Exciting Updates On Tekken 8: The Return Of Tekken Ball And More!

At a recent preview event for the upcoming Tekken 8, we sat down for a panel interview with Development Producer and Game Director Nakatsu along with Producer Michael Murray. It had been announced that Tekken Ball would be returning to Tekken 8, as it had not been seen in the series since the Wii U version of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 nearly fifteen years ago. The mode originated in Tekken 3 way back on the original PlayStation in the late 1990s, and with the re-emergence of the mode, we asked about its origin and the decision to bring it back to the latest version.

For those not familiar with Tekken Ball, it remains a 1v1 mode with the idea of building up a power meter to a ball that bounces back and forth. Much like volleyball, the goal is to keep the volley going while unleashing the built-up power to deal damage to your opponent in the match. The ball cannot hit the ground, and players will have the option to choose from four balls that offer different amounts of damage. Online play will also be included for Tekken Ball in Tekken 8, which Nakatsu mentions was a way to revive the mode that he feels was losing some of its charm. Unlike in Tekken 3, where the mode had to be unlocked, Tekken Ball will be available right from the start in this new installment.

Nakatsu shared insights about the origin and the re-introduction, stating, "we've heard the story many times from those who actually made the mode that the first time, in Tekken 3, it was originally intended to be a way to practice aerial combos. We also heard that it was quite difficult to actually get it polished into a proper mode by the time Tekken 3 was shipped." He continued to explain that while it was included in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 on the Wii U, it became more of a tool for practicing aerial juggles, leading to a decline in its original appeal. The new mode can be enhanced by playing online in the beach area of Tekken, where players will have access to all their moves, including homing attacks and tornadoes, giving the ball various trajectories and adding fresh gameplay features.

Another mode returning from Tekken 3 is the beat-em-up mini-game Tekken Force. This mini-game has a rich history, appearing in both Tekken 3 and Tekken 4, later being renamed to the Devil Within in Tekken 5 and the Scenario Campaign in Tekken 6. However, it took a hiatus from Tekken 7 as the focus shifted to pure fighting mechanics, and it currently will not be a part of Tekken 8. Players will navigate through levels of enemies, with the end boss of each level being one of the fighters in the game. This side-scrolling aspect evokes nostalgic memories from the 1990s while adding an entirely new game experience that has garnered a loyal following.

Nakatsu expressed, "In regards to Tekken Force, we know a lot of people love that mode. We would have loved to include it, but this time, since we didn’t start with an arcade version, we had to make not only all the bonus content that goes into the normal console release, but also the basic gameplay needed to feel brand new. Creating all this volume from the start for launch was already such a huge task that it just wasn’t possible. Obviously, we’d like to revisit that sometime in some kind of capacity in the future if possible."

The re-introduction of Tekken Ball is expected to bring a fresh