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With Season 2 kicking off and the excitement of the Tekken World Tour just around the corner, 2025 is shaping up to be another fantastic year for fans of Bandai Namco’s iconic Tekken series. Having been a staple of the original PlayStation’s lineup, Tekken holds a special bond with these consoles, constantly evolving its gameplay and narrative as the platforms advanced. Let’s rewind and relive the saga of the Mishima family and the chaos they’ve unleashed over the years on PlayStation enthusiasts.
The original Tekken launched in early 1995 in Japan and later that fall elsewhere, becoming one of the first fighting games on the original PlayStation. It introduced the notorious Mishima clan and set up many of the series’ foundational mechanics, like the distinctive four-button attack scheme. Tekken also raised the bar for home console ports. Before Tekken, home versions of arcade games often suffered from subpar visuals, sound, and missing content. However, because Tekken’s arcade release was already running on hardware similar to the PlayStation, its home version was arcade-perfect. Namco went further, adding new elements like ending movies, sub-boss characters, and a secret unlockable character tied to mastering Galaga during the game’s loading screen.
Following up on the success, Tekken 2 arrived in late 1995 in arcades, focusing on the once-banished patriarch and former villain, Heihachi Mishima. It also welcomed new fighters like Jun and Lei and introduced a slew of characters that players could unlock over time, enticing them to return and try out fresh gameplay experiences. By 1996, Namco had brought Tekken 2 to the PlayStation, with impressive enhancements. Exclusive CG intros and endings established the Tekken franchise’s reputation for cinematic cutscenes, alongside new game modes like Team Battle, Time Attack, Survival, and Practice Mode.
For many fans, Tekken 3 served as their gateway into the series. In 1998, this title was a hit both in arcades and on the PlayStation. It catapulted the storyline 20 years into the future, with Jin Kazama, son of Kazuya and Jun, taking the leading role. Some familiar faces returned older but not necessarily wiser, while others were replaced by successors. New favorites like Hwoarang, Bryan, Eddy, and Xiaoyu made their debut. To capitalize on the 3D environments, Tekken 3 introduced sidestep dodges, and the PlayStation version boasted additional modes such as the side-scrolling Tekken Force and the party-favorite Tekken Ball, as well as fresh characters like Anna Williams, Dr. Bosconovich, and Gon, the series’ first-ever guest character.
As the PlayStation 2 made its entrance, it was fitting to see a Tekken game launch alongside it. Tekken Tag Tournament arrived in 2000, offering dramatically improved visuals over its arcade counterpart. It shook up the traditional combat system by allowing players to form teams of two fighters and switch between them during battles. Additionally, it expanded the roster with characters from previous titles, including those from pre-timeskip storylines, alongside a quirky mini-game, Tekken Bowl.
A little over a year later came Tekken 4, which brought Kazuya back into the narrative and revamped the gameplay significantly. Gone were the infinite stages of the past; now, levels featured uneven ground, walls, and obstacles that added extra damage and combo opportunities. Movement was tweaked, shifting away from strategies popular in previous games. Tekken 4 also placed a stronger emphasis on storytelling, adding a comprehensive Story Mode and an expanded Tekken Force mini-game.
The much-anticipated Tekken 5 resurfaced after a few years, picking up the story right where Tekken 4 left off—with Heihachi presumed dead and Jin’s devilish side taking more prominence. A fan favorite, Tekken 5, dialed back some of the unwelcome stage design changes from Tekken 4. It introduced new characters like Asuka, Feng, and Raven, along with the ability to customize fighters with in-game earned cosmetic items. Its PS2 version let players control boss Jinpachi and featured an action-packed, story-focused Devil Within mode, as well as ports of the original arcade Tekken 1, 2, and 3.
In 2006, Tekken 5 saw an arcade update known as Dark Resurrection. This revision introduced Lili and Dragunov, shook up visuals, and further honed the gameplay. The first port appeared on the PSP, bringing a new Tekken Dojo mode, which let players share AI-controlled “ghosts” of their gameplay online. While well received, fans clamored for a console version, leading to a downloadable version on the PlayStation Network, which later received an update for online matches. T5DR remains one of the most beloved entries among enthusiasts.
In 2009, Tekken 6 hit PS3, based largely on Bloodline Rebellion from the arcades. It arrived with the expansive Scenario Campaign, chronicling Lars and Alisa’s mission against the Mishima Zaibatsu. Tekken 6 also saw a PSP release that, while lacking the Scenario Campaign, offered impressive visuals and ad-hoc multiplayer.
After a hiatus, Tekken Hybrid landed in 2011, featuring an HD remaster of Tekken Tag Tournament, original CG film Tekken: Blood Vengeance, and a demo of Tekken Tag Tournament 2. The PS3 adaptation of TTT2 added a generous roster, an Snoop Dogg stage, and cinematic CG conclusions for each fighter.
Following its arcade success, Tekken 7 made a delayed jump to PlayStation 4 in 2017, with its arcade edition enhanced by updates like Fated Retribution, which introduced Akuma from Street Fighter into the fray. Alongside new characters and stages, Tekken 7 refined gameplay mechanics, developing new Rage Drives and Rage Arts. Its PS4 version added a console-exclusive story mode and continued to receive DLC packs, introducing characters like Leroy and Lidia, as well as surprising guests like Geese Howard and Noctis.
As fans celebrate the first anniversary of Tekken 8 on PS5 as of this January, they can anticipate more thrilling updates. Season 2 promises fresh content, with beloved and unexpected characters joining the ranks, as the Mishima saga continues to unfold with gripping family drama.
