As a seasoned Tekken veteran with over two decades of combat under my belt, I must say that the latest iteration of Heihachi Mishima has me truly intrigued! The concept of a character who gains strength as the match progresses is reminiscent of my own life – starting off as a bumbling novice and ending up as a grizzled warrior!
In the enduring storyline of Tekken, Heihachi stands as an immortal figure who refuses to yield. Often portrayed as the Iron Fist King and the on-again, off-again leader of the Mishima Zaibatsu, he’s been “slain” numerous times only to resurface more formidable than ever before. During my sneak peek at the character, provided by Bandai Namco, I was pleasantly surprised to find that his signature resilience lies at the heart of his potential in Tekken 8. While Heihachi remains true to himself, he now possesses a fresh move that could make him a formidable adversary as early as the third round of any battle.
A new leaf?
To begin with, I was fortunate enough to test drive the fresh story mode chapter that includes Heihachi, Lidia, and Eddy. Here’s an exciting detail: This new story will be complimentary, allowing players to experience Eddy, Lidia, and Heihachi without having to own them first! This is a great opportunity for you to discover if any of the DLC characters have piqued your interest, all at no additional cost.
In the latest tale, we encounter Heihachi, who miraculously survived his plunge into a volcano in Tekken 7 and ended up at a secluded temple governed by an enigmatic sect called the Tekken Monks. His memory has been erased, leaving him unaware of his past, but he still recognizes that he is a Mishima and harbors a strong desire to battle and improve himself. The monks, aware of his former self, hope to reform him and guide him towards the benevolent side of the Mishima martial arts.
This story unfolds with an unconventional approach, aiming to guide Heihachi towards tranquility while revealing more profound aspects of the Mishima martial arts. Essentially, it’s like attempting to reform a notorious slasher villain by making him a summer camp director. However, Lidia and Lars, along with other characters like Jin, Kazuya, Tekken Monks, Eddy, and Yoshimitsu, believe this step is crucial due to Jin’s ongoing battle with Kazuya, which runs parallel to the main storyline. If Jin should fail in his mission, they hope Heihachi might be instrumental in saving the world. This tale serves as a captivating spin-off to the primary game’s events and offers an attractive introduction for players who haven’t yet purchased the Season Pass, allowing them to decide if it’s worth their investment.
A snowball becomes an avalanche
Delving into the combat and gameplay of Heihachi Mishima now, you’re likely familiar with him if you’ve played any Tekken title since its inception. He’s renowned for his impressive mid-range attacks, his signature sweeping leg uppercut, the classic Electric Wind God Fist, and much more that seasoned players would anticipate. I suspect he’ll once again be the most offensively dominant among Mishima users in Tekken 8, partly due to how his Heat System is implemented. Naturally, every character in Tekken 8 becomes stronger when in Heat state, and Heihachi gains improved and new moves during this phase. However, he also possesses a unique mechanic related to Heat: each time he activates Heat, he receives a permanent buff that can be boosted up to threefold, reaching its maximum by Round 3.
It seems like Heihachi’s character has been significantly boosted in power, making his moves more potent and threatening. This enhancement makes his key moves more formidable offensively and defensively. For instance, his EWGF (Exupiridion Wave, Godfather) now has fewer recovery frames, while his axe kick can now bounce enemies off the ground, extending combo possibilities. Overall, he becomes more adaptable, leading to increased pressure that you must manage. Even if you manage to weaken him, he shows resilience and comes back stronger…
The catch is that Heihachi can only activate Heat once per round, so it will take him at least three to get to his full power. Until then, I’d actually argue that he might have some of the worst damage output of any character in the game early in a match. I went through most of his moves and assembled the most optimal routes I could string together in a short time, the way I often have on Tekken it to the Lab. In his early round state with no Heat buffs in Arena (Underground), I was able to pull 84 damage out of him with a wall explosion, Heat Smash, and Rage Art. That’s a combination of factors that would normally give me at least 110 damage on almost every other character I’ve labbed so far. But I wasn’t able to extensively test the mid or max end of that spectrum, where Heihachi is at two or three buffs. I have a good feeling I’d be able to hit or exceed the benchmark in Heihachi’s powered-up states.
In addition to his unique characteristics, Heihachi’s Heat Smash sets him apart from other Tekken 8 characters in an intriguing manner. Unlike most characters who have ground slams, thrusts, or command throws for their Heat Smashes, Heihachi has two distinct forms: a ground slam Heat Smash and a thrust Heat Smash triggered by holding forward while activating. This makes him one of the few characters capable of utilizing all stage hazard mechanics from his Heat Smash, which is a significant advantage in gameplay. Essentially, mastering Heihachi requires strategic planning to counteract his early strength, making him a challenging and exciting character to play against.
The King of the Iron Fist returns
In simple terms, the depiction of Heihachi in Tekken 8 is thrilling, and the new storyline serves as an intriguing sneak peek of the DLC for those undecided about it. Only a handful of characters in fighting game history exhibit growth in power throughout a match, such as Manon from Street Fighter 6. This unique trait adds to the allure of Heihachi Mishima, who transforms into a formidable force by rounds 3 to 5. The strategies and techniques players will develop for engaging with or against Heihachi in Tekken 8 promise to be entertaining spectacles. I’m eagerly anticipating its release and expect to spend considerable time exploring his enhanced forms.
These impressions are based on a preview build of Tekken 8 containing the new DLC and Heihachi as a playable character. The DLC is set to launch on ____ on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
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2024-09-24 18:27