SinceTekken’s debut in 1994, Heihachi Mishima has been one of a handful of ever-present characters in the popular fighting series. He plays a key part in the franchise’s lore, given his position as the patriarch of the Mishima family, who are the nucleus around which the whole plot is formed. Heihachi has regularly served as one of, if not the main, primary antagonists of theTekkenseries. However, following the events ofTekken 7, and Heihachi’s presumed death at the hands of his son Kazuya, his inclusion in the upcomingTekken 8is thrown into doubt.
So far, based on the firstTekken 8trailer shown duringSeptember’s State of Playreveal, only Jin Kazama and his father Kazuya Mishima are confirmed to be returning. It’s probably a safe bet to assume the likes of Paul Phoenix and Nina Williams, two more ever-presents, will also join them, alongside several others.Tekken’s roster has been a relatively stable one over the years, with few popular fighters coming and going, but a strong core group of fighters remaining for the bulk of the mainline entries. Heihachi is very much a part of the core group, and while his alleged demise seemingly shuts the door on a return, he has diced with death several times before and always returned stronger than ever.
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Heihachi is No Stranger To Death
While it seems inconceivable to think of anew Tekkengame that doesn’t feature Heihachi, many wonder if the trailer’s focus on his offspring may indicate a shift in the series' lore. The wily old warrior has constantly been the main reason for the Mishima family’s conflicts. Whether battling with his sonKazuya Mishima, his grandson Jin, or his wife Kazumi, all of whom carry the powerful Devil gene, Heihachi is always the focal point. He has sought to learn more and experiment with this Devil gene numerous times throughout the series, with a complete disregard for his loved ones' safety. To say he heads up a dysfunctional family is something of an understatement, and while his motives have not always been sadistic, he has made a series of selfish decisions over the years that have had some devastating consequences for his family.
Heihachi is sadistic in nature and has a cruel streak that has seen him commit some terrible acts. Some of his worst moments include throwing his five-year-old son Kazuya off a cliff, murdering hiswife Kazumi Mishimaafter her Devil gene was exposed, shooting his grandson Jin in the head, and imprisoning his father Jinpachi for over 20 years. His desire for power and domination knows no bounds, and over the years he has gone to extreme lengths to attempt to make himself and his company, the Mishima Zaibatsu, more powerful.
The Mishima family patriarch has survived numerous attempts on his life before, including being dropped into a volcano by Kazuya following events in the first game, and years later being attacked by waves of JACK robots armed with guns, before being caught in an explosion afterward. The climax ofTekken 7saw Kazuya finally defeat his father after an epic battle at the mouth of yet another volcano. To ensure his father was really dead this time, Kazuya dumped Heihachi’s body into a river of magma. As far as video game deaths go, this one seems pretty conclusive.
Despite this though, many fans will still be expecting Heihachi to show up inTekken 8. Given the franchise’s association with supernatural entities, such as Ogre, Azazel, and the vengeful spirit that resurrected and possessed Jinpachi Mishima, it is perfectly conceivable that Heihachi will return in some inhuman form. Whether that be as a demon, ghost, cyborg, or something else entirely, remains to be seen. One thing is for sure though: Heihachi’s absence fromTekken 8would indicate a desire from developerBandai Namcoto move the series in a new direction, and would represent the end of one man’s lasting legacy of blood and destruction.
Tekken 8is currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
