Story Mode: Just a Distraction
Tekken 6 is a fighting game, first and foremost, so I thought that it was a little strange for Namco to include a story mode. The “Scenario Campaign” mode runs through the story as seen through the eyes of newcomers Lars Alexandersson and Alisa Boskonovitch.
Rather than straight one-on-one fighting, you navigate through a three-dimensional space with multiple enemies. This is not unlike a conventional 3D action-adventure title, except the controls are quite bad.
You lock onto an opponent and fight as if you were in a single battle. This includes all of your character’s special moves, so the directions can be quite confusing. In the screenshot above, I’d actually push “left” in order to walk forward toward the bad guy.
The “Scenario Campaign” mode can offer some convoluted story and a change of pace for your Tekken session, but the only reason why I’d really spend any time in here is to earn some virtual gold. The story mode seems to be the most lucrative on a time spent vs. money earned sense.
Earning Upgrades and Outfits
So, why would you want to earn that gold in the first place? As was the case with Soul Calibur IV, you have the opportunity to buy costume upgrades and customizations for all of your fighters.
This is broken down into several categories, including eyewear, headwear, upper body, tattoos, footwear, accessories, and more. Some people may really enjoy the ability to customize the look of Ganryu or Heihachi. Myself, I’m much more interested in the core one-on-one versus gameplay.
Closing Thoughts
Growing up, I was intimidated by the Tekken franchise. It seemed so much more technical than Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, since it seemed to involve so many well-timed combos, air juggles, and counter-moves.
That may still be very true in Tekken 6, but I’ve also come to realize that Tekken can be very approachable as well. When frustrated, you can resort to some mad button mashing and hope for the best. You might even win.
Any fan of fighting games will want to invest in the Tekken 6 Limited Edition bundle. The game itself is a heck of a lot of fun to play, even if you’re intimidated by Tekken, and the Hori Wireless Fighting Stick helps to complete the arcade experience. The arcade stick isn’t perfect, but given how much more the Mad Catz FightStick Tournament Edition costs, this is a deal.
Pros
- Seriously solid fighting game engine
- Impressive roster of 40 characters
- Hori Fighting Stick is wireless
- Incredible depth of gameplay
Cons
- Scenario Campaign mode is poorly executed
- Hori FightStick has square gate for joystick
- Learning curve gets steep beyond beginner’s level
- Graphics and textures could be a lot better
Overall Rating: 8.5/10.0
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