This week marks the release of the long awaited fighting hybrid game, Street Fighter X Tekken Mobile. We published our review earlier today, praising the game's single-player game along with a fair few regrets about the online performance. If you're struggling to get to grips with the basics, here's our guide to landing a few solid blows.

What moves can my character make?

The list is far too extensive to put here, but if you want to see what each character is capable of, hit the pause menu at any time and select Command List.

A little knowledge only goes so far though, so it's well worth putting a character through its paces in the Training section of the single-player game.

Which characters should I choose?

Much will come down to personal preferences (not to mention mastery over so many years), but when picking your tag-team it's important to choose characters that compliment each other so that you're ready to handle any match-up.

A good fast brawler is useful for close-up encounters, but you might want someone a little zippier to go up against equally agile opponents.

To read more, please visit Modojo.

Namco Bandai has released a new update for its flagship fighter Tekken Tag Tournament 2.

The update includes three new brawlers, namely Slim Bob, Miharu Hirano and Sebastian, plus four new stages in the shape of Chile, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Tekken series boss Katsuhiro Harada previously commented on his dislike for offering new characters and related bonus content as paid DLC, and pleasingly he has kept his promise by offering the update completely free of charge.

This is in strike contrast to Capcom’s Street Fighter franchise, which has been supported by a wealth of paid DLC over the past couple of years.

Tekken Tag 2 features the most extensive fighter roster in the beat-‘em-up’s lengthy history, with over 50 characters up for grabs in the console version. In addition, the scrapper also includes new Tag-based techniques, such as the ability to attack an opponent simultaneously with your partner. .

Namco’s Tekken series is making the leap to the Wii U. The fighting game favourite is one of the first big games slotted for the console. But does it pack enough punch on the Wii U?

To cater to Wii U players, Nintendo and Namco have tailed the Wii U edition with loads of platform specific goodies, such as clothing and Nintendo music.

New to the Tekken series and only on the Wii U is the “Mushroom Battle” mode, in which players can gobble up various mushrooms as power-ups: the Red Mushroom makes you grow one size larger, the Yellow Mushroom makes you grow to “mega size”, and the Purple Mushroom shrinks you.

The Mushroom Battle opens up new gameplay dynamics. According to Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada, the mode isn’t balanced any differently if you don’t use the mushrooms; however, if you do use them, it opens up a new style of play.

The Mushroom Battle mode is a new spin on Tekken. When you grow larger, it makes high kicks often meaningless against smaller players. It looks, and perhaps sounds, gimmicky. It’s not, as it was surprisingly enjoyable to play, mixing up elements of strategy, technique, and just dumb luck.

In a roundtable discussion, Harada said that the mode wasn’t originally inspired by Nintendo. While developing Tekken Tag 2, developers were messing around with a slider, making some characters smaller and other characters huge. They thought it was interesting, but it wasn’t until they started working on the Wii U version that the idea hit to use the mechanic with Mario’s iconic mushrooms.

Whether or not there’s an online version of the Mushroom Battle is still TBA. Harada stressed that the game’s online would be comparable to the Xbox 360 and PS3 regarding lag or the lack thereof.

While demoing Tekken Tag Tournament 2 for the Wii U, Harada used the Wii U GamePad, saying that he found it comfortable. During my hands on, I used both the Wii U GamePad and the Pro Controller, preferring the Wii U GamePad — even though, the thing is very, very wide. There are shortcuts for attacks on the Wii U GamePad, and use them in succession to unleash combos. These shortcuts are aimed at players new to Tekken.

During my hands on, the Pro Controller didn’t feel very responsive; it’s too light; what’s more, the buttons are mushy. The controls didn’t feel tight, and that felt more like a hardware issue. Harada, however, said they are in talks to bring a fight stick out for the game, which should please hardcore fighting game fans. Namco’s hoping that the Tekken Tag 2 on the Wii U will, too.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition will be available on 30th November in the UK, developer Namco has confirmed. That's Wii U release day.

Three other Namco games will also make Nintendo's big launch, including Japanese blaster Tank! Tank! Tank! and cartoon tie-in Ben 10: Omniverse.

Then there's colon-challenged mini-game compilation Family Party: 30 Great Games: Obstacle Arcade.

The four supplement the seven retail titles Nintendo previously announced for the Wii U launch: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, FIFA 13, Mass Effect 3: Special Edition, New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo Land, Rayman Legends and ZombiU.

Downloadable titles Trine 2: Director's Cut, Toki Tori 2 and Nano Assault Neo will also be available.

Namco recently revealed that you'll be able to dress as Mario and Zelda in Tekken Tag Tournament for Wii U.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is filled with more. More characters. More in-match participants. More button smashing.

More lunacy.

The sequel to 1999’s Tekken Tag Tournament is a noncanonical sidestep in the constant battle that is Namco Bandai’s bare-knuckle 3D fighting franchise. So this 55-combatant (not including downloadable entrants), storyline-cracking free-for-all is technically nothing but an illusive blip on an already convoluted Tekken timeline — and a figment of chief producer Katsuhiro Harada’s already insane imagination.

But after stuffing myself with repeated trips to this buffet of brawls, I’m left wondering if Namco’s more friendly approach is the best direction for the series.

WHAT YOU’LL LIKE

Become the ultimate Don Armor King

In TT2’s fantasy world, you can put on the dream fights you’ve always wanted to see. You have a ridiculously dense (and in some cases, just plain ridiculous) roster of ruffians to rumble with, either solo or in tag teams. The franchise’s warring Mishima and Kazama clans are at your disposal, along with pretty much every other mainstay from Tekkens No. 1 through 6.

Gameplay is as tight as Nina Williams’ outfit

Tekken’s responsive and fast-paced controls are in full effect here. Fights are as frantic and fun as you would expect. The core mechanics introduced in the last Tekken release are back with a tag-team focused twist. Destructible, multitiered environments return, as well, making combat especially dynamic and dangerous.

Fight Lab is a useful, albeit bizarre new addition

Series newcomers and veterans alike can benefit from the Fight Lab. The all-new mode is a glorified tutorial, complete with a wacky storyline featuring Violet, the millionaire philanderer alter ego of playable pugilist Lee Chaolan. As you progress through the Lab’s brief campaign, you’ll help Violet program his prototype Combot. Each chapter highlights a specific gameplay mechanic, culminating with a boss battle.

By the end of the experience, you’ll have worked on offensive and defensive basics while learning essential tag-team techniques. And you’ll probably have scratched your head a few times at the completely random narrative interludes. As a bonus, you’ll be able to program the Combot for customized training sessions.

Flying sumo wrestlers are surprisingly charming
The King of Iron Fist Tournament has always had its quirky undertones, and the latest edition is no exception. After all, you can pair a boxing-glove wearing velociraptor with a living, breathing block of wood. And the goofiness doesn’t stop there. The aforementioned Fight Lab mode includes challenges that involve avoiding scud-missile-like flying clones of sumo wrestler Ganryu and defeating a giant, loincloth-wearing version of kung-fu fighter Feng Wei.

You’ll even see a few silly and not-so-subtle tributes to a certain 2D fighting series that I’ll refrain from naming. All of these lighthearted touches are quintessentially Tekken, and I’m glad to see the developers having so much fun with their work.

And who doesn’t love getting to fight in Santa’s Village?



WHAT YOU WON’T LIKE



New challengers might have trouble getting ready for their next battle
TTT 2 is for the hardcore Tekken fan. I’m talking about a person who’s debated the superiority of Japanese-style arcade sticks and scoured message boards for animation frame data to gain an edge. If you don’t have an opinion on such matters, then you might never end up playing Tekken Tag 2 at a high level because it requires that much dedication to master.

In traditional Tekken releases, you fight in a straightforward, 1-on-1 matchup. For most players, that’s hard enough. TTT 2 throws in the tagging mechanic, which adds an additional layer of complexity to the proceedings. Each fighter has specific launcher moves and bound hits that help extend combos and initiate tag-team focused salvos, which means a whole new set of timing-based maneuvers to memorize.

While most fighting-game fans love this type of depth, it leads to a somewhat steep learning curve for less experienced contenders.


You’ve probably played through most of this before
The sheer number of online and offline fighting modes — along with the brand new World Tekken Federation community-centered website — might seem intimidating at first, but after some hands-on experience, most of the options prove to be pedestrian and somewhat shallow endeavors. And many of them are familiar to fighting-game fanatics like the typical arcade and ghost battles, ranked and non-ranked online fights, time trials, and so forth.

Surprisingly enjoyable pursuits like the beat-em-up inspired Tekken Force are absent here, replaced with the less developed Fight Lab. And, unlike in previous years, you won’t find offbeat time killers like Tekken Bowling.

CONCLUSION

While Namco Bandai went out of its way to pack Tekken Tag Tournament 2 with an impressive number of characters and features, I came away from the game with a somewhat indifferent feeling. This is the Tekken I fell in love with, the Tekken that conditioned my thumbs as a teenager, and the Tekken that continues to put a smile on my face. But this is also the same Tekken I’ve played over and over again, even with the tag wrinkle taken into consideration.

I just feel the experience needs reinvention. And I’m not talking about more exclusive Snoop Dogg (or Snoop Lion) tracks and swimsuit costume packs.

Tekken doesn’t need more stuff. It needs more focus. Like the archetypical weathered warrior, the franchise needs to look within to find inspiration.

Score: 78/100 C
Good

It's been 10 years since the original Tekken Tag Tournament first saw the light of day, but the game has retained a cult following amongst fighting game fans. Namco Bandai now had a follow-up ready, with Tekken Tag Tournament 2 bringing the tag mechanics of the first game to the current generation of consoles. They also have some new tricks to roll out, namely in the form of some new online features.

Tekken Tag Tournament was mostly known for throwing the Tekken storyline out the window and the sequel is no different. This allows for the game to use the full roster of Tekken fighters. Players can welcome back characters like Prototype Jack (Tekken 2), Michelle Chang (Tekken 3), and Alex (everyone's favorite dinosaur with boxing gloves from Tekken 2) to join series favorites Heihachi, Kazuya, and Jin. Overall, the roster will launch with over 50 fighters.


Tekken Tag Tournament 2
The tag mechanics in TTT2 work the same way as their predecessor. Players select two fighters or two friends can play co-op with each selecting one fighter. Rounds end when one character is defeated with games typically played in a best-of-five format. While tagging out can be done at any time, skilled players will be able to use tags to perform double-team maneuvers and combos. I went into this preview as a Tekken novice, so I wasn't sure I'd see everything I was looking to see. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), I was playing against former tournament fighter Rich "Filthy Rich" Bantegui (sitting in via teleconference), who was more than happy to take me through a tour of the hard-hitting combos TTT2 had to offer.

Bantegui's team of King and Armor King started things off against my pitiful duo of Kazuya and Yoshimitsu. Bantegui tossed me around with Tekken's normal array of throws, juggles, and breaks. The show really began when he showed off combos that included Armor King tossing me over into a King powerbomb and a double DDT from the Kings. I also found myself getting juggled repeatedly between the two partners, as Bantegui demonstrated the ways that Tekken fighters can use the tag system to complete multi-hit combos.

TTT2 will contain unprecedented online features. Online play itself utilizes the net code from Soul Calibur 5. The preview build I tried out was connected through a Verizon MiFi hotspot and still proved to be a lag-free experience. In terms of supplemental content, every single online match will be recorded with players able to watch replays of their matches at any time through the Tekken Channel. Replays will prove informative, as well as entertaining. These replays will display details of how much damage certain combos dealt out and when certain counters were used. Players can either choose to study these replays for future reference or save particularly entertaining ones to re-watch later.

So did I learn anything else from my crushing defeat at the hands of Filthy Rich? With the new World Tekken Federation service, I can say that I did. Almost immediately after my humiliating loss, I was taken on a tour of the website that would house the WTF. The stats from my previous battle were already uploaded in full detail. I could then study Filthy Rich's profile to see his favorite teams, his number of throws used versus throws broken, moves and counters used, and other details that would help me better prepare for a rematch. Data from both the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will be saved to the WTF and players can view the stats from each console version at any time. Players can also customize their WTF profiles to include dual-layered team emblems that will show up in the game. The WTF will launch alongside TTT2 as a free service.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 looks to retain everything that made the original so much fun while also including new online components that promise to innovate for both casual and tournament play. The battle begins September 11 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

I bought it last week...I know Slowpoke moment. Well, whatever! I'm still making the review now.
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Tekken 3D Prime Edition manages to get the basics right. The combat boasts the fluidity that the series has become known for, and the graphics are excellent. The fighting unfolds at a silky smooth clip regardless of whether or not you have 3D turned on. The fighter roster is also impressive, offering the full cast from Tekken 6. However, aside from the basics, Tekken 3D Prime feels pretty shallow, severely lacking in any modes outside of standard one-on-one fights. You won't find much in the way of unlockables here, a stark contrast to other games in the Tekken franchise. 

Tekken 3D Prime Edition really nails the fast-paced, fluid action of the series, and it's as well done here as it is on consoles. The 3DS iteration of the series does a great job of capturing the speed and intensity of Tekken 6, along with gameplay elements like Tetsu Power (which beefs up your character's strength somewhat after they've taken a beating). The characters feel like they have in the past, and the 3DS makes very little compromises with the series' formula. 

The 3DS's somewhat cramped button layout doesn't really lend itself to intense fighting gameplay, so the developers have opted to include a compromise by adding four buttons on the touchscreen for each character's more complex moves, similar to the system seen in other fighting games on the handheld. 

Tekken 3D Prime Edition boasts the full roster from Tekken 6.
Tekken 3D Prime Edition also features the fully stacked roster from Tekken 6, offering roughly 40 fighters in total. The one key difference is that Tekken 3D features the younger version of Heihachi Mishima (from Tekken Tag Tournament 2) in place of the more traditional older version of the character, as in Tekken 6. The cast list is varied, representing a mix of classic characters and newcomers, each one boasting a balanced fighting style. 

Unfortunately, when it comes to depth outside of the actual fighting, Tekken 3D Prime Edition comes up short. The modes are pretty much straightforward fighting modes that lack any real kind of story or even customizability elements. 

The game's Quick Battle mode is your standard 10-enemy arcade style mode leading up to the credit sequence, while Special Survival is an endurance mode where you have to fight in a series of one-round battles in order to gain new cards (more on them in a second). Aside from that, there's really not much here as far as depth is concerned. 

Tekken 3D's gameplay is smooth and fluid.
In lieu of being able to customize your character, you're instead given a card collection system. You'll earn cards and card points for completing the game's Special Survival and Quick Battle modes, which you can then turn around and trade with other players through the game's Streetpass function. There are several hundred cards that can be unlocked, each one showing a different static image from Tekken's past. The trading element of these cards adds a communal element to Tekken's standard fare of gameplay, but doesn't offer the same amount of depth that the currency and customization elements from other Tekken games. You can edit a few elements of your character, including your name and customize their outfit color, but other than that, the customization elements are basically not there. 

The game moves along at a smooth 60 frames per second clip, even when displaying in 3D, which is an impressive feat on the 3DS. The character models are well animated, and boast a nice amount of detail. Overall, this is one of the better looking games available on the platform and a fine showcase of its 3D capabilities. 

CONCLUSION: Tekken 3D Prime Edition definitely gets props for recreating the fast combat and fluidity of the series on a handheld. However, the lack of any real depth in the modes and lack of customization features for your fighters makes it tough to want to spend an extended amount of time with it.

My Ratings for Tekken 3D Prime Edition:
7.0:Presentation
The modes are pretty slim, and other than a 3D version of the Tekken: Blood Vengeance movie, you won't find many extras.
8.0:Graphics
Fast, fluid, and well animated, Tekken 3D looks great on the 3DS. The action unfolds at 60 frames per second even in 3D.
8.0:Sound
Plenty of voicework and some decent music.
8.5:Gameplay
The action is fast and frantic, matching the console games, but the lack of modes is problematic.
6.5:Lasting Appeal
Aside from straight brawling and a lackluster card-trading meta-game, you won't find much here to keep your attention.

OVERALL RATING: 7.6/10 (Good)

 

I know they released it a in February, but I bought it today, so buzz off :P

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MadCatz brings us back with the Tournament Edition arcade Fightstick Pro Street Fighter X Tekken, a controller for PS3 that stands out for its robustness and design. The lever is very solid, and the arrangement of the 8 buttons reminds us of the classic arcade. It also offers the option of assigning a turbo button on a button.


Although it is decorated with images of Street Fighter X Tekken, the title which confronts characters from the Capcom franchises and Namco Bandai, you can use itfor any other fighting game. A luxury joystick with a price on his high: nothing less than $200.Pretty high price, but definitely worth it.

Overall rating: 9/10

Street Fighter X Tekken debuted on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in March, but Capcom's latest fighting extravaganza didn't make it to the PC until earlier this month. While it's a faithful translation of the core gameplay, the PC port lags behind its console brethren in networking performance, update patches and DLC availability.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Street Fighter X Tekken (pronounced Street Fighter Cross Tekken) takes some of the most popular characters from each fighting game universe and smashes them together for an ultimate fighting match-up. Because this is a Capcom-developed game, much of the fighting is Street Fighter inspired. With that said, there are still elements that are recognizably Tekken, such as the tag mechanic, four-button combos and how the life bars work. A Namco-developed Tekken X Street Fighter game with its roots firmly in the Tekken franchise is currently in the works, but we're not expecting to see anything substantial on that until well into next year.


Compared to prior games in the Street Fighter series, Street Fighter X Tekken stands out for its accessibility. Although the game engine is based on Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, the actual gameplay isn't nearly as technical as its predecessor. Moves have been simplified, timing windows are opened up and preset quick combos (triggered with a button press) all help ensure a low barrier to entry. Even the computer AI has been dumbed down, so new players making their way through arcade mode won't be frustrated.

Despite its focus on accessibility, Street Fighter X Tekken hasn't left advanced players out in the cold. There is still plenty of complexity layered in among the move sets, and those who take the time to master the intricacies will have a distinct advantage over everyone else. Skill is still king. Key to excelling is the aptly named Cross moves. Each of these is a standard move (identical across teams) that consumes part of the Cross Gauge.

The Cross Art is a two-character super combo that consumes a full Cross Gauge, but unleashes a devastating amount of damage if it connects. The action is automatic, so landing the first hit is crucial. Miss, and you're exposed. Cross Assault is similar, except both of your fighters are out at once, double-teaming your opponent. You control the action in assault, so make it count.

Cross Cancel is different from the other Cross moves, as it only uses a single character. Instead of calling your partner, the Cross Cancel is used to break an incoming attack chain and launch your opponent into the air. It requires solid timing, but if you can pull it off regularly, it'll quickly become a staple of your defense.


For those moments of desperation, there is Pandora. Available as an option once one of your characters falls below 25 percent health, it allows you to sacrifice the weakened teammate to greatly power up the other. The only catch is that once activated, you only have 10 seconds to win. Fail to obtain victory in this time, and it is an automatic loss. In most cases Pandora, isn't going to turn the tide, but in a close match, it's could determine a winner.

Players coming primarily from the Tekken series will appreciate the open-ended juggles available in Street Fighter X Tekken. All of the characters have a launcher move, as well as a launcher combo. Get a disabled opponent into the air, and with the right timing, you can keep him there while you unload.

Also of note is the gem system. Gems are a method of character customization that allows you to tweak your fighting style. Each gem offers a specific, limited time bonus once certain conditions are met. These bonuses can range from improved defense to an instant health boost. One set of gems will further simplify the control system, making special moves easier to perform. You can equip each fighter with up to three gems.

On the surface, the gems may sound like a gimmick, but once you start playing around with them, it's obvious that they are more than superficial. Two identical characters with different gem loadouts will play noticeably differently.


Visually, Street Fighter X Tekken is a treat. Characters and stages are both lavished with detail. Fighters are rendered in a colorful anime style, while backgrounds are loaded with fan service. Each of the 10 primary stages is packed with nods to the franchises. You'll see characters such as Blanka and E.Honda appearing in background graffiti as well as more esoteric references. These include the giant Servbot head in one level or the dinosaur in the Dino Crisis-inspired stage that air-boxes with gloves bearing what looks like an image of Tekken 3's Gon.

From a purely technical perspective, Street Fighter X Tekken improves on the Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition engine by a noticeable amount. Running on the same hardware at the same settings, we saw a nine percent increase in frame rate over the prior game. Basically, if either version of Super Street Fighter IV runs well on your PC, you won't have any issues with Street Fighter X Tekken.