Tekken is one the most beloved fighting games out there. Whether it’s in the Unites States, or in Japan, people know the name. In fact, the two countries actually have very different experiences with Tekken via how Bandai Namco brings the game out, and yet, it’s still a best selling game.
In fact, the Tekken series has not only had hit games in the main series, but they’ve had numerous successes in the spinoff series as well. But what is the true legacy of Tekken, especially as we look towards the release of Tekken 7?
Well, it’s easily one of the most grounded games in the fighting genre. Every fighter may have special moves, and defy physics or gravity as they perform them. However, the core of the game is pure martial arts. This is a contrast to say Street Fighter, Fatal Fury, or Mortal Kombat, where martial arts is the core of the game, but there’s a lot of high fantasy moves in their as well.
In fact, when Street Fight and Tekken crossed over, the developers noted that they had to alter the playstyle of the Street Fighter characters so that they would work better in the more grounded world of Tekken.
But beyond what it means in the world fighting games, the legacy of Tekken may just be that it’s been around so long, that other games have incorporated it into other titles in one way or another. From references and callouts, to actual inclusions in other games. Heihachi Mishima and Yoshimitsu have both been in the Soul Calibur franchise, with Yoshimitsu actually being in multiple games in that franchise. When Bandai Namco helped make Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS, they let Nintendo bring in some Tekken clothing items and hairstyles so that players could dress up like those characters. And it wouldn’t surprise us if a Tekken character appeared in Super Smash Bros. when it comes to the Nintendo Switch.
In the end though, Tekken is a very successful franchise, it’s lasted over two decades, with multiple hits, and even a movie. The fact that it endures is its true legacy.
