One of the Best Games Ever is Still Trapped on the PS1

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Summary

  • The PS1 version of Tekken 3 is effectively stuck on the console.
  • Other Tekken games are available on PS5, but Tekken 3 remains absent.
  • Fans hope for a re-release of Tekken 3 on modern platforms.

As a lifelong Tekken fanatic who has spent countless hours mastering the art of Kazuya Mishima’s Rage Arts and Jin Kazama’s Devil Gene transformations, I can’t help but feel nostalgic frustration at the fact that Tekken 3 remains confined to the PlayStation 1 console. It feels like a punch to the gut every time I boot up my shiny new PS5, only to find that the iconic, critically-acclaimed fighting game is nowhere to be found.

Regrettably, the much-admired fighting game Tekken 3, which ranks as the 23rd highest-rated game of all time, remains confined to the PS1, in essence. Released in arcades in 1997 and on PlayStation 1 in 1998, Tekken 3 is still cherished by many, but finding a way to play it is quite challenging.

The original PlayStation and its PlayStation Classic version are where the PS1 edition of Tekken 3 remains confined. While it’s technically feasible to play the arcade version of Tekken 3 through Tekken 5 on PS2, finding the PS1 version outside of buying a vintage PS1 console or locating an old copy for use on a PS1, PS2, or even PS3 is quite challenging. A more straightforward and convenient option would be to have Tekken 3 available on contemporary systems such as the PS5, but this hasn’t materialized yet.

The absence of Tekken 3 from modern consoles is particularly annoying because numerous classic Tekken games are playable on the PS5 currently. The PS5’s backward compatibility allows it to run PS4 Tekken games, and Tekken 6 from the PS3 era can be accessed through PS Plus Premium. Moreover, both Tekken 2 and Tekken, which are highly-regarded, are available on PS Plus Premium, with the latter even being accessible as a standalone purchase on PS4 and PS5. Regrettably, neither the original Tekken nor the beloved Tekken 3 have been added to PS Plus Premium yet, and only the original Tekken is available on the PS3 as a PS1 Classic, with Tekken 2 and Tekken 3 not receiving the same treatment.

Tekken 3 Deserves to Be Playable on Modern Consoles

It’s a bit of a mystery why Tekken 3 hasn’t moved beyond the PlayStation 1, but there’s a glimmer of expectation that it might eventually get the rerelease it deserves. Though the initial Tekken game hasn’t been added to PS Plus Premium yet, Tekken 2 has, suggesting that conversations about bringing other PlayStation 1 Tekken games to the platform may have taken place. Furthermore, since Tekken 3 is available on the PlayStation Classic, it demonstrates that Bandai Namco might be open to doing something with the classic game.

Absolutely, it’s not just Tekken 3 that remains confined to older gaming systems. With 2025 marking the 30th anniversary of the Tekken series on PlayStation consoles, it appears as if an ideal moment for Bandai Namco to provide fans with an opportunity to revisit all the classic games, including Tekken 3. However, if this doesn’t come to fruition, fans can still anticipate fresh content for the upcoming Tekken 8 in the series.

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2024-12-21 19:23