application that by default launches when you open up the phone. This seems odd at first, given that even when you install other games from other marketplaces many of them show up here. But once you launch the app from your favorite launcher and get past the title splash logos, the reason why this game does not show up in Sony’s app becomes painfully obvious – the game does not have any option to control it with the gamepad! That’s right, it is touchscreen only. Sure, the touch controls are done amicably, and Tetris is easy enough by nature that this control scheme is serviceable. But still, a touch-only interface can and does get clunky here. When the action speeds up, it becomes increasingly harder to accurately lay town those tetrminoes. Besides the traditional “Marathon” mode, you are also given a “Magic” mode which contains various goals and items to add variety to an old game. At the very least you have a preloaded game to play when you’re too lazy to open the gamepad or don’t want to answer a random passerby’s question of just what kind of phone that is you’re playing with.

Verdict: PLAY

So there you have it. The Xperia Play has a huge potential as you can see in Asphalt, Bruce Lee, and Crash Bandicoot. Ultimately, the most fun will be had here in those titles, while Madden 11 will only be played by football fanatics and Star Battalion is a niche genre definitely not for everyone – though it does control and play quite well. Future editions of this feature will showcase (in greater depth) a single new game alongside a verdict similar to what you see above. Let us know your thoughts or any specific Android games you would like to be analyzed on the Xperia Play in the comments below!

PLAY This is a new feature focusing on the many titles available on the Xperia PLAY, Sony Ericsson’s new PlayStation Certified smartphone.

Street Fighter X Tekken Gameplay, Story Trailers Will Rearrange Your Face

Heath Hindman — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:45:15 +0000

As we move closer to seeing Capcom’s most famous fighting series take on its Namco Bandai counterpart, some new trailers have been let loose.

This first one mostly features CG video clips of the characters romping around, busting each other up, and speaking Japanese with English subtitles (at least in the beginning). No gameplay shown just yet. While it’s not specifically known what will happen in the story of this game (as if people play fighters for their stories, but anyway), this one seems to paint the Tekken characters as the “bad guys.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

The best part is clearly when they get punched in the face, and their faces crack and explode, only to reveal another face underneath it, which looks exactly the same. God bless video games.

This one’s much longer and features real gameplay, starting with a match between Ryu and Kazuya, a rivalry also promoted in lots of screens and the above trailer. Here’s the gameplay:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Capcom also recently let out a much shorter clip focused on popular Street Fighter character Cammy, which PSLS reported on here.

Street Fighter X Tekken does not yet have an exact release date, but Capcom seems to be aiming for a release in late 2011. We’ll see if things actually pan out that way. Check back for more.

New Street Fighter X Tekken Trailer Hints at Cammy

Mitchell Sellar — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:43:56 +0000

A new teaser trailer for the upcoming fighter Street Fighter X Tekken has been released and appears to hint at the inclusion of Cammy on the Street Fighter side. The crossover will see characters from the respective universes of Capcom and Namco Bandai battling it out, but exactly which characters will make the final cut has yet to be fully confirmed.

The short teaser seems to confirm Cammy’s existence in the game:

Street Fighter X Tekken is currently slated for a 2012 release and the suspected inclusion of Cammy hardly comes as a surprise. In fact her spot on the roster of Capcom’s highly acclaimed Street Fighter IV was a direct result of fan voting with Cammy locking up 43% of the vote in Capcom’s official “Which character would you most like to see in Street Fighter IV?” poll, with fellow female Sakura coming in a distant second with just 15%.

Capcom have also released a new video showing Cammy:

Namco Bandai Press Event: Soulcalibur V Announced, Tekken To Have CG Film, Tales of Graces Getting Localized

Paulmichael Contreras — Wed, 11 May 2011 09:31:55 +0000

Oh, SoulCalibur. It’s been a looong time. How have you been? Yes, hard to believe, but the last console version of this venerable fighting series was in 2008, and we last heard any hint of a sequel last December. But fans can rejoice! A sequel has finally been officially outed in a debut trailer, which you can view below.

At a recent press event in Dubai, Namco Bandai revealed a couple of developments:

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon has a release date of October 11th/14th in the US/Europe, with the Europeans being treated to a limited edition that includes a signed notebook alongside a soundtrack and steel case.
Tales of Graces is finally headed over to the PlayStation 3 for other regions (the game has been out on the Wii since December 2009 in Japan, and on the PS3 a year later only in the same region.).
Tekken is getting a feature film, done in CG, titled Tekken: Blood Vengeance. Cowboy Bebop author Dai Seto will help pen the script.
Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Impact is being developed for the PlayStation Portable.

Okay okay, here’s the real reason you came to this post – the SoulCalibur V debut trailer. Take a look at the trailer below:

No release date accompanied this trailer, but of course as soon as PlayStation LifeStyle gets wind of it you’ll be sure to read it here.

Original Tekken Coming To PS3, PSP Soon

Sebastian Moss — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 18:42:42 +0000

While Tekken 2 has been available as a PlayStation Classic on the PlayStation Network for a while, fans of the fighting franchise have wondered why they couldn’t download the original Tekken. Luckily, due to a recent listing by the ESRB, it looks like we won’t have to wait much longer.

The game that started the beloved franchise has been rated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, not only confirming the game’s existence, but that it should be available soon:

Are you excited to play Tekken? Let us know in the comments below.

New Tekken Reveal Possibly Before TGS

Joseph Peterson — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:42:57 +0000

Tekken is easily one of the most popular fighting series on consoles. The first title was released back in 1995, and apparently it won’t be stopping anytime soon. Rumors have been circulating about the newest Tekken coming soon, and may be revealed… this week.

Katsuhiro Harada, of Namco, has had some interesting things about the upcoming Tekken. A user asked if there would be any new info on Tekken 7 or Tekken X Street Fighter, and he had something interesting to say, it seems as if the info may be closer than you think.

[Source]

Tekken X Street Fighter Getting KO’d By 3D

Paulmichael Contreras — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:36:38 +0000

As fighting game fans worldwide await the release of crossover Tekken X Street Fighter, details are ever-so-slowly trickling out. This latest piece of news, however, may disappoint fans of 3D technology.

In speaking with CVG in a double-interview, Katsuhiro Harada of the Tekken team stated that they have done some internal researching and that fighting games, while not the first thing people may think of then talking about 3D games, do look impressive when using the technology. When asked if 3D would likely be included in this fighter, Katsuhiro Harada replied:

“…there is still the technological hurdle, as mentioned previously. It’s kind of hard to say at this point.”

The other interviewee, Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono, went into a bit more technical detail about how the framerate is the biggest hurdle to enabling 3D in the game:

“…if you think about the frame-rate, with 3D games it is doubled and because both of our fighting games are of high-grade gaming it is 60 frames per second. Running a 120 fps game is pretty difficult so we’re not sure about that.”

So it sounds like 3D has the upper hand for this generation of fighting games. Would you like to see a fighting game in 3D? Or would the extra depth to the scene perhaps be more of a distraction than an advantage? Let us know below. Tekken X Street Fighter does not yet have a release date.

Yoshinori Ono Teases Street Fighter X Tekken

Allen Tyson — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:33:42 +0000

Yoshinori Ono, legendary producer of the Street Fighter series, knows just how to tease use. Street Fighter X Tekken is set for its European Premiere at Gamescom 2010 on August 19th — Still, Ono-san had to leak to us a few more tidbits to tide us over the next the next 6 days. He knows we will take every single detail we can get no matter how small or how juicy.

But the real question is this: How long will Katsuhiro Harada, producer of the Tekken franchise, allow him to get away with it before he counterattacks?

On Yoshinori Ono’s Twitter feed, he provided links to the latest images from Street Fighter X Tekken. Ono-san starts off giving us a nice behind the scenes look at Kazuya Mishima’s character model – Ono-san also gives a very nice (albeit it sexy) look at Nina Williams (still not sure how that model is going to make it in to the game, but I digress…). What comes next is the part that Harada-san can’t take lying down.

The World Warriors are consistently seen doing one of the following to their Iron Fist competitors in the released pictures: kicking them in the throat, beating them down, uppercutting them, kneeing them in the face or the ever classic side-kick to the head. I think the most embarrassing image I saw was Ryu high-kicking Kazuya across the face while some random guy in the background took a picture.

Hopefully, Harada-san fires back with some pictures of his own to even the score a little – even though Capcom is developing this game. If that doesn’t happen, I don’t mind. I will make it my life’s mission to use Jin Kazama to punish Ryu for one reason and one reason only: it’s just wrong to beat a person down while you know some random guy is taking a picture.

[Source]

Capcom & Namco Team Up For the Fight of the Century

Max Murray — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:53:52 +0000

Days before E3, details have “hadoukened” their way through our door that strongly suggesting two major companies may be teaming up to bring a fighting game the likes of which have never been seen.

A well established informant has come forth to announce a partnership between fighting series veterans Namco and Capcom in order to deliver a truly epic clash between the Street Fighter and Tekken series. No other news was given, but we are lead to believe that further proof and details could be revealed just a few days from now when the excitement of E3 begins.

Given both companies recent trends, like the announced sequel to “Marvel Vs. Capcom 2“, it has been said that the likeliness of another major crossover, like this one, was greater now than ever before in these two companies history. Moreover, this combination of vastly different fighting styles is one of unprecedented proportions in the fighting genre, and leads many to wonder which series the game’s style will ultimately favor. Regardless, many fans have long debated on which series is truly the superior fighting title, and very soon we could be given the chance to put those words into fist-flying action, and settle the score.

[Source]

The Tekken Series Sees Continuation

Christopher Gordon-Douglas — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:12:54 +0000

Tekken has long been a well recognized, combo bashing fighter that has challenged franchises such as Street Fighter and Soul Caliber, and now the latest installment on the way. Katsuhiro Harada, series director of Tekken has announced, something which shouldn’t come as a surprise, Tekken 7.

Last year the game director hinted that the game genre still has life to it, and with the recent success of Street Fighter IV, Tekken 7 has a lot to do claim back its crown.

Tekken 6 went multi-platform for the first time when it released on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The platforms for which Tekken 7 will be available on is yet unclear, however, stay tuned into PlayStation LifeStyle as we’ll update you on any further development regarding the King of Iron First.

[Source]

Tekken Will Never Be The Same Again

Matt Baker — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:50:51 +0000

The voice behind Tekken’s Heihachi Mishima, Daisuke Gouri, aged 57, has died from extensive loss of blood. He was found by a passerby on the streets, and investigators are understood to be treating this incident as a suicide.

Apparently, Gouri collapsed on the street in Nakano-region, with a knife and a written will found nearby.

Gouri has provided voices for many games, including working with Tekken for over a decade, providing the voice of Heihachi Mishima to the franchise. Gouri also voiced Bass Armstrong in the Dead or Alive series, Mister Hercule Satan in Dragon Ball Z, and also worked on Metal Gear Solid 2 (Scott Dolph), Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Soulcalibur, and Final Fantasy XII.

PS3 Review – Tekken 6

Anthony Severino — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:45:59 +0000

Tekken, one of Namco-Bandai’s most esteemed fighting franchises, is seeing its first retail release on the next-gen consoles. Check out our full review to see if Tekken 6 is still deserving of the title, The King of Iron Fist…

Tekken 6 is, at its heart, an extremely deep martial arts fighting game. As deep as it is, it’s also great for casuals and button mashers, as the gameplay is very straightforward and simplistic. Each one of the face buttons corresponds to a different limb, and holding back blocks. Even though the gameplay is easy enough for anyone to pick up and play, it offers extreme levels of depth for seasoned players. Each character has their share of special moves, counters, combos and more. Practiced players can pull off devastating 10 hit combos.

Players can hone their skills in a number of included modes; the standard fighting genre modes are there, such as Practice and Vs., but Tekken 6 shakes things up a bit with a number of other modes, such as Ghost Battle, Time Attack, Survival, and Team Battle. Team battle is great; players choose up to 8 characters to put up against a friend or the CPU, and winners regain a small amount of health in order to keep on fighting. There is also an online mode where players can put the smack down on PlayStation Network users across the globe. While testing out the online mode, I had a few connection errors to start, but once connected to an opponent, the experience was seamless.

The game features a story mode, but as with most fighting games, this feels tacked on. The story mode seems to be a prominent feature in Tekken 6, but it really serves as nothing more than a weak distraction from the actual fighting.

This game features the largest roster in a Tekken game ever–a whopping 40 characters. Each character is perfectly animated, detailed, and has his or her own unique move set. All of the fighters are perfectly balanced, although the long-time series vets such as Law, King, or Heihachi seem to be a tad more powerful. But that might also be attributed to the fact that they’ve received more playtime over the years, resulting in more expertise with those characters.

Although the roster is large, there are plenty of characters lacking, well… character, especially the newer combatants. I found myself sticking with tried and true series mainstays. mostly because the new additions were so uninspiring. Out of the new characters (Miguel, Bob, Leo, Zafina, Lars and Alisa), the only one that was fun to play as was Alisa, mainly for her over the top, humorous move-set.

The characters and environments are gorgeous. The graphics in Tekken 6 are magnificent for a fighting game, and more along the lines of Namco-Bandai’s other flagship fighting franchise, Soul Calibur. Some environments feature destructible areas, but they are a tad on the cheesy side.

Sadly the game suffers from lengthy load times. Even after the optional 4+ GB install, the load times are still long enough to take players out of the action. However, the game is good enough that it’s actually worth the wait.

Fighting is the star of Tekken 6, so those who are looking for a deep, interesting story mode should move on. However, fighting is what Tekken does best, and this latest iteration in the King of the Iron Fist Tournaments is the best the franchise has to offer. The massive roster, the extensive move list for each character, and tough (but not cheap) AI make Tekken a must buy for any fan of fighting games.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s Final Score

Massive roster

Story mode wasn’t enjoyable

One of the deepest, most fluid, and most accessible fighting games on the market

Tekken 6 Help is on the Way

Adam Wolfe — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:42:44 +0000

For those who picked up Tekken 6 on its release date and felt like the online was less then stellar, an update is on the way.

Earlier this week, Namco Bandai Games announced that they are working on a update that will improve the online play. Not much is known about this update, other than that this will be different from the co-op Scenario Campaign mode update releasing this winter, and that it will be released as soon as testing is complete.

Stay tuned to PlayStation LifeStyle as more info unfolds.