Tekken was already a giant deal earlier than Tekken 3 got here alongside, however the third instalment rocketed Bandai Namco’s collection to actually superior heights. It was each a revolutionary 3D preventing sport and a industrial juggernaut, serving to outline a whole console technology.
However maybe probably the most spectacular factor about Tekken 3 is that, over three many years later, it is nonetheless a pleasure to play. Sure, having a point of nostalgia for the unique launch clearly helps, however on a mechanical stage, it stays shockingly stable.
The place Tekken 2 can really feel greater than slightly wonky at instances, its successor does an unimaginable job tightening every little thing up. Again in 1998, it felt like Tekken 3 had perfected the components; it was extremely responsive but satisfyingly flashy, and it greater than earned all of these good evaluation scores.
As we speak, the title has its fair proportion of questionable quirks. Some strikes are borderline damaged and the injury scaling is uncontrolled by fashionable requirements, nevertheless it’s loopy how shut the sport involves feeling prefer it’s not that previous.
This is applicable to the presentation as effectively. The character fashions and the levels nonetheless maintain up, and the sport’s general visible readability makes some present fighters seem like a little bit of a multitude by comparability.
And the music… Bangers from prime to backside. The soundtrack might not have the dramatic aptitude of Tekken 2, however there are a great deal of memorable preparations right here. Jin’s theme is an all-timer, for instance — a observe so good that it was repurposed for Tekken 8 virtually 30 years later.
As for sport modes, Tekken 3’s the whole package deal. Arcade’s acquired your basic character ending films, whereas Tekken Drive affords one thing completely completely different with its side-scrolling beat-’em-up model. A fantastic little distraction.
Past some dodgy character balancing, it is so onerous to fault Tekken 3. The 1998 fighter remains to be a blast to simply sit down and play, with or with out buddies — and that is testomony to the sport’s tight and in the end timeless design.
