Bandai Namco Entertainment isTekken 8（PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S)ofVer.1.08 update will be implemented on October 1, 2024Each version update adds new characters and improves functionality across various game modes, but the development team says this update will coincide with the series’ 30th anniversary.“The biggest version update ever”It is said to be.
In this post, we’ll cover what was confirmed during a media preview event held ahead of the update, as well as a joint interview.
Major update, adding Heihachi Mishima, a new story mode, and more.
The main themes added in this update are“Heihachi Mishima’s participation”, “New story added”, “New stage added”, “Additional cooperation projects”There are four.
●New playable character Heihachi Mishima joins the fight (download content, early access: October 1, general access: October 4)
Heihachi Mishima, who was thought to be dead in the previous game, Tekken 7, has made a comeback. In Tekken 8, Heihachi, who was resurrected from the brink of death, encountered a group of people who called themselves “Tekken monks” and practiced at the Genma Temple where they lived.
As a result, Heihachi was newly appointed“Calling the Wind God” “Calling the Thunder God”Two positions“Martial Arts Realm”While retaining the traditional main skills and the advantages of the Wind God Step attack, it is resurrected as a new Heihachi with new techniques and systems.
When entering the Wind God Summoning Method or the Thunder God Summoning Method, the player will take a unique stance and then perform various derivative techniques. Both stances have derivative techniques such as up, middle, down, and throw, which are fast and can shake the opponent’s defense.
Due to limited practice time, I was unable to grasp the specific performance of the techniques derived from each stance. My impression is that the derivative techniques of the Thunder God Summoning Method have high firepower, while the Wind God Summoning Method has many flexible techniques, such as derivative techniques that are good at continuing to attack after hitting, and techniques that block the opponent’s counterattack (powerful crush). ) It feels like this.
Moreover, Takenokyo is Heihachi’s unique reinforcement system that can only be used once per game. When you hit a technique that transforms into a hot state (Heat Blast, Heat Activation Technique), the icons below the health bar will accumulate one by one, and when three are accumulated, they can be activated. In fact, many techniques have become “ultimate” and provide various benefits, such as increasing damage and reducing stiffness after hitting or blocking.
Additionally, while Heihachi’s abilities are often overshadowed by the flashiness of Takeru’s realm, Heihachi’s power-ups during the heat period are also quite powerful.
Like Kazuya Mishima and Devil Jin, the Wind God Fist will always be activated as the fastest Wind God Fist, and will unlock skills with lightning effects that cannot be used normally. In addition, the opponent’s attacks can be returned to the upper and middle attacks through the Wind God Summoning Stance, which can be strengthened.
In order to meet the conditions for activating the Martial Arts State, it would be a good idea to utilize the Heat State more actively than other characters.
●Added new stage “GENMAJI TEMPLE” (Download Content)
With the addition of Heihachi Mishima and the addition of a story mode (described later), new levels,Yuanzhen Templewill be implemented.
Genmaji is an undeveloped area deep in the mountains. It is mainly related to the resurrection of Heihachi who died in the previous game “Tekken 7”. The monks known as “Tekken Monks” train here every day… It’s a stage.
GENMAJI TEMPLE has beautiful artwork like an impressive Buddha statue, an iron-fisted monk moving in the background, and the ability to choose between day and night patterns, but at 24m x 24m in size and with special features like wall breaks and balconies it has a pretty orthodox spec without any gimmicks.
●New stories, new unforgettable echoes (free update)
This is a supplementary episode of the story mode “Dark Awakening” included in the main body of “Tekken 8”. The story tells the behind-the-scenes story of the fierce battle between Jin Kazama, Lars and others and the G Company led by Kazuya Mishima.
In Unforgotten Echoes, you primarily control characters added after launch, such as Eddie, Lydia, and Heihachi, and do battle with playable characters from Kazuya’s side, soldiers from G Company, and a mysterious enemy created just for Unforgotten Echoes.
Please note that “Unforgotten Echoes” will be automatically added after the upgrade to Ver.1.08 is completed. You can also enjoy it as a game mode, and you can use Eddie, Lydia, and Heihachi for free, so if you haven’t purchased the downloadable content yet, it’s best to try it out to check how the game performs with the three additional characters.
●In-game collaboration with NIKE and GENTLE MONSTER (free update)
Collaboration merchandise with the real-world Tekken 8 will also appear in the game. NIKE will release collaborative sneakers inspired by Jin and Kazuya, and GENTLE MONSTER will release collaborative sunglasses inspired by Kazuya as custom merchandise, available for a limited time.
As the term “biggest version update ever” suggests, this update includes the addition of characters as paid downloadable content, as well as free updates all around.
In addition, a new function has been implemented that allows you to freely change the character displayed on the main menu, so please try to set your favorite character after updating.
The new Heihachi who has learned a new move. Joint interview with the game director and marketing producer
–Please tell us why you chose to write the additional story “Haunting Echoes” to fill in the gaps instead of as a continuation of the main story (Darkness Awakening).
Mr. Kohei Ikeda (hereinafter referred to as Mr. Ikeda):
We decided early in the creation of the additional story that we would depict what the characters added in the DLC, Addie, Lydia, and Heihachi were doing during Dark Awakening. In particular, I tried to carefully depict Heihachi’s resurrection.
Mr. Yasuda (hereinafter referred to as Mr. Yasuda):
The focus on Addie, Lydia, and Heihachi also makes marketing sense. Without purchasing the DLC, you can’t play these three characters, so we wanted to create a place where users who haven’t purchased the DLC can experience the additional characters.
——In Dark Awakening, there were some irregular one-on-many battles, but are there such mechanisms in Echoes Not Forgotten?
Mr. Ikeda:
This time, we want you to interact with the DLC characters, so the main focus will be on one-on-one combat. While the opponents are sometimes unusual, such as the Iron Fist Monk and the spirits summoned by the Iron Fist Monk, the combat content itself is not too strange.
——Will the DLC characters added in the future have such stories?
Mr. Ikeda:
What do you think… This is a special case where we decided to add a story because Heihachi will be resurrected on the 30th anniversary of the series.
By the way, the three DLC characters of the first season, Eddie, Lydia, and Heihachi, were decided from the perspective of necessary characters for the additional story and Reina, a new character in Tekken 8.
However, if we continue to focus too much on this, it will become difficult to introduce characters or new characters that are not relevant to the story, so I think we should avoid this.
Mr. Yasuda:
To be honest, there was also the issue of budget. We were able to do it this time because it was the 30th anniversary of the series, but I think it would not be easy to implement such a large-scale additional story through a free update.
Mr. Ikeda:
I have a lot of things I want to do…
Mr. Yasuda:
Although the amount of additional stories this time is huge, I won’t let you talk about it here. I have been thinking about this issue since the main line was made, but the development team stepped on it too hard (laughs). I think all users will like it very much.
Mr. Ikeda:
When I realized that, he said, “You’re doing too much!” (Laughs) The main story was very popular, so after seeing that reaction, we wanted to provide a bonus story that people can fully enjoy, even though it’s free.
——I was surprised by Heihachi’s appearance in “Unforgettable Echo”. With her hair down and a pair of beautiful eyes, she looked like all the evil had disappeared. Heihachi, who can be used in battle, looks familiar, but have you ever thought about using the beautiful Heihachi in battle?
Mr. Ikeda:
After all, Heihachi is a tyrant throughout the series and a character who has done bad things, so we cherish everyone’s image of him as a villain. On the other hand, in terms of the story, by introducing a Heihachi you have never seen before, we want people to be interested in this scene and ask “Why does Heihachi look like this?”
As the story progresses, you’ll be able to follow the process of the beautiful Heihachi turning back into the ordinary Heihachi, so I hope you enjoy this game.
——What is the status of the Iron Fist Monk in the Mishima family, who has a lot to do with this story?
Mr. Ikeda:
Hundreds of years ago, the Iron Fist monks were part of a family that entered Buddhism after failing in a battle to inherit the Mishima-ryu swordsmanship (famous for exterminating evil spirits). Their fervent desire is to recover the lost final secret and put the Mishima-ryu back on the right path, and now they are in a situation where they continue their pursuit of martial arts in uncharted areas.
—At what stage was it decided that Heihachi would join the war? Did you plan to add him to the first season before the software was released?
Mr. Ikeda:
In Tekken 7, we clearly showed the resolution to the parent-child battle between Kazuya and Heihachi, and it took us many discussions and careful considerations to bring it back.
I decided to introduce Heihachi at this time because I thought it would be possible to clearly describe his resurrection process and add to the story mode, and because there were many requests from users. During the 30th anniversary of Tekken, I sometimes felt a little lonely when Heihachi was not around.
——What were the key points you focused on when designing Heihachi for Tekken 8?
Mr. Ikeda:
The big concept we came up with was to create a design that would make it instantly recognizable as Heihachi from the Tekken series. In addition to that, we added the logos of the Genmaji Temple and Tekken monks to the top, with the familiar black top in an off-shoulder design and a tiger on the back holding a Buddhist altar item in its mouth, giving it a Tekken 8 feel.
In addition, this time Heihachi is wearing loose pants, which also reflects the peculiarity of Hiroaki who designed him. Because of this, I think we were able to create a design that conveys the enormous power of Heihachi from its silhouette.
——I feel that the performance of the characters has changed a lot this time. Please tell us why you added new elements such as poses and unique systems.
Mr. Ikeda:
The addition of the two postures, Wind God Book and Thunder God Book, is to express the new Heihachi. If you are a traditional Heihachi user, you can fight without using postures, and using postures will expand the attack range and combo variations, so I think it will be fun to play.
On the other hand, for those who are new to Heihachi or cannot perform the Wind God Step, these two stances should be useful as a starting point for attacks and for creating smooth techniques. It feels very similar to Reina’s Whirlpool.
This allows both beginners and intermediate to advanced players to actively move around the Mishima character, so I’m glad we were able to find a good balance.
Mr. Yasuda:
It’s a well-known character, so I didn’t want to raise the bar too high. However, for those who are really interested, it would be nice to have a point where technical intervention can take place, so we decided to go with the current form. Balancing DLC characters is always difficult.
――It seems that as long as I expand my attack range, I can succeed in the competitive arena.
Mr. Ikeda:
In Tekken 7, my fighting style tended to be simple, using jabs, left uppercuts, and homing attacks, so I wanted to improve on that. By reviewing all of his techniques and adding new elements, such as stances and martial arts, he’s now able to fight very intensely and powerfully, so I’m eager to see how he performs in a live tournament.
Mr. Yasuda:
From a development perspective, I would love it if we could see Ichihachi and Heihachi users fighting in the finals of some tournaments.
――Although it’s a bit detailed, I’m very excited about the inclusion of Musou Renken. I think people who have loved Heihachi for a long time are hoping for its revival.
Mr. Ikeda:
This is the form I implemented because I wanted to satisfy Heihachi users who have been using it for a long time. We tried to include as many elements as possible to please past fans before we added the slogan “The Iron Fist King Heihachi is back!”
――Although it can only be performed during the martial arts stage, the Thirteen Grid Levitation Technique has not changed, which I think is amazing.
Mr. Ikeda:
In this day and age, being able to use the Musou Lianjian as you please has a good chance of being a balance breaker, but if it’s a technique that’s limited to martial arts and can only be used in the mid to late game, and then you can use it against other people, I think that’s going to be an exciting moment not only for the players who are playing the game, but for the audience as well.
If people pay attention to these points, I think it is worthwhile for us to implement it. We have put a lot of effort into the details, so please take a look.
– With the addition of Heihachi, the Genmaji stage will also be added. The production of this stage is quite detailed, such as the movements of the Iron Fist monk in the background, but are there any gimmicks such as breaking walls that affect the battle?
Mr. Ikeda:
I agree. While the visual narrative and BGM make the game exciting, the levels are relatively easy to fight. As you said, I want you to see the Iron Fist monk training in the background. His moves are hilarious.
—Someone was jumping from one rock to another using the Ragin’ maneuver.
Mr. Ikeda:
For some reason, I’ve been practicing the Wind God Step and the Fire Walking Step. However, the Iron Fist Monk moves are intentionally not done very well (laughs).
–I think being able to change the character that’s displayed on the main menu would also be a great addition.
Mr. Ikeda:
Originally, at the beginning of the release, there were requests for “not wanting to see only Kazuya’s upper body.” At first, I wondered why there were so many requests, but when Addie and Lydia started to appear in the DLC, I understood how everyone felt.
When I get to the main menu screen after losing a battle, if I’m Eddie, I feel like I’m being watched, which makes me feel less excited, but if I’m Lydia, I feel like I should try harder. I realize that the main menu is an important place.
Mr. Yasuda:
We actually started working on it when we added Eddie, and we decided to make it in time for Heihachi to be implemented, so we decided to implement it at this time.
Mr. Ikeda:
By the way, the main menu does more than just display the characters; the art director spent a lot of time lighting it from scratch. All 4 preset clothing patterns for each character can be displayed, and the personalities of the 35 characters can also be brought out.
For example, if you’re a foreigner, he won’t usually make eye contact with you, but if you leave him on the main menu for a few seconds, he’ll blink and give you a quick glance.
Mr. Yasuda:
This is a pretty huge amount of work.
Mr. Ikeda:
The lighting was also different for each character. If it was Reiner, I had to use lighting and facial expressions to convey duality and mystery.
The art director also said, “I hope you can pay special attention to this.” I think this involves the ideas of many different people, so we have to wait and see in the end. The charm of the characters has been shaped to the extreme, so I hope everyone can see a variety of characters.
Mr. Yasuda:
When that didn’t work, I asked if I could upload a custom version of the character, but I was told that would be difficult.
Mr. Ikeda:
I’d like to try that one day, but for now I want people to see their favorite characters’ default costumes.
——Finally, regardless of whether it is feasible, do you have any plans that you would like to try?
Mr. Ikeda:
For me, this collaboration with NIKE is one of my dreams come true. I love sneakers and NIKE myself, so when I heard that the Jin and Kazuya models were going to be released, I was excited.
Mr. Yasuda:
Whether it’s possible or not, I think it would be great if you could play everything from the original Tekken to Tekken 7 in Tekken 8. As I said, I don’t know how Tekken 7 will work in Tekken 8 (laughs).
Mr. Ikeda:
As Harada said, it would be great if Tekken Fight Lounge could be played like an arcade machine, including fighting games from other companies. I hope that such a collaboration can be carried out one day to revitalize the fighting game community.
