Tekken rivaled other fighting games, pumped up hundreds of versus matches, and towered in its fighting and physical size
When Tekken came out, it had a three-dimensional feel that took gamers away from the quick motions and static characters of other fighting games. Players knew they were in control of every move, and the amount of unique fighting styles and combos each brought to the table were enough to keep anyone busy discovering moves perfect against each opponent.
Each character brought something that made each stand out amongst their peers. Characters like Nina Williams, King, Marshall Law, and Yoshimitsu were just a few of the many characters that would spark grudge versus matches, and later even expand into other universes, such as Yoshimitsu crossing into Soul Cailbur.
Tekken, revolving around characters becoming the King of the Iron Fist Tournament, had individual storylines filled with assassins, those fighting for glory, for freedom, and those looking for justice. It quickly became an addiction to finish each character's story, even if it meant replaying the final boss, Heihachi Mishima, repeatedly no matter the frustration or sanity when dwelling on the power of his moves, making him a fierce final boss – one that makes that final K.O. worth it.
The moves were easy to comprehend, and though button mashing was a possibility, players quickly went from a novice to a hustler as they learned moves for their favorite character. Partnered with this was the level of competitive versus when they discovered whom they could not stand fighting against, making combos a necessity to boost the skill.
The graphics were memorable where original fighting games had a fixed camera that would pan as the players shuffled forward and back on the field. In Tekken, the camera zoomed as players widened and closed gaps with each other, making runs and moves more epic as the camera closes in on the action.
The music brought in the themes of the worlds to add to the action of each battle. Bringing in an orchestrated digitized techno flair ahead of its time made Mortal Kombat's themes all the more memorable, making the two stand tall in video game music, however Tekken had no specific theme that Mortal Kombat is known for.
The only things that held it back from perfection were the length of arcade, single-player battles, and a final boss fight that leaped difficulties from previous opponents, even though when he was finally beaten, it was all the sweeter. Besides, Tekken came out at the peak of video-game difficulties that created seasoned gamers. So in the end, not much kept it from perfection, but perfection is something a series like Tekken banks on sequels to never fully fulfill, forever lengthening the desire to become the victor of the Tekken Tournament.
Several characters, arcade-style gameplay, and player innovation made Tekken become a force to be reckoned with in the fighting genre. From small beginnings as an arcade console, down to the consoles in the living room, Tekken has become the classic fighting game to broaden the action game horizon.