Tekken Tag Tournament
Encyclopedia
is the fourth installment in the popular Tekken
fighting game
series. It, however, is not canonical
to the Tekken storyline. The game was originally available as an update kit for Tekken 3
. Tekken Tag Tournament was originally released as an arcade game
before it was ported to the PlayStation 2
. The arcade version operated similarly, but ran on a 32 bit graphics engine like Tekken 3. It received upgraded graphics
when it was ported to the PlayStation 2. It, along with Tekken 4
and Soulcalibur II, was re-released in 2008 as a part of Namco Classic Fighter Collection. After 10 years, a sequel has been announced named Tekken Tag Tournament 2
.
A remastered version of the game titled Tekken Tag Tournament HD was released for PlayStation 3
in November 2011, as part of a Tekken Hybrid disc which also includes the 3D movie, Tekken: Blood Vengeance, and a demo version of Tekken Tag Tournament 2.
, Tekken Tag sees players battling in teams of two characters. At any point in the match, the player can hit a tag button to swap out with their other fighter, allowing the resting fighter to recover some lost health. The tag can be implimented in many ways, such as inbetween combos or utilising special throws. At times when a resting fighter's is flashing, that character can be tagged in to be given a temporary boost in strength. Unlike other tag games such as Capcom
's Vs. series, players are defeated when only one of their fighters lose all their health, requiring players to be strategic about tagging their fighters. In the event of a timeout, the team with the most accumulative health remaining wins the round.
The game features over 35 characters that have previously appeared in Tekken 2
and Tekken 3. In addition, there is a boss character, Unknown, who is similar to Tekken 3's Mokujin in that she can randomly imitate any character's fighting style, albeit she is able to change her style any time during the fight. The PlayStation 2 version added enhanced graphics and various modes, including 1-on-1 mode, in which players only choose one fighter each, and Team Battle, where players choose up to eight battles and play with the tag rules, with each new character replacing the one that was defeated (the remaining fighter must fight on his/her own). Also featured is "Tekken Bowl" mode, a bowling
minigame where each character has different attributes.
was the most heavily promoted, since he featured prominently on the game's cover art and promotional material, despite his absence from the previous entry in the Tekken series (he would return in Tekken 4).
When Arcade mode is completed, a real-time ending is shown over the credits for the main character (i.e. the first character chosen when selecting the two fighters). The exception to this is Unknown's ending, which is a FMV.
The only absent characters in the game that were playable in previous entries of the series are: the original Jack, King I, Kuma Sr., Marshall Law, Dr. Boskonovitch and Gon. Boskonovitch, however, makes a cameo appearance in the Tekken Bowl mode as a spectator.
hardware. The console version ran on a highly updated engine, utilizing the PlayStation 2's graphics processor. The game doesn't run on a 32bit engine, yet on a new and updated engine highly similar to that found on Tekken 4. The background designs and BGMs differed too, as the console version had new updated tracks, while the arcade version was based on MIDI tracks with an instrumental backing. Unknown is not playable on the arcade version, yet the character is on the PlayStation 2 version. The arcade version also allowed players to only select the alternative colours that have been added to the costumes although the artwork of some characters shows their normal coloured clothes.
There are also crucial differences concerning the playability of the characters. Some moves or attacks are much more efficient in arcade version than in console version and vice versa.
. The game includes Trophy support.
giving it a 9.6 out of 10. It has an aggregate score of 85 on Metacritic
. IGN
gave it an 8.7 out of 10 praising its graphics and character moves. In 2007, IGN listed Tekken Tag Tournament as the 23rd best game on the PlayStation 2.
As of 2008 PSM states Tekken Tag is regarded as the best installment in the series. In an article by GamePro Tekken Tag Tournament was praised for its visuals stating such things as, "The fighting backgrounds were also astounding-especially Eddy Gordo's stage where you could see individual blades of grass!" Tekken Tag has sold 4.63 million copies worldwide.
, was announced at the Tokyo Game Show
2010 on September 18, 2010. The game will expand on the previous game's tag mechanics, allowing for more flowing tag combos and combined moves, inherit some gameplay mechanics from Tekken 6, and feature characters from more recent Tekken games. It has currently been announced for a Japanese release in Summer 2011 (though was delayed to Autumn 2011 following the Great East Japan Earthquake
), with other regions and platforms yet to be announced.
A free Tekken Bowl app based on the game's bonus mode was released on iOS on July 23, 2011.
Tekken
is an arcade fighting game franchise created and developed by Namco. Beginning with the original Tekken arcade game released in 1994, the series has received several sequels, as well as various home conversions and spin-off titles released for consoles...
fighting game
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
series. It, however, is not canonical
Canon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
to the Tekken storyline. The game was originally available as an update kit for Tekken 3
Tekken 3
Tekken 3 is the third installment in the popular Tekken fighting game series. It was released for Arcades in March 1997, and for the PlayStation in mid-1998. The original Arcade version of the game was released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 as part of Tekken 5s Arcade History mode...
. Tekken Tag Tournament was originally released as an arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
before it was ported to the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
. The arcade version operated similarly, but ran on a 32 bit graphics engine like Tekken 3. It received upgraded graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
when it was ported to the PlayStation 2. It, along with Tekken 4
Tekken 4
Tekken 4 is the fifth installment in the Tekken series. It was developed and published by Namco. It was released as an arcade game in 2001 and on the PlayStation 2 in 2002. It is succeeded by Tekken 5.- Gameplay :...
and Soulcalibur II, was re-released in 2008 as a part of Namco Classic Fighter Collection. After 10 years, a sequel has been announced named Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
is a fighting game in the Tekken series and the successor to 1999's Tekken Tag Tournament. The game was released in Japanese arcades on September 14, 2011 and will be released on the PlayStation 3 sometime in 2012...
.
A remastered version of the game titled Tekken Tag Tournament HD was released for PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
in November 2011, as part of a Tekken Hybrid disc which also includes the 3D movie, Tekken: Blood Vengeance, and a demo version of Tekken Tag Tournament 2.
Gameplay
Continuing the fighting mechanics from Tekken 3Tekken 3
Tekken 3 is the third installment in the popular Tekken fighting game series. It was released for Arcades in March 1997, and for the PlayStation in mid-1998. The original Arcade version of the game was released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 as part of Tekken 5s Arcade History mode...
, Tekken Tag sees players battling in teams of two characters. At any point in the match, the player can hit a tag button to swap out with their other fighter, allowing the resting fighter to recover some lost health. The tag can be implimented in many ways, such as inbetween combos or utilising special throws. At times when a resting fighter's is flashing, that character can be tagged in to be given a temporary boost in strength. Unlike other tag games such as Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
's Vs. series, players are defeated when only one of their fighters lose all their health, requiring players to be strategic about tagging their fighters. In the event of a timeout, the team with the most accumulative health remaining wins the round.
The game features over 35 characters that have previously appeared in Tekken 2
Tekken 2
Tekken 2 is the second installment in the popular Tekken fighting game series. It was first released in arcades in 1995, and later released for the PlayStation in 1996...
and Tekken 3. In addition, there is a boss character, Unknown, who is similar to Tekken 3's Mokujin in that she can randomly imitate any character's fighting style, albeit she is able to change her style any time during the fight. The PlayStation 2 version added enhanced graphics and various modes, including 1-on-1 mode, in which players only choose one fighter each, and Team Battle, where players choose up to eight battles and play with the tag rules, with each new character replacing the one that was defeated (the remaining fighter must fight on his/her own). Also featured is "Tekken Bowl" mode, a bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
minigame where each character has different attributes.
Plot
Tekken Tag Tournament, being a non-canon game, features no storyline. It is more of a compilation of the Tekken series giving fans the opportunity to play as almost every character in the series up to that point, including many of those that had apparently been missing in the main Tekken storyline. Of all the returning characters, Kazuya MishimaKazuya Mishima
is a fictional character in the Tekken fighting game series. Although originally appearing as the main protagonist in the original Tekken game, he becomes one of the series' leading villains from Tekken 2 onward, after being overtaken by the Devil Gene, where he is known as Devil Kazuya .-In the...
was the most heavily promoted, since he featured prominently on the game's cover art and promotional material, despite his absence from the previous entry in the Tekken series (he would return in Tekken 4).
When Arcade mode is completed, a real-time ending is shown over the credits for the main character (i.e. the first character chosen when selecting the two fighters). The exception to this is Unknown's ending, which is a FMV.
Returning characters
- Alex (unlockable, palette swap for Roger)
- Angel (unlockable, palette swap for Devil)
- Anna Williams
- Armor King I
- Baek Doo San
- Bruce Irvin (unlockable)
- Bryan Fury
- Devil (unlockable)
- Eddy GordoEddy Gordois an Afro-Brazilian video game character in the Tekken fighting game series by Namco. He made his debut in the arcade version of Tekken 3 in 1997 and his first console appearance was in the 1998 PlayStation port of the title...
- Forrest Law
- Ganryu
- Gun Jack
- Heihachi MishimaHeihachi Mishimais one of the main characters in the Tekken fighting game series. He is one of only four characters to have appeared in every game in the series and he makes two appearances within the series as the final boss...
- Hwoarang
- Jack-2 (unlockable)
- Jin KazamaJin Kazamais a video game player character in the Tekken fighting game series released by Namco Bandai. Trained by his grandfather, Heihachi Mishima in order to enter the King of Iron Fist Tournament, Jin wishes to avenge his mother's apparent death...
- Julia Chang
- Jun Kazama
- Kazuya MishimaKazuya Mishimais a fictional character in the Tekken fighting game series. Although originally appearing as the main protagonist in the original Tekken game, he becomes one of the series' leading villains from Tekken 2 onward, after being overtaken by the Devil Gene, where he is known as Devil Kazuya .-In the...
(unlockable) - King IIKing (Tekken)is the name of two characters in the Tekken fighting game series. The characters were inspired by the pro wrestler Satoru Sayama, as well as Mexican wrestler Fray Tormenta, a Catholic priest who became a masked wrestler in order to support an orphanage...
- Kuma II (unlockable)
- Kunimitsu (unlockable)
- Lee Chaolan (unlockable)
- Lei Wulong
- Ling Xiaoyu
- Michelle Chang
- Mokujin (unlockable, palette swap for Tetsujin)
- Nina WilliamsNina Williamsis a character from Namco's Tekken game series. She is known to be a cold-blooded assassin who had made her very first appearance in the original Tekken game and since has appeared in every Tekken game released...
- Ogre (unlockable)
- Panda (unlockable, palette swap for Kuma)
- Paul Phoenix
- P. (Prototype) Jack (unlockable)
- Roger (unlockable)
- Tiger Jackson (palette swap for Eddy Gordo)
- True Ogre (unlockable)
- Wang Jinrei (unlockable)
- Yoshimitsu
New characters
- Tetsujin (unlockable)
- Unknown (Final boss, playable only in PlayStation 2 release and PlayStation 3 remaster)
The only absent characters in the game that were playable in previous entries of the series are: the original Jack, King I, Kuma Sr., Marshall Law, Dr. Boskonovitch and Gon. Boskonovitch, however, makes a cameo appearance in the Tekken Bowl mode as a spectator.
Arcade and console version differences
The arcade and console versions of Tekken Tag Tournament differ slightly. The arcade version ran on a 32bit engine, utilizing the graphics engine of Tekken 3. These graphics ran using the Tekken 3 PCB board, based on the PlayStationPlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
hardware. The console version ran on a highly updated engine, utilizing the PlayStation 2's graphics processor. The game doesn't run on a 32bit engine, yet on a new and updated engine highly similar to that found on Tekken 4. The background designs and BGMs differed too, as the console version had new updated tracks, while the arcade version was based on MIDI tracks with an instrumental backing. Unknown is not playable on the arcade version, yet the character is on the PlayStation 2 version. The arcade version also allowed players to only select the alternative colours that have been added to the costumes although the artwork of some characters shows their normal coloured clothes.
There are also crucial differences concerning the playability of the characters. Some moves or attacks are much more efficient in arcade version than in console version and vice versa.
Tekken Tag Tournament HD
Tekken Tag Tournament HD is a remastered version of Tekken Tag Tournament, released in November 2011. The game comes on the same Blu-ray Disc as Tekken: Blood Vengeance and will be accessible if the disc is loaded on a PlayStation 3 (the entire package is referred to as Tekken Hybrid). The game is based on the PlayStation 2 version and features updated HD visuals, similar to the God of War Collection or The Sly CollectionThe Sly Collection
The Sly Collection, titled as The Sly Trilogy in Europe and Australia and Sly Cooper Collection in Japan, Korea and Asia, is remastered port of the PlayStation 2 games, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, Sly 2: Band of Thieves and Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, for the PlayStation 3 on a single...
. The game includes Trophy support.
Reception
Tekken Tag received positive reviews with critics. GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
giving it a 9.6 out of 10. It has an aggregate score of 85 on Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave it an 8.7 out of 10 praising its graphics and character moves. In 2007, IGN listed Tekken Tag Tournament as the 23rd best game on the PlayStation 2.
As of 2008 PSM states Tekken Tag is regarded as the best installment in the series. In an article by GamePro Tekken Tag Tournament was praised for its visuals stating such things as, "The fighting backgrounds were also astounding-especially Eddy Gordo's stage where you could see individual blades of grass!" Tekken Tag has sold 4.63 million copies worldwide.
Cult Status
Tekken Tag being the only game in the franchise with the unique Tag style has remained a popular choice for fans despite its age. There is a growing trend for fans to gather for organised Events. These events are played up using a Pro Wrestling style of promotion, including nicknames and hype videos. Fights are determined based on Rankings and has led to official Rankings pages showing up on various sites.Legacy
A sequel for Tekken Tag, titled Tekken Tag Tournament 2Tekken Tag Tournament 2
is a fighting game in the Tekken series and the successor to 1999's Tekken Tag Tournament. The game was released in Japanese arcades on September 14, 2011 and will be released on the PlayStation 3 sometime in 2012...
, was announced at the Tokyo Game Show
Tokyo Game Show
The , commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association and the Nikkei Business Publications, Inc...
2010 on September 18, 2010. The game will expand on the previous game's tag mechanics, allowing for more flowing tag combos and combined moves, inherit some gameplay mechanics from Tekken 6, and feature characters from more recent Tekken games. It has currently been announced for a Japanese release in Summer 2011 (though was delayed to Autumn 2011 following the Great East Japan Earthquake
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
), with other regions and platforms yet to be announced.
A free Tekken Bowl app based on the game's bonus mode was released on iOS on July 23, 2011.
External links
- Tekken Tag Tournament for PlayStation 2 at GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
.com - Tekken Tag Tournament for Arcade Games at GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
.com - Tekken Tag Tournament Box Art for PlayStation 2 at GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
.com