Tekken 8 Cutting a T7 Character For Balancing is a Double-Edged Sword

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Tekken 8 Cutting a T7 Character For Balancing is a Double-Edged Sword

As a seasoned gamer who has been following the Tekken series since its early days, I can confidently say that Tekken 8 has certainly lived up to expectations so far. The improved netcode and focus on aggression through the Heat system have made it an exciting addition to the franchise. However, the controversies surrounding DLC practices and the Tekken World Tour have been a bit of a dampener.

As a dedicated Tekken fan, I can’t help but reflect on the remarkable first year of Tekken 8. This 3D fighting game has made a powerful entrance, setting the stage for an exciting gaming experience. However, it hasn’t been without its challenges – debates over DLC practices and the initial phase of the Tekken World Tour have lingered in the background. Yet, despite these hurdles, Tekken 8 is currently thriving.

Bandai Namco’s Chief Producer of Action/Fighting Games, Katsuhiro Harada, has been instrumental in various aspects of Tekken series, even after relinquishing his director role with T8 following his long-standing tenure as the primary director since Tekken 3. He continues to manage internal and external affairs of the game, including public relations, and has recently taken on additional roles such as hosting podcasts, participating in major events, and sharing behind-the-scenes development insights on social media. These updates often include crucial information that could help alleviate some of Tekken 8’s controversies. In fact, one of his November 2024 tweets shed light on the reasoning behind a significant roster reduction in Tekken 8, but maintaining this approach in future games might be precarious.

Why Tekken 8 Left Tekken 7’s Eliza Behind

As a passionate gamer, I eagerly awaited Harada’s response when a fan asked about Eliza joining Tekken 8 from both Tekken Revolution and Tekken 7. While Harada seems to appreciate the narcoleptic vampire, it’s unlikely she’ll return due to the technical hurdles that come with her character design.

Eliza’s Abilities Added Unnecessary Work To Tekken’s Updates

Adjusting Eliza’s abilities slightly might make her either too feeble or too powerful compared to other characters in Tekken 7. The Tekken series often adds redundant features to fighters to maintain balance and developmental flow, so a significant departure could lead to problems. Despite never being classified as ‘broken’, Eliza frequently frustrated the battle balancing team and some tournament players. This, according to Harada, is why she didn’t appear in Tekken 8. Some might justify her absence by saying it’s worth losing Eliza if it means getting rid of Akuma and Geese too, but this line of thought could be problematic if it becomes prevalent.

Future Tekken Games Can’t Let Balance Decide Character Slots

If Eliza was excluded from Tekken 9 due to her uniqueness being a problem, it’s worth questioning whether other characters might be eliminated for the same reason. Removing troublesome elements is a practical and efficient strategy for preserving Tekken’s balance over time, but indiscriminately eliminating all problematic characters could potentially stir up more controversy than these fighters generated during their peak popularity. Eliza appeared only in Tekken Revolution (live-service spin-off) and one mainline game, but if developer frustrations escalate, even returning non-essential Tekken characters could feel the impact.

Tekken 8’s Dragunov Is In Danger Of Following Eliza

As a dedicated Tekken enthusiast, I’m thrilled to say that Sergei Dragunov is the current focus of Tekken 8. This enigmatic Russian soldier made his entry in Tekken 5, but truly shone in Tekken 7. Despite a seemingly simple moveset, Dragunov’s unique approach to poking offers a versatility and high damage that makes him a formidable opponent when wielded by skilled players.

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2024-11-26 20:33