Tekken Revolution (Japanese: 鉄拳レボリューション, Hepburn: Tekken Reboryūshon) was a free-to-play fighting video game developed and published by Namco Bandai Games. It was released on the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Store in June 2013.[1][2] It is the first game in the Tekken franchise to be made free-to-play and the first to be released exclusively in digital format.[3] It is no longer available in Europe as of 2016.

Tekken Revolution
Developer(s)Namco Bandai Games
Publisher(s)Namco Bandai Games
Director(s)Yuichi Yuremori
Producer(s)Katsuhiro Harada
Composer(s)Taku Inoue
Rio Hamamoto
SeriesTekken
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
Release
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The game ceased operations on March 20, 2017.[4]

Gameplay edit

Tekken Revolution, by and large, is a modification of Tekken Tag Tournament 2, reusing assets like backgrounds and character models from that game (although it has a new soundtrack). It introduces various new mechanics, such as Special Arts and Critical Arts moves designed to help new players.[3][5] Bound, the mechanic where characters can be staggered to allow more chance to inflict additional attacks has mostly been removed; the only way to activate it is by breaking or falling through environments. Movement has been revamped, particularly in the way characters walk backwards (prior to Revolution, back walking was a slow shuffle but is now a more nimble stride away from the adversary; the new backwards walk animation would carry over to Tekken 7). For the first time in the Tekken series, a stat-upgrade feature is implemented, in which players can spend Skill Points (4 are awarded every time you level up) to increase the player's character's: Power (attack strength); Endurance (health gauge) and; Vigor (chance of landing a critical hit or entering a Rage state, determined by the difference between you and your opponent's Vigor). While the stats are compulsorily applied in Arcade Mode and Ranked Matches, an option to disable them in Player Matches is available through an update.

Series staple modes, such as Arcade mode return, where players battle against AI opponents, as well as Online Mode, where players battle each other through online Ranked and Player matches. Practice mode (known as "Warm-up Mode" in-game), which was absent during launch, was eventually added in a major update released a month after launch.[6][7] The game also introduces a new temporary mode, "Mokujin Rush", accessible only as part of event promotions, which allows players to battle Mokujin-type enemies (including his palette swaps Tetsujin and Kinjin) and obtain higher rewards than usual battles. A new gimmick, "Turbo Rush" is applied to the mode every so often, where the battles will be sped up, allowing for a more fast-paced combat.

Fighters edit

There are a total of 29 playable fighters in the game, twelve of whom are part of the launch cast with eight being available by default.[8] Nearly all of them are returning characters, although the game also introduces two newcomers, the vampire Eliza, who is unlockable by collecting "Blood Seals" through battles,[9] and Kinjin, who only appears as an unplayable boss character, alongside Heihachi Mishima, Jinpachi Mishima, Mokujin, Tetsujin, and Ogre (or a golden version of him). Characters beyond the initial twelve were added periodically in a span of eight months; the last character update was Jaycee, who was made playable beginning on February 13, 2014.[6] It was first main spin-off game of Tekken to not feature Yoshimitsu and not making Heihachi Mishima playable, making Nina Williams and Paul Phoenix the only 2 characters to be playable in all main spin-off versions of Tekken.

Reception edit

Tekken Revolution received mixed reviews. Edge noted its attempt to bring the series close to its arcade roots, but criticized it as a watered-down version of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and its "pay-to-win" nature.[11] Gamesmaster also stated "There's plenty to play with here, but you'll have to pay to win online."[12] OPM enjoyed the game, concluding "It’s just like being back in the arcades (with lots of Japanese kids kicking your arse)."[14] Despite the mixed reception, Katsuhiro Harada confirmed that Tekken Revolution was downloaded over 2 million times.[15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Free-to-play Tekken Revolution coming to PSN next week". Gematsu. June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Tekken Revolution - Free-to-Play PS3 Exclusive Game Coming June 11". Avoiding The Puddle. June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Tekken Revolution detailed, debut trailer". Gematsu. June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  4. ^ "Tekken Revolution PS3 Game Ends Service in March". Anime News Network. 2016-12-23. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
  5. ^ "Tekken Revolution - New Details and Official Trailer". Avoiding The Puddle. June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Planned future updates". Twitter. June 19, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  7. ^ "TR - 7/16 Hwoarang, Dragunov, Costumes & More to be Added". Avoiding The Puddle. July 11, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  8. ^ "Tekken Revolution Trailer - Full E3 2013 Trailer". YouTube. June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  9. ^ "『鉄拳レボリューション』新キャラクター「エリザ」紹介映像". YouTube. December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  10. ^ "Tekken Revolution for PS3 - Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  11. ^ a b Edge Staff. "Tekken Revolution review - Edge Magazine". Edge-online.com. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  12. ^ a b Gamesmaster review, [Oct 2013, p.75]
  13. ^ Gianluca Loggia (July 30, 2013). "The free to play Tekken Revolution" (in Italian). Edge-online.com. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  14. ^ a b OPM Australia review, [August 2013, p79]
  15. ^ "Tekken Revolution downloaded over 2M times, Tekken franchise sells 42.5M copies worldwide - VG247". 19 September 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2018.

External links edit