Tekken 4

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Tekken 4

Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
Series Tekken
Aspect ratio 480p (EDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Platform(s) Arcade, PlayStation 2
Release date Arcade PlayStation 2
Genre(s) Fighting
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: T (Teen)
ELSPA: 11+
PEGI: 12+
OFLC: M
Media 1 DVD
Input methods DualShock 2
Arcade system Namco System 246

Tekken 4 is the fifth installment in the Tekken series, and the second Tekken game (storywise, the first game) for the PlayStation 2. It was developed and published by Namco. It was released as an arcade game in 2001 and on the PlayStation 2 in 2002.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

Tekken 4 introduced significant new gameplay changes from the previous games in the series[1]. 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.

In high level tournament play, it became apparent that the engine changes caused the game to heavily favor quick jabs and punches, upsetting some fans due to the decline in usefulness of more complex moves and strategies. Jin Kazama especially, was very over-powered, and if one were to look at the tournament records, he was used by nearly every top player.

Tekken 4 includes a beat 'em up minigame 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 minigame it is discovered that the Tekken Force possesses different ranks in the organization, evident in different amounts of stamina, strength and skill.4 Characters have their own boss characters,Kazuya and Hwoarang face Jin, Lee faces Combot, and the final boss, Heihachi, faces Kazuya.

[edit] Story

Tekken 4 picks up two years after Tekken 3. Heihachi and his scientists have captured samples of Ogre's blood and tissue to splice with Heihachi's genome and make him immortal. The experiment fails, since Heihachi lacks the necessary Devil Gene. Not willing to give up, Heihachi searches for his grandson, Jin Kazama, who possesses the Devil Gene, and during the search, Heihachi learns that the body of his son, Kazuya, who also has the Devil Gene and who died twenty-one years ago, is stored in the labs of the Mishima Zaibatsu's main business rival, G Corporation.

Heihachi sends his Tekken Forces to raid G Corporation and retrieve Kazuya's remains, but the mission fails when the Force are wiped out by none other than Kazuya himself, who has been revived by G Corporation and is now stronger than ever before.

In a desperate attempt to lure Kazuya and Jin out, Heihachi announces the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4. The plan works, and at Stage Seven, where Jin and Kazuya are scheduled to fight, Jin is ambushed and captured by the Tekken Forces. Kazuya is declared the default winner of Stage Seven, and he meets Heihachi at the final stage. Father and Son clash in battle once again, and Heihachi wins. But rather than kill Kazuya outright, Heihachi decides to take Kazuya to Jin, and leads him to Hon-Maru, a Mishima Dojo in the woods.

There, Devil takes over Kazuya's mind once again, and tells Heihachi that he has come to extract the part of the Devil Gene he lost the night Kazuya was thrown into the volcano, the part stored inside Jin Kazama, who is unconscious and has been hung in he dojo by his arms with chains. As thanks, Devil knocks Heihachi out of the room with his telepathic powers instead of killing him, and then attempts to steal Jin's Devil Gene, but Jin's Kazama blood stops the process, and in the confusion, Kazuya battles Devil inside his mind and regains control of his body. Kazuya decides to kill Jin himself and absorb his Devil power. He telepathically taunts Jin until his son finally wakes up. In an uncontrollable rage, Jin attacks Kazuya and engages him in combat, emerging the victor.

Heihachi then wakes up and prepares to take advantage of the exhausted Jin by defeating him in battle, but Jin overpowers Heihachi and prepares to kill him as the Devil Gene begins to consume his mind. Jin almost delivers the final blow, but a vision of his mother, Jun, appears before him. Jin hesitates, and finally releases Heihachi, telling him to thank Jun for his life. Once again, the feathery black wings sprout from Jin's back, and he flies off, making a huge hole inside Hon-Maru's roof.

[edit] Character Roster

[edit] Returning Characters

[edit] New Characters

[edit] Trivia

  • Tekken 4 is the first game of the Tekken series where players can be heard talking to each other (aside from Julia's Tekken 3 ending, in which she speaks to Michelle). 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.
  • Tekken 4's speed is much faster than it's predecessor's speed.
  • Tekken 4 is the only game in the series without a Jack
  • Tekken 4 was critisised by Tomonobu Itagaki,CEO of Tean Ninja and creator of the Dead or Alive Series

[edit] Reception and criticism

Tekken 4 received an average of 82% at Game Rankings.[2] Edge reviewed Tekken 4 in their June 2004 issue, awarding six out of ten.[1] The review highlighted Tekken 4's experimental and pretty nature; and that overall it is a more solid and thoughtful proposition than its predecessor, but concluded that the game feels "over-familiar and curiously uninspired."

[edit] Awards

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Edge magazine issue E111, June 2004
  2. ^ Tekken 4 at Game Rankings Retrieved June 11
  3. ^ GameSpot Awards Retrieved June 11
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Tekken video games
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Tekken · 2 · 3 · Tag Tournament · 4 · 5 · Dark Resurrection · 6
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