Tekken 8 are set to battle once they release in the months. The latest entries in the fighting game juggernauts Street Fighter and Tekken have launch dates in June and Fall 2023, respectively, creating a duel between 2D and 3D fighters. But with the Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 being so different in their gameplay and storytelling, players will likely be more suited for one more than the other.
Despite their 2D/3D difference, Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 do share one thing: legacies of innovation. The Street Fighter series laid the foundation upon which all other 2D fighters are built when Street Fighter 2 birthed the fighting genre in 1991; three years later, Tekken did the same for 3D fighters. Since then, both series have become highly competitive for both players and franchises. Street Fighter and Tekken continue to innovate with the fighting game genre by introducing new mechanics and character types or even reconfiguring button layouts. As such, Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 will be the latest development in ongoing experiments by Capcom and Bandai Namco.
Street Fighter 6's & Tekken 8's New Features Will Determine Which Is Best For Players
Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 will be introducing brand-new features to their respective series that can help players decide which one is right for them. In recent years, fighting games have fallen in popularity due to their level of difficulty: getting the most out of them requires time, energy, and practice. To combat this, publishers like Capcom and Bandai Namco have continually introduced new elements to entice newcomers to the genre. People interested in Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 should thus consider the new features associated with these game and how well they cater to both beginners and fighting game veterans.
Street Fighter 6 Has Exciting Elements For Newcomers & Veterans
Though Street Fighter is considered to be on the more complex side of fighting game series, Street Fighter 6 looks to break the mold by introducing beginner-friendly elements. The most notable of these features is Modern mode, which debuted in the Street FIghter 6 closed beta. As explained by YouTuber Avataryaya, Modern mode simplifies control inputs in a few key ways: auto-combos are now accessible by using the right trigger; special moves have simple inputs; and normals are simplified between light, medium, and heavy attacks. These changes will help lower the barrier of entry for newcomers, as Street Fighter's classic control scheme could be overwhelming for the uninitiated.
The introduction of beginner-friendly features doesn't mean Street Fighter 6 won't cater to veteran fighting game players. Returning fans can still use classic controls in Street Fighter with Classic mode. Additionally, Modern mode only empowers new players in single-player modes and makes casual play among friends more fun - fans who have prior experience in the Street Fighter series will still have the advantage. This is exemplified by the simpler combos available in the auto-combo system, as well the smaller move lists in Modern mode. Classic mode players will have better control over their inputs and more options in combat, so Street Fighter 6 will likely remain a competitive game.
Regardless of whether a player is new or experienced in fighting games, Street Fighter 6's open-world campaign World Tour will certainly appeal. This new game mode sets players and their customizable avatars on a semi-open-world adventure in which they develop as fighters. Typically, the Street Fighter series can feel empty in single-player modes, especially because the games tend to be light on story and lore and heavy on gameplay. The extent to which World Tour mode will change this is yet to be seen, but for interested players who want a story to keep them engaged, Street Fighter 6 could be the right title for them.
Ultimately, Street Fighter 6 is a game for both fighting game purists and those flirting with the genre. The complexities of its classic fighting systems will keep competitive players engaged long after it comes out. But with the introduction of the World Tour campaign and Modern mode, newer players can have more fun with the Street Fighter series than ever before.
Tekken 8 Is For The Dedicated Fighting Game Players
Tekken is notorious for not only being one of the most challenging fighting game series but also one of the least beginner-friendly. The games have steep learning curves and high skill ceilings based on players' knowledge of mechanics and characters. Tekken 7 also did away with tutorials, making it doubly difficult for newcomers to learn the game. With no real confirmation about whether Tekken 8 will have a tutorial mode, it seems unlikely that it will be a good entry point for casual players. But for fighting game fanatics who love the challenge and reward of mastering a challenging combat system, Tekken 8 might be the perfect game.
What makes Tekken 8 even better for fighting game veterans is the new Heat mechanic. As shown by YouTuber rooflemonger, the Heat mechanic is essentially a meter system that boosts characters' offense by enhancing certain attacks and making normal moves do chip damage on block. This change will make Tekken 8 an extremely aggressive game, as combat will be based around accessing and sustaining the Heat mechanic on enemies. For experienced players excited to get into fast-paced duels in which they can show off their combos, Tekken 8 is going to be the perfect game.
Though the Heat mechanic appears to cater to competitive players, it could help less experienced players in single- and multiplayer modes. Tekken 7 brought auto-combos to the series, making it easier for new players to capitalize off of hits. With the Heat system in Tekken 8, less experienced players can focus more on their offensive play and further exploit auto-combos. Tekken 8 will likely retain its steep growth curve, so better players will stay on top. Nevertheless, the Heat mechanic could help newer players get away with attempting combos.
Tekken 8's story mode and its deep lore could also help draw beginners to the series. The fighters of Tekken all have intricate, even whacky, backstories that have been explored in over a dozen games, anime, and manga. Understanding the stories of main series Tekken games requires knowledge of the previous ones. This makes Tekken 8 a potentially exciting title for newcomers, as they get to dig into the series' lore and use that as a way to enjoy an otherwise complicated game. On top of this, Tekken 8 could end the Mishima saga, so its storytelling may be its most important element.
Ultimately, Tekken 8 will serve hardcore, competitive players better than Street Fighter 6, while the latter game will be more accessible to those unfamiliar with fighting games. Tekken 8's unforgiving play style and complex mechanics can make it overwhelming for newcomers but an exciting challenge for fighting game fans. This isn't to say that Tekken 8 will lack features that appeal to everyone: its focus of aggressive play and its deep lore can attract large player bases. That said, it will still be more appealing to players looking for a challenge.
Street Fighter 6 will still provide a challenge itself, but the introduction of beginner-friendly mechanics like Modern mode are going to make the series more approachable than ever before. Additionally, the option of World Tour mode will make the game fun for players uninterested in the multiplayer side of the game. Thus, Street Fighter 6 will be a good option for both veterans and beginners, while Tekken 8 will be best for those willing to put time and effort into learning the game's mechanics.
Sources: Avataryaya/YouTube, rooflemonger/YouTube
