Summary
As one of the original faces of the franchise, Kazuya Mishima has always been seen as one of the main focal points of the narrative, and Bandai Namco’s upcomingTekken 8is certainly no exception to this. Throughout seven previous mainline installments, Kazuya has walked a fine line between good and evil, serving as both the primary protagonist and antagonist at different points duringTekken’s decades-long Mishima family conflict.Tekken 8sees Kazuya step back into the shoes of the story’s main villain, and this time he’s seemingly more powerful and focused than ever before.
Historically, Kazuya has always been a well-rounded character with a nice balance of offensive and defensive moves.Tekken 2debuted his evil persona, Devil, and since then,Kazuya has learned to control this powerful devil gene at will, transforming into a winged being when needed, capable of shooting lasers and performing other extremely powerful moves. This has often given Kazuya the edge over his rivals, andTekken 8looks like it has taken this concept even further, transforming Kazuya into arguably the most powerful being in the game.
Tekken 8 Should Bring Kazuya Mishima’s Story to a Head
With Kazuya’s father, family patriarch Heihachi Mishima, out of the picture, Kazuya has wasted no time in seeking to assert his dominance over the world. Having beaten Jin during the game’s opening scenes, he declares theKing of Iron Fist Tournament 8in the hopes of finding the world’s last remaining warriors so that he can defeat them. Right from the off, it’s very obvious that this is a Kazuya at the very peak of his powers, able to not only stand toe-to-toe with Jin, but even overcome him.
One potential variable that could significantly change how story events play out is the reintroduction of Kazuya’s former lover,Jun Kazama, who returns toTekken 8as a playable character. Absent and presumed dead since the events leading up toTekken 3, Jun’s return poses many questions for both Kazuya and her son Jin, and it is not yet clear what, if anything, this will do to Kazuya’s mindset and motivations. One thing’s for sure: Kazuya will not be easily stopped.
Kazuya’s Tekken 8 Move Set Should Please Both Newcomers and Veterans
Jin and Kazuya’s rivalry is the main focus ofTekken 8, so it seems logical that both characters serve as excellent choices for both beginners and veterans alike. Kazuya’s move set offers several easy-to-perform combos, and he can perform fast, powerful strikes with both his fists and feet. Those new to the series will find moves such as his enhanced Flash Punch Combo, known as Devil Break, and Demon Scissors easy to perform, and super effective at keeping opponents on the defensive. On the contrary,Tekkenveterans will find lots to love too, with combos such as Demon’s Wrath and Reign of Terror displaying Kazuya’s versatility.
Old favorites like the Electric Wind God Fist and Lightning Screw Uppercut make welcome returns, both of which are simple to pull off, but incredibly powerful.ActivatingTekken 8’s new Heat Modecan be done by performing certain moves, and sees Kazuya transform into Devil, making his offensive moves stronger. Heat Mode allows the player to experience the most powerful version of their chosen fighter, and this is never more obvious than when playing as Kazuya.Tekken 7’s community raised issues with Kazuya’s overall lack of balance, and until Kazuya can be used in online modes and compared to the other fighters, it remains to be seen whether these issues have been rectified inTekken 8.So far, however, it seems like Kazuya will be one of the game’s most powerful characters.
Tekken 8
WHERE TO PLAY
Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
