Enter the Tekken....

"The King of Iron Fist Tournament...Enter the Tekken..."

I got started on playing Tekken 3 around my freshman year and I basically never stopped playing since that time. Actually, at that time there was no PSX version so I had to spend 50 cents every time to play. 50 cents doesn't seem that much but once you play this game and can't stop, it will build up and eventually make you bankrupt. Tekken 3 is one of the best fighting game ever made and I will try to explain why it is thus in my opinion.

Tekken 3 is basically a 3D fighting game that has been out in arcade and PSX for some time now. The graphics are just what makes this game stand out from other fighting games. It uses many polygons to make each characters seem realistic with fluid movements. I haven't noticed any blank spots or misalignment in any characters thus far. The movements of each characters are very realistic due to motion capturing done with human actors. Even the fighting styles of each character are very much like real-life. The only glitches I saw in Tekken 3 was some slow down during fighting and rotation of platform the characters are standing on. Due to intensive graphics the game will sometimes slow down during play. In arcades I noticed it once in awhile but in PSX version I noticed it too frequently. Also, since PSX is only equipped with 2X CD-ROM I really didn't expect it to play just as well as arcade version. I was also able to notice the platform the characters are standing on to be rotating freely ever so slightly. It doesn't cause much distraction if at all but I just wanted to point that fact out as well. The background is also constructed of 2D unlike arcade version to further eliminate slow-down but the quality of the game doesn't decrease due to it.

In Tekken 3, there are 21 characters that you can play with. Although you actually start with 10 basic characters, as you beat the game with different characters you will unlock other characters in the game. All in all, it will lead to 21 characters. Each character owns 2 different costumes but some actually have 3 which you have to unlock by playing with them enough times. PSX version has 2 characters that you will not see in the arcades, Gon and Doctor B. Gon is actually an anime character that I find amusing to play with although I can't say the same for Doctor B. Doctor B is too old to stand up straight and he falls over once in awhile which annoyed me. With all these 21 characters, I can assure you that you will be entertained for a very long time trying to master each of their moves and juggles.

Not only do you have plenty of characters in the game but you also have many modes to use them in. First you have the basic player vs com. and 2 player mode then Tekken 3 adds more to that with Tekken Force, Ball, Practice, Theater, Team Battle, Time Attack and Survival modes. With tekken force mode you play any one of your characters in a setting similar to Contra(?). Your goal is to go through four levels by beating up many goons. This mode is probably the hardest part of the whole game. It is very hard to control the characters and it doesn't offer much enjoyment as the regular fighting modes. I would also like to note that this is where you can unlock Doctor B so that's the only reason why I played this mode and I haven't played this mode ever since I unlocked Doctor B. Tekken ball mode is where you try to beat each other by either making the ball land on the other side or by putting energy into the ball and hitting the other character. Again, I didn't find this mode amusing but I presume if you play with other players instead of computer it might offer more enjoyment. Practice mode is basically where you can brush up on a character so you can "whup-ass" in real game. Theater mode is where you can watch movies in Tekken 3. You can see the intro and all the ending movies for each character once you've beaten the game with that certain character. The movies are rather confusing if you do not know the story of Tekken 3 so I suggest reading some Tekken 3 story before trying to understand the movie. Team battle mode is where you can control multiple characters and form a team to beat another team of either the same or different number of characters. Time attack mode is where you try to beat the game as fast as possible and finally survival mode is where you try to survive as long as possible without ever dying even once. Anyway, I found certain modes rather boring but Tekken 3 offers more options than regular fighting modes so I found this to be a plus for the game.

The sound in the game is same as the arcade version. It's rather repetitive but I don't really consider the quality of sounds when judging these types of games although you might think different. The control in Tekken 3 is also the same as the arcade version but I found it hard to pull off certain moves on PSX version. The buttons on the joystick are so small that it's easy to press the wrong button by mistake. Also grabbing and reversals become very hard with PSX controller. I found it best to lay the controller on the ground and using the controller as if it were arcade controller.

Besides few minor differences from the arcade version, it is almost identical to the Tekken 3 of arcade version. If you enjoy Tekken 3 in arcade, I suggest you grab this game fast and practice in comfort of your home to go out later to arcades and beat some people. There are many combos that you can perform in this game besides the ones that the game teaches you. It seems almost endless in number of combos you can perform...I figured out a new combo just today and I have been playing this game for around 3 years already. And if you haven't played Tekken 3, I want to ask you where have you been??? j/k :). If you haven't played this game, I suggest you go to a arcade and play Tekken 3 and see how you like it. If you love it then definitely buy this game but if you don't then I suggest you also buy it, because after you play this game for a certain time it will grow on you and you will love it...I'm 100% positive on this. This is one game everybody must play.


Side Notes...

1) I play mostly with Hworang, Lei and Jin. If you have question about their strategies please feel free to email me. I will answer them as best as possible or if you have strategies that you would like to share, email me as well. I know few juggles and combos that might come in handy.

2) Since Tekken 3, another Tekken has come out in arcade called Tekken 3 Tag Tournament. It is basically the same as Tekken 3 plus all the characters from the past and many many more moves. I actually enjoy Tag Tournament more than Tekken 3 because of new moves and smarter computer player. Oh, I forgot to mention in the review that Tekken 3 computer player is rather "stupid" and predictable so after playing the computer for a certain time you will basically know all the moves that the computer is going to perform. Another feature added to Tekken Tag was a tag button which allows you to tag a character out of game to bring in your second character. It adds more to the enjoyment....although some people use this function to get in cheap shots (to all those who know what I mean, please stop using that move). Tekken Tag is suppose to be out around Sept. I believe with PS2. I saw few screenshots of Tekken Tag for PS2 and it looks amazing. It looks even better than the arcade version this time. Also there is more background interaction in Tekken Tag for PS2. I will submit a full review once I get to play this game in PS2.