Summary
Rivalry is the fuel that drives high-quality fights in boxing and MMA, and the same principle applies infighting games likeStreet FighterandMortal Kombat. Button mashing is all good and fun in combat-heavy games, but context adds a spice element that engages players further in the fighting dynamics. Each character in theTekkenseries represents unique ideals, and when ideologies of good and evil clash, an epic power struggle follows that enraptures fans. WithTekken 8on the way, some of the franchise’s biggest rivalries will return in the new title, and insight into the history ofTekken’s most famous conflicts is always appreciated.
Tekken’s hate-filled historybegins with Heihachi Mishima and his wife Kazumi once he discovers her occultic origins and motives to end his life, killing her preemptively. Not totally assured of his safety, Heihachi throws his son Kazuya off a cliff on the suspicion he had inherited the devil gene from his mother. Heihachi’s persona transforms from a loving father and husband to a power-hungry tyrant, locking his own father in the basement of the Mishima Zaibatsu compound and starting the Tekken tournament to prove his status as the strongest fighter in the world. Unbeknownst to Heihachi, Kazuya survived the fall and soon entered the contest, seeking to take the Mishima Zaibatsu mantle for himself, marking the beginning of their fierce battles.
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Family Battles and Betrayals are on Display in Tekken
Paternal hatred is passed down in the family, asJin Kazama loathes his father, Kazuya, for his absence when Ogre murdered his mother, Jun Kazama. Jin despises that Kazuya is comfortable using his devil powers and vows to eradicate the devil gene and all devils from the world, his father included. One ofTekken’s more light-hearted rivalries is that of King and Armor King. These two don similar-looking leopard heads as masks which can be hard to differentiate, but Armor King wears a costume armor while King fights shirtless like a typical wrestler. Their motivations for fighting are to protect the innocent, and they have mutual respect.
However, the same can’t be said for Feng Wei and Lei Wulong, as their rivalry begins when Feng Wei accidentally kills his master in a challenge of strength. TheKazama dojowas also a casualty, and several people got hurt due to Feng’s actions. Lei steps in as an orator of justice in his role as a Hong Kong interpol officer, trying to bring Feng Wei to book for his crimes. Jin and Hwoarang’s clashes stretch back toTekken 3after a street brawl that ended in a draw, and Hwoarang was motivated to defeat him when they met again in theTekken 5tournament. Hwoarang appeared to have the upper hand in the fight and seemed to beat Jin, but the latter’s devil gene took over and hurt Hwoarang to the extent he couldn’t continue in the tourney.
Bryan and Yoshimitsu constitute one of the more hate-filled bouts inTekken, beginning when the cyborg joined the Tournament in a desperate attempt to find Dr. Abel - his creator. After getting knocked out, Bryan makes a last-ditch attempt to seize the Mishima Zaibatsu by force to preserve his life, but he fails and gets injured in the process.Yoshimitsu, the leader of the Majin clan, takes him to Dr. Bosconovitch for help, and the cyborg was fitted with a power generator. In an act of betrayal, Bryan kills Majin clan members and assaults the doctor, leading to Yoshimitsu swearing revenge on him and kicking off their rivalry.
Finally, Lars and Jin’s enmity started when Jin took over the Mishima Zaibatsu and started World War 3 to destroy the devil Azazel and rid the world of the devil gene. Lars then sets out to defeat Jin in hopes that he can stop the war.Tekkenhas a host of other rivalries, just likeMortal Kombat, and gamers will be keen to flex their virtual muscles once again in the next installment.
