Cert: 16+
Platform: Xbox 360, PC, Xbox 360
Genre: Beat 'em Up
Beat 'em up games used to be the best consoles had to offer. Now there's not much worth playing in this genre beyond Soul Calibur IV and Street Fighter IV. Namco Bandai is hoping to address that with Tekken 6. The game features 41 characters, 6 of whom are new and playable, and it has a lengthy, if nonsensical, single player campaign and a variety of multiplayer modes (no co-op though).
Unlike Street Fighter IV amateurs can pull of combos and special moves easily, but those who take the time to learn the intricacies of each character will be rewarded. And there's no need to buy a expensive third party controller to master this game. However, there's still a few teething problems with online play (lag, player data slow to update); something Namco Bandai need to address with a patch.
There's an arcade mode for those who prefer battlling AI and it's possible to download ghost data of other online human players to practice against; a feature that works surprisingly well. It's also possible to customise the look of each character with accessories purchased with in-game gold.
Tekken's graphics and presentation are it's Achilles' Heel. There's far too many loading screens and it lacks the polished feel of it's rivals. In places the game looks something copied off a machine that's been gathering dust in a local arcade for years. One particular level where players knock each other into poorly animated sheep to the sound of yoodling music really is that bad.
Dodgy looking sheep aside, Tekken 6 is a welcome addition to this neglected genre.
Rent or Buy: Buy
Graphics: 2/5
Game Play: 3/5
Replay Value: 4/5
Overall: 3/5
Reviewed By: Bryan Collins
