The Mike Blog

First of all,


Allow me to take the time out and thank the people at Planet Zero Anime Center in Houston, TX for having the cabinets setup (yes, there were two back-to-back cabinets set up) running the Japanese version of Tekken 6 (since the release of this to arcades in Japan, a free update was also made available to arcade operators which made some balance changes, but I was unable to determine if the versions available for play were indeed the updated versions). The following are my written impressions, as my verbal impressions will be recorded in the next day or so.

1.) Tekken 6 looked and played absolutely amazing on the cabinets. There was a steady stream of competition lining up to play Tekken, and the cabinets were well maintained, as they were something I would find in Tokyo going through Electric Town, not something I’d find in the United States at all.
2.) There are four new playable characters in Tekken 6, but the only ones I was able to see in action were Zafina and Bob. Zafina is a Nina and Anna-type character while Bob is basically a fat version of Paul. I saw both being used in high-level competitive matches to some degree of success.
3.) There are also several new features in Tekken 6, including a new “bounce” juggling feature, some multi-tiered stages, the introduction of of a “rage” system, which gives characters more power once they get below a certain health percentage, and the introduction of “Item Moves”, in which characters can use an equipped item to attack the opponent.

Overall, Tekken 6 was a experience to behold in the arcade and I cannot wait for it's eventual release here in the United States.