Tekken 4
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| Tekken 4 | |
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| Developer(s) | Namco |
| Publisher(s) | Namco |
| Picture format | 480i, 480p (SDTV) |
| Release date(s) | Arcade PlayStation 2 |
| Genre(s) | Fighting |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T (Teen) ELSPA: 11+ PEGI: 12+ OFLC: M |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, PlayStation 2 |
| Media | 1 DVD |
| Input | DualShock 2 |
| Arcade system(s) | Namco System 246 |
Tekken 4 is the fifth installment in the Tekken video game franchise, and was the second in the Tekken series for the PlayStation 2.
Contents |
[edit] Gameplay
Tekken 4 is considered by many to be a turning point for the series. For the first time, it allowed players to maneuver around an arena interacting with walls and other obstacles for extra damage. These "environmental hazards" in turn allowed players to juggle opponents for consecutive combos and allowed the designers to implement a "switch maneuver", which let players escape from cornering and throw the tide in their favor. Also, the game engine had been tweaked to be more focused on the environment, causing the characters to move more slowly and fluidly than in Tekken Tag Tournament. Finally, the game introduced a brand new graphics system, that featured increased lighting, dynamic physics, and smoother surfaces.
Tekken 4 includes a Beat em' up mini-game available from the outset called Tekken Force. Similar to the previous minigame found in Tekken 3, it presents the player with an over-the-shoulder perspective as they fight wave upon wave of Heihachi's Tekken force through four stages, eventually facing Heihachi himself. The player can pick up health and power-ups while they fight waves of enemies. In the mini-game it is discovered that the Tekken Force possesses different ranks in the organization, evident in different amounts of stamina, strength and skill.
[edit] Story
Two years ago, Heihachi failed to capture Ogre.
Not willing to give up, Heihachi ordered his researchers to collect blood samples, skin tissue, and hoof fragments left behind by Ogre (or known as True Ogre in its true manifestation) in order to conduct genetic experiments. Heihachi’s goal was to create a new life form by splicing Ogre’s genome with his own. However, the research was unsuccessful.
After extensive experimentation, Heihachi’s bioengineers came to the conclusion that an additional gene - the Devil Gene - was necessary in order to successfully splice Ogre’s genetic code into another living organism. Heihachi learned that his own genome lacked the Devil Gene, but he knew someone who did... Jin Kazama.
Jin, who vanquished Ogre in The King of Iron Fist Tournament 3, was shot and mortally wounded by Heihachi. As his life slipped away, Jin transformed into a Devil. Upon his transformation, he struck down Heihachi and took flight. Jin’s whereabouts were unknown after the Tournament.
Heihachi searched for Jin to no avail. However, Heihachi discovered a photograph during his investigation that stirred his curiosity. The 20-year-old photograph was an image of a burnt corpse covered with laceration wounds. Heihachi paid particular attention to the corpse’s back, which had what looked like deformed, protruding wing-like limbs.
Convinced that the picture was of Kazuya, his own son whom he threw into a volcano 20 years ago, Heihachi diverted all his resources into a search for the body. This search eventually led Heihachi to G Corporation, a leading-edge biotech firm making unprecedented advances in the field of biogenetics research.
Heihachi discovered that G Corporation found the corpse and extracted and analyzed its genetic data. In fact, Heihachi learned that the company was in the midst of creating a new life form by using the data. Heihachi also determined that Kazuya’s remains and research data were secured at G Corporation’s Nebraska and Nepal research laboratories, respectively.
Friday, 25 December. The Tekken Force raided G Corporation’s maximum security research laboratory in Nepal. The bottom floors of the building were obliterated, and the remaining data storage facility containing file servers was airlifted by a group of heavy-duty helicopters.
At the same time, a separate unit led by Heihachi infiltrated the underground research facility in Nebraska, where Kazuya’s remains were preserved. As Heihachi observed from his helicopter, he soon realized that unlike the Nepal facility, the operations in Nebraska were not going according to plan. The tactical status monitor screens showed the first wave of the Tekken Force troops being blown out from the storage room where Kazuya’s remains were supposedly kept.
A silhouette of a large figure slowly emerged from the room... When Heihachi could see clearly enough, he instantly recognized the large figure as Kazuya.
Kazuya was resurrected in G Corporation’s research facility. After his resurrection, Kazuya offered his body as research material to determine the true nature of the Devil that resided within him. Kazuya’s goal was to unify his two selves into one. Kazuya theorized that if he unified his body with the Devil, he would be able to truly harness its powers. He could then finally take revenge against Heihachi and the Mishima Zaibatsu (Financial Empire).
Enraged that Heihachi thwarted his plans, Kazuya obliterated the heavily armed Tekken Force and vanished into the flames of the lab’s wreckage. Heihachi was infuriated by Kazuya’s escape and took out his anger on his hapless subordinates who reported the escape.
Dr. Abel, Heihachi’s lead scientific advisor, urged the enraged Heihachi to quickly find a way to capture Kazuya. Once his anger subsided, Heihachi focused his mind and decided on a plan. An evil smile crept upon his lips.
Two years had passed since The King of Iron Fist Tournament 3. The Mishima Zaibatsu announced The King of Iron Fist Tournament 4 and placed the massive financial empire as the top prize. The champion who manages to defeat Heihachi at the end of the Tournament would inherit the Mishima Zaibatsu.
Well aware that the tournament is just a trap designed to lure him out, Kazuya nevertheless enters - it is his chance to defeat Heihachi.
[edit] Character Roster
[edit] Returning Characters
- Heihachi Mishima
- Kazuya Mishima
- Marshall Law
- Paul Phoenix
- Yoshimitsu
- Nina Williams
- Lee Chaolan (Lee appears at first disguised as Violet, with violet-dyed hair, violet clothes, and sunglasses. Clearing his story mode or unlocking Heihachi removes his sunglasses and switches his name, the colors of his clothes, and the color of his hair back to original.)
- Lei Wulong
- Hwoarang
- Ling Xiaoyu
- Jin Kazama (Jin unlearned his old style, and learned Traditional Karate)
- King
- Bryan Fury
- Julia Chang
- Kuma Jr.
- Panda
- Eddy Gordo (Eddy can be unlocked by pressing Triangle when selecting Christie. However, he does not have his own storyline, and Christie's prologue and epilogue will be shown whether Christie or Eddy is selected.)
[edit] New Characters
- Steve Fox
- Craig Marduk
- Christie Monteiro
- Combot
- Miharu Hirano (Like Eddy, Miharu does not have her own storyline. Ling Xiaoyu's prologue and epilogue will be shown whether Ling Xiaoyu or Miharu is selected.)
- Violet - Can be played by pressing "Triangle" or "Circle" on Lee.
[edit] Reception and Criticism
Tekken 4 received an average of 82% at Gamerankings. [1]. Tekken 4 wasn't able to live up the hype that Tekken Tag Tournament had. The main cause of criticism of Tekken 4 was:
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- Tekken 4 had around half as many characters and fighting styles as Tekken Tag Tournament did.
- The Tag feature from Tekken Tag Tournament was removed.
- The game's length was much shorter than previous games, with only eight fights in Story mode.
- Jin Kazama, one of the most played characters in Tekken Tag Tournament, changed his fighting style from Mishima Style Fighting Karate to normal Karate. He also became a mere unlockable character for the first time, which angered fans, as he was the main protagonist and should not have been an unlockable character.
- The Mishima Style Fighting Karate move "Wind God Fist", one of the most popular moves of Tekken Tag Tournament, was changed so that it only launched characters on Counter Hit.
- The down button made the character sidewalk instead of crouch.
- Tekken 4 introduced the sidewalk system, where the player could keep on sidestepping.
- Tekken 4 added walls, which could be used for extra damage in combos.
- Collision detection flaws created numerous exploitable glitches that allowed for massive combos that were totally inescapable [2].
- Nina Williams and Anna Williams have both been playable in all canonical games before Tekken 4. However, in Tekken 4, Anna was removed from the game, making fans of the sisters limited to only using Nina (who had to be unlocked), much to the disappointment of fans. Anna Williams returned in Tekken 5.
Tekken 4 also had different gameplay to what other Tekkens had. Which led many high-level Tekken players to stay with Tekken Tag Tournament where as some moved onto Tekken 4. These events lead to debates between Tekken Tag Tournament vs. Tekken 4 on popular Tekken forums[3]. Namco would return the series back to its old roots in Tekken 5.
Tekken 4 is the first game of the Tekken series where players can be heard talking to each other. Some may speak in different languages (in part of Hwoarang's ending, Jin Kazama speaks in English.)
Tekken 4 is also the first game of the Tekken series when the player hears a narrator in the beginning of Story Mode. In the background, sketches are seen that follow the characters story. Some may appear in the epilogue of a characters ending.
Nevertheless, while not as popular as Tekken 3, Tekken 4 was enjoyed by fans, selling over 3 million copies.[citation needed]
[edit] Trivia
- In the Tekken Force mini game, there are five ninjas that are harder to beat than the average ninja near the end of the game. They are named after the members (and former members) of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Anthony (Anthony Kiedis); Flea (Michael "Flea" Balzary); John (John Frusciante); Chad (Chad Smith) and Dave (Dave Navarro).
- In the Tekken Force mini game, there is a force member named 'Dean Earwicker'. Dean Earwicker was the original name for Steve Fox. Namco changed the name due to a large amount of fans disapproval.
- Scitron Digital Content released a 2 CD limited-edition soundtrack album which includes music from both the Arcade & PlayStation2 versions of Tekken 4.
- Tekken 4, along with Tekken 1, were the only games in the Tekken series not to feature a supernatural Boss. Whereas in Tekken 2 had Kazuya's evil supernatural entity Devil/Angel, Tekken 3 had the fighting demon Ogre/True Ogre, Tekken Tag Tournament featured the fighter Unknown who was possesed by a wolf demon and Tekken 5 which had the inhuman creature Jinpachi Mishima with the sub-boss, supernatural Devil Jin.
- Tekken 4 Original Sound Tracks - SCDC-00181~182 - released May 22nd 2002.
[edit] Awards
- E3 2002 Game Critics Awards: Best Fighting Game.
- Nominated for Best Fighting Game of 2002 at GameSpot.[4].
