Tekken 3

"Bringing it home…"

I chose the Nintendo 64 over the original Playstation – at least for the better part of that generation. I enjoyed the Nintendo 64, but it was a mistake on my part to neglect the Playstation for so long. I finally decided to make the jump and get a Playstation. The first game I picked up was Tekken 3. I played the game almost religiously at the arcades. Upon playing Tekken 3 on the Playstation, I realized how well the transition from the arcade to the console was. Tekken 3 was the peak of the series. The others were all solid/good, but Tekken was the one that really got my attention.

Going Above and Beyond…

At the time, Tekken Force was a nice additional mode to play. The flaws are quite apparent now, but back then, it was not quite as noticeable. In fact, the Tekken Force mode was a nice 2D brawler. I enjoyed using characters to plow my way through a series of enemies. But of course, the main course of the game is its single player components and its multiplayer. It's safe to say that Tekken 3 is packing with quality. The combo system is as good as can be. Like most Tekken games, the combos are fairly complex. There are some easy ones to cater to people who are just starting, but it still contains plenty of depth for veterans. Even then however, the game's combat system requires a lot of learning, which makes it hard for newer players to break into.

The best part – the combo system is varied. There are plenty of components that make it a fabulous and well rounded system. There aren't really any overpowered moves, which forces players to compromise on what they have. For example, somebody who has powerful kicks will have weaker hands. This balances things out a bit. The combat system is like any other Tekken games. The combat system is quite strong. While not on the same level as a Virtua Fighter, there is still has plenty of depth. The game's combat system has its moment of high stringed combos, but there is a lot of strategy behind the moves. A lot of times I found myself going for smaller combinations and using more of a defensive posture to try to improve my position. This allowed me to wait and bait. On many instances I tried waiting for the right opportunity to unleash powerful combos, but it wasn't very common for me because I felt the A.I that was present was very strong. This differs from a fighter like Dead or Alive, where big combos are common place; Tekken focuses more on blocking and counter hitting. The game forces more of a strategic approach.

The fighting engine is definitely its strong point. With multiple characters, each offering a different fighting style, it gives players a wide variety of skills and move sets to play with. This makes things interesting because playing with one character will be a complete experience than playing with someone else. This gives the game depth and variety, which makes Tekken 3 much more appealing in the end. That with the nice 2D sidescroller that is present as a playable mode makes Tekken 3 one of the better games in that generation. Not only was it a great fighting game, but it also had different components to make it even more enjoyable. Of course, the main course of it all is still the moments where you are locked in one on one battle.

The graphics looked very good for its time. You can't compare it to game nowadays because it simply isn't fair. But a testament to the game's longevity – the game is still bearable even today. That's saying a lot. Tekken 3 was definitely a marvel to look at when it was first released. The animation was crisp and sound. The music was fantastic. Even to this day, the musical soundtrack still remains a strong point in the game.

Close, Really Close…

Tekken 3 is close to being my favorite fighter of all time. Back in the day, it was my favorite fighter. And to this day, it's only top by one other fighter. But it took years to overtake Tekken 3. I still play the game even today. It shows you how wonderfully made the game were. It certainly was much more enjoyable than the later editions, although the other ones were solid. Tekken 3 is on another level. It's simply a great game that shouldn't be missed by anyone. Calling over some buddies to have a nice little tournament can also be a very enjoyable experience. Not to mention, the game is one of those gems that were made for the arcades. The version on the Playstation is able to replicate that with great fluidity. So having some friends over to play can really simulate the arcade experience. If not, the A.I is good enough to keep you entertained as well.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/13/07