Tekken 8's director, Katsuhiro Harada, states that Bandai Namco's upcoming eighth entry will have gameplay that is more aggressive than the previous game. This statement was given in an interview that was dropped shortly after the latest trailer was dropped at The Game Awards 2022. This trailer for Tekken 8 focused more on the story, with it hyping up the showdown between Jin Kazama and his arch-nemesis father Kazuya Mishima, the two remaining members of the Mishima bloodline and carriers of the Devil Gene.
This interview with Harada had him break down several aspects of the trailer that was showcased, including some of the details about the gameplay that wasn't explicitly featured. For example, with Tekken 8 being built on Unreal Engine 5 for next-gen hardware, every single character had been redesigned for the game, including the models and bone structure. The new engine also allowed for a greater polish for the visuals in terms of lighting and setting the atmosphere for the gameplay. One of the biggest changes to how Tekken 8 will compare to 7 is its gameplay, which Harada describes as being more aggressive.
Harada states that the concept of the new system is the term of aggression, which came about from how Tekken 8 should feel both good to play and good to watch. He gives a specific example where the player who is on the offensive should be enjoying themselves and feel like if they've got the advantage, they should have a better chance of winning. This is emphasized with the game's new "Heat" system, which was demonstrated in the recent trailer itself, with more details of this system and how it affects gameplay being given next year.
According to Harada, much of Tekken 8's design was influenced by both the reception of Tekken 7 and the esports competitive scene. He reiterates that fighting games have to both feel good to watch and play, which helps bring in more people. Another example is given during high-level play, gamers who have similar experience levels won't typically go on the offensive. Harada wanted to motivate Tekken 8 players to be on the offensive more and try to create openings on their opponents.
This change won't just benefit those who are spectating or playing competitively, but making the overall experience satisfying for any player whether they are squaring off against a CPU or human opponent. Details like stage destruction, cinematic flourishes, characters reacting to hits, and more help emphasize Tekken 8's philosophy, according to Harada. Hopefully, fans will likely get to see how all these additions help enhance its quality in a demonstration video next year.
Tekken 8 is in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: IGN