TEKKEN 7
Tekken fans have had a bit of a wait on their hands for the latest release in the iconic beat-'em-up series. Tekken 7 has been out in arcades since 2015, but players can finally trade blows from their living rooms with the game's home release.
The game marks the epic conclusion of the 20-year-long Mishima blood saga as they settle old scores and struggle for control of a global empire, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Cinematic story sequences blend into fierce combat, with changes behind the scenes making them blend with gameplay more seamlessly than ever.
Under the hood, Bandai Namco has made some changes to how the game is built. It's used Unreal Engine 4, helping the game run at a rock solid 60 frames per second. More importantly, while the developer has kept the series' signature animation style, UE4 has been deployed to get gameplay running ever closer to the computer-generated renders we've seen in past games.
There's a massive roster of over 30 playable characters, including some newcomers and, tantalisingly, the 3D debut of Street Fighter's Akuma as part of the ongoing franchise mash-up. Bandai Namco boasts one of the world's biggest move sets, allowing players masses of choice in cultivating their own fighting style.
A couple of important new mechanics have been introduced this time out. Rage Art enables players to execute critical attacks that dole out roughly 30 percent damage in exchange for deactivating the normal attack power increase. The second addition is Power Crush, which enables the player to continue their attacks even while taking hits from an enemy (although they'll receive the damage being dealt to them!)
Tekken 7 is a dark new chapter in the game's world. Do you have what it takes to survive it?
SOULCALIBUR VI
After a fifth installation of Soul Calibur that some fans weren't too happy with, Project Soul is returning to its roots (that go back 20 years now, if you can believe it!) with a new game in the most iconic weapons-based beat-em-up out there.
The heart of the game is Soul Chronicle, a sort of all-star mode that takes players through Soul Calibur's storied history. It's a trip through the first three games, coming back to the characters that have made the series beloved with a storyline that works as a refresher without rebooting the franchise.
Beyond that, though, there's the Libra of Soul mode. It's an RPG based on the character creation system and with its own narrative, world map, customization options and item system it basically feels like its own game.
Yes, we mentioned the character creation system and yes, it's VERY deep. It has a list of race options that includes Lizardmen, skeletons, mummies, sculptures, demons (Darksiders), goblins (Malefics) and cyborgs (Automatons); fighting styles based on 20 characters and even voice choices. Beyond that, though, there is of course a list of iconic characters to play as that even includes Geralt from the Witcher series!
Arcade mode is here too, of course, as is a big new change to the mechanics in the form of the reversal edge, a parry that works as a way to push back against an onslaught and initiates a slow motion face-off reminiscent of Injustice's clash system.
Project Soul has come out (literally) swinging with what's arguably the biggest fighter of 2018.
