As a long-time fan of the Tekken series, I must say that the return of Heihachi Mishima in Tekken 8 is nothing short of exhilarating! His new look and aggressive gameplay style are a testament to the developers’ dedication to evolving the franchise.
Upon its early-year release, Tekken 8 garnered acclaim for its stunning graphics, flamboyant narrative, emphasis on aggressive and offensive gameplay, and exceptional collection of characters. While several recurring elements were initially included, Bandai Namco initially omitted some powerful figures. The post-launch content’s first season has been gradually addressing this gap, starting with the introduction of fan-favorite capoeira master Eddy Gordo and later adding Polish karateka Lidia Sobieska. However, a character resembling the Mishima clan was conspicuously absent from Tekken 8’s lineup.
It was believed that Heihachi, the primary antagonist of the Tekken series, perished at the end of Tekken 7’s storyline, as he was thrown into a river of molten lava by his son and Tekken 8’s antagonist, Kazuya. However, it appears that Heihachi managed to survive this ordeal, given the fantastical nature of the Tekken universe where characters can perform extraordinary feats like riding motorcycles up skyscrapers, surviving explosions and crashes, and transforming into devils capable of demolishing buildings. So, it’s not too surprising that Heihachi found a way to survive his lava-dive.
If you’re curious about how the villain in the series has returned, you’ll be pleased to know that the update 1.08 introduces a new side story called “Unforgotten Echoes” which delves into this mystery. Notably, Heihachi and his stage, Genmaji Temple, have been added to the game roster as part of the Character Year 1 Pass, but the update is available for free to all players. Additionally, it includes new collaborative items with Nike and Gentle Monster, as well as improvements like online practice mode and customizable main menu options.
Game director Kohei “Nakatsu” Ikeda remarked that during our early discussions for the 30th anniversary of the franchise, we found it challenging to come up with ideas without Heihachi, who plays such a crucial role in the series.
Unforgotten Echoes concentrates on the trio of characters introduced post-launch in Tekken 8 so far: Eddy, Lidia, and Heihachi, within a storyline that runs concurrently to the main Tekken 8 narrative. Since it’s free for all players, it provides an opportunity for those who haven’t bought the Year 1 Pass to test out the new characters. For those unfamiliar with Eddy’s capoeira moves or Lidia’s karate-influenced attacks, this offers a chance to master their gameplay and get acquainted with their backstories. However, the most intriguing aspect is undoubtedly the circumstances leading up to Heihachi’s reappearance.
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Michael Murray, the game producer, explains that since Nakatsu’s death in Tekken 7 was made so convincing, they can’t simply reintroduce him with a surprise revelation. Instead, he emphasizes the need for a compelling reason and an air of authenticity behind his return. To make it believable to players that Nakatsu is alive, they must first provide a story explaining why this is so, and only then can they reveal his resurrection convincingly. So, before Heihachi’s release, they need to develop such a narrative as a foundation for the character’s comeback.
I’ve completed the entire game “Unforgotten Echoes,” but my discussion will focus on the initial five chapters. To maintain spoiler sensitivity, I’ll strive for minimal revelations. The narrative initially centers around Eddy, who dives back into action with Tekken Force, embarking on a mission to South America. Subsequent encounters involve sparring against several key characters from the roster, including instances where more than one character is engaged successively. Then, the narrative perspective transitions to Lidia.
In the aftermath of Kazuya’s attack on New York, the Polish Prime Minister has earned a reputation for heroism. Not long after, she encounters Reina. As expected, they soon engage in conflict, but when peace returns, Lidia senses something amiss as spears embedded in the ground emit smoke around her. Then, the Tekken Monks seemingly manifest as illusions, with a voice emerging from the enshrouding smoke.
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In Chapter 4, Lidia is instructed by the voice to locate him, setting the stage for the narrative. Later, Lidia journeys to Genmaji Temple, where she encounters the Tekken Monks directly. These monks are dedicated to reinstating the integrity of the Mishima Style, a practice they feel has been tainted. They emphasize the necessity of a harmonious blend of mind, body, and skill, which is also Lidia’s objective in this final chapter featuring her character.
In the previously discussed chapter, it’s revealed that you assume control over Heihachi, who has spent the past six months residing with Monks. The traumatic events of Tekken 7 caused him to lose his memory, which in turn made his appearance and demeanor more restrained.
As a gamer, I can relate to what Ikeda mentioned about the development team. Instead of simply resurrecting Heihachi and having him back to his old ways of being evil and fighting Kazuya again, they wanted something more engaging for us players. So, they chose to show us a different side of Heihachi – one that has lost a piece of himself. The question was: “What would he look like if he’s just a good person?” This unexplored aspect is likely to pique our curiosity and follow the evolving storyline of Heihachi, making his journey more intriguing for us all.
Instead of his usual spiky hair falling flat across his shoulders, he adopts clothing reminiscent of a Monk rather than a traditional warrior martial artist. But rest assured, his distinctive appearance is still an option; in fact, Heihachi’s style appears even more dominant than before. This aligns perfectly with the aggressive gameplay mechanics of Tekken 8.
According to Ikeda, our goal was to enhance his aggression and power compared to previous versions, by reducing the need for repeated attacks. Instead, we concentrated on improving his mid and high attack options, which already had a strong foundation. To make them even more potent in this version, we also introduced two new stances – Thunder God and Wind God – resulting in techniques that are far more powerful than before, and align more with the idea of being aggressive and taking the offensive against your adversary.
Once Chapter 5 ends subtly hinting at some kind of promise or pledge, I proceeded to complete the rest of the storyline in order to explore this intriguing plot point further. However, I’m unable to discuss subsequent chapters, so let’s transition now to the Versus matches instead.
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As I delve deeper into Heihachi’s fighting style, I find myself thinking that he could become one of my go-to characters. His robust approach mirrors the equilibrium the Tekken Monks seek in the Unforgotten Echoes narrative, as his mind, body, and technique all influence his movements and combinations. I greatly enjoyed mastering his combos and utilizing his powerful Heat Smash attacks effectively, along with stance switches, which introduce fresh maneuvers. Heihachi also offers a new Warrior’s Instinct mode, which amplifies his power but can only be activated following the third use of Heat in a match, making it usable in Round 3 or later.
As a devoted fan, I immersed myself entirely in the captivating Genmaji Temple stage within Versus. This breathtaking mountain temple showcases exquisite Japanese architecture that transforms as the game progresses. Upon entering, you’re greeted by an enchanting dusk autumn atmosphere, which eventually gives way to a mesmerizing nighttime winter scene in subsequent rounds. For those who prefer a more vibrant environment, there’s also an option to select a serene daytime variant of this stunning stage.
Following multiple battles in Versus mode, some against the formidable Kazuya (there’s a unique introduction animation between them when they meet), I shifted my focus towards character customization. Tekken is renowned for its eccentric personalization features, and Tekken 8 continues to uphold this legacy. Towards the end of my playtime, I designed a younger Heihachi with long black hair and a rough beard, as well as another version sporting a Freddy Krueger-style sweater and a loaf of bread masked over his face. Regardless of how stylish or amusing you make Heihachi appear, he’ll always maintain a deadpan expression.
From the very beginning of the series, Heihachi has significantly influenced the plot of Tekken. Although his impact was noticeable through characters such as Reina, it’s great that the main antagonist returns in the roster selection. Furthermore, with a fresh side story and an exquisite new stage, this autumn’s update promises to be the most substantial for Tekken 8 yet.
In the upcoming season, Heihachi, the Genmaji Temple, the narrative mode “Unforgotten Echoes”, and all other features from version 1.08 will become available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC editions of Tekken 8 this fall.
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2024-09-24 18:09