Mortal Kombat 11 is a dance of great gameplay and crap business practices.

Last year during the anual Game Awards the latest Mortal Kombat was revealed. Legions of fans, you can count me among them, went nuts. The excitement chart was close to blowing. Now factor in the reveal date being December leading to the announcement of a world wide release in April of this year! That, game folks, is how you do a reveal. In next to no time Mortal Kombat 11 would be with us gamers. I was very happy and right away I was back playing Mortal Kombat X in preparation for the latest addition to the classic beat ’em up saga.

I was a kid when the first Mortal Kombat came out. Remember Mortal Kombat Monday? I do. I literally grew up with this series as a constant in my life. Right through middle school, high school, college, university and then the adult workplace. Mortal Kombat was always in my life and I felt comfortable each time a new game was out. I knew the team behind the series, NetherRealm Studios, would never let me down.

After what seemed like an age, but was actually four months, Mortal Kombat 11 was in my hands. I installed the game and blasted through the game’s story mode. I was up to one thirty in the A.M. As I expected the game had risen to meet my expectations. So I thought.

Here’s the twist and man do I hate what I’m about to write. The latest Mortal Kombat was made in less than ideal circumstances. Having your, the gamers, back appears to be the last thing W.B. games and NetherRealm wanna do. What should have been a great Arcade like fighter experience was now controlling how you played and progressed through the game. Held at gunpoint are the amaze unlockables – costumes/concept art/fatalities etc. Where once you’d be rewarded such gems through playing various game modes naturally this latest installment forces you to obtain them via it’s vile Krypt/Towers/currency system. Basically it means you have to GRIND (urgh) to get a shot at what you wanna get and even then there’s no guarantee you’ll get it. See a big portion of the Krypt is randomised. Shit init?

What hell is this? I don’t know. I’m lost as to what possessed the team over at NetherRealm to think this was a good idea. In Mortal Kombat X it was a pleasure completing a random objective in a Tower and being rewarded with a sweet new costume for your character. That game, like prior installments, is full of awesome surprises like that. Stuff you obtain naturally and fairly through good old gameplay.

The fatality/brutality system is a mess. Previous games, right, if you got the input online for a fatality and used it in the game it unlocked it for your move list ’cause you’d performed it. Here if you do that it’ll let you perform the move but it won’t retain the inputs. It makes you unlock it via that shit Krypt/currency system. WHO has the time to pour that amount of effort into video games? In game grinding/currency is never a good idea. Soon as I see that kind of shit I’m like “I could use this time to play some other game…for ya know something crazy like…fun?”

Here’s another shining example of the shit show Mortal Kombat 11 can be. Right after loading the game up you’re given the option to buy a fighter who YOU UNLOCK IN CHAPTER 4 of the story mode. Do they need our money that badly? Which brings me to my next beef. The DLC plan. Right. So before the game came out the YouTuber guy, Dynasty, called out NetherRealm with a concern they’d be holding back legacy characters behind paid DLC. Mortal Kombat head boss Ed Boon slapped Dynasty down. No way they’d do that. Cut to the DLC reveal announcement. Four of the six characters are Mortal Kombat classic characters fans have wanted to see back for a long time and you’re gonna pay for them. Now, look, I’m not the entitlement generation. You want them? They take work. You gotta pay for ’em. I get that. It’s more the smoke and mirrors that pisses me off. Clearly that kind of DLC plan was always going to be the DLC plan so just own it and don’t try to play it down. Same with the alternate costumes, usually this sort of stuff is free to unlock, like seriously check out all the costumes you can unlock in Mortal Kombat X for FREE. There’s tons. Not anymore. You gotta pay for ’em. Before anyone brings up the ‘skins’ in Mortal Kombat 11 just hold off. They pale in comparison. Kitana has TWO costumes. That’s it. Oh she’ll have more, don’t worry, but you’ll probably have to pay for ’em. Most of the skins are simply different colours.

Man this is tough to write up. I love/hate this game. I love and appreciate the awesome gameplay and art direction that went into creating the world. The gameplay and the fighting is spot on. Everyone who worked hard on that stuff warrants applause and a great wage. Same for the Krypt. Even though I hate it it’s a good idea and I’m sure the actual folks who worked on bringing the mini third person adventure mode to life did not make the decision to lock everything behind a wall of bull shit. I hate how arrogant the game feels in what it asks of the players time. I gave up money. In return I just want fun and a fair shot of gaining cool stuff if you’re going to put it in your game. Ya know like in your last game Mortal Kombat X?

Another thing I hate is all the news that broke about the pretty rotten work environment employees at NetherRealm endured during the making of this game and prior games from the studio. Seems like a studio I felt was a beacon of video games is actually anything but. Kotaku and other sites did some really great articles on all of that and I’d urge anyone to seek them out ’cause you should be made aware of the kind of studio (and people) you are handing your hard earned cash over to. After I read the blowout articles I uninstalled the game. It sat on a shelf for two months. I nearly gave it away twice. Then I stopped and thought “Hundreds of people worked hard on this game. It wasn’t a solo effort from some arsehole but one which came from many peoples sacrifice and dedication, people who just wanted a shot at working on a classic video game series” I want to support and appreciate their work, and yea, I won’t lie I like game (classic towers/story mode) and I paid for it. I ain’t no streamer or influencer. I don’t get sent shit for free. Still I’m delighted it gave me pause because next time NetherRealm puts out a game I’ll be holding off until I see if it’s the NetherRealm who just wants to waste my time, for the most part, grinding for cosmetic shite and treating their employee’s like crap or if they’ve turned a corner. W.B. games have stated they’d look into how NetherRealm behaves moving forward and some who work there haven’t had a bad word to say but still the stink is out there now.

I doubt anyone of influence at NetherRealm will ever see this crap I write but on the tiny chance they do listen to this – treat your employee’s with respect. They’re all human. DELAY your game if it means a more stress free work environment. I don’t give a shit, I’d bet most gamers wouldn’t, just put the stupid game out when it’s ready. I’d rather some video game get held back than hear about peoples health being put at risk. Stop the microtransaction crap too. You say it’s not that but it so is. Come on. We know the score now. ‘Randomised treasure’ ? PUH-LEASE! Get out of here with that.

It’s a pity. There’s a boss Mortal Kombat game buried here under all of the twisted shit which has since come to light. I guess thanks for the good stuff and major thanks to the actual hard workers who poured their time and passion into what’s a belter of a game at its core.

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The original PlayStation is back in time for Christmas!

Back in the mid 90’s chances are high you or your buddy had a PlayStation set up at home. This console arguably changed the landscape of video games and elevated the industry beyond just being for kids. Games like Resident Evil and Wipeout proved that adults wanted to game just as much as the kids and the rest is history.

Sony delighted their fans this week when they announced their plans to bring back the original PlayStation console. The Sony PlayStation Classic Console, to give it its proper title, launches December 3rd and will cost you £89.99. For that you get the mini machine (this is pretty much Sony’s version of Nintendo’s SNES Mini), two first gen control pads and twenty pre-installed games.

Right now the only confirmed titles are Tekken 3 (the best Tekken IMO), Jumping Flash, Final Fantasy VII (one of the best games ever made), Ridge Racer Type 4 and Wild Arms. Right there you got a solid mix of genres with a classic fighter, a racer and an RPG. I ain’t played Wild Arms nor Jumping Flash so I can’t comment on their classic status. Not bad but I do wonder what the other yet to be announced games will be? I’d guess Wipeout, Tomb Raider and one of the Resident Evil’s will be a given. They have to right?

The big question being is it worth it? That depends. See I still have my PS3 and I have access to a most of the original PlayStation’s classic games via the PSN Store. Not only that but if you catch a sale you can pick them up for crazy low prices. So consider that. IGN also brought up another interesting take and that is the lack of dual shock controllers. You can play any of the games listed above with no issues with original first gen pads but I am not sure how later titles would handle.

As for myself I’m not sold. Not yet anyway. It depends what the other games are. One thing that would make me seriously consider getting it is if Sony included some games that previously never got European releases. For example Chrono Cross or Bushido Blade 2. Basically it all just depends on the games. If you ain’t got your PS3 lying around though and are in the mood for some all time classics then I think this a great idea.

What games would you like to see included?

Streets of Rage 4 is happening. This is not a drill. Prepare yourself.

If there was one series I hoped to see make a return it is SEGA’s classic beat em’up series Street of Rage. Sometimes dreams come true. This week SEGA & developer Lizardcube announced Streets of Rage 4.

Now that reveal trailer is gorgeous is it not? Hand drawn sprites from the looks of it which give the game a stunning look. Lizardcube developed Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, another SEGA title, which used a similar art style and was met by strong reviews. So it appears fans of Streets of Rage can breath easy knowing the sequel is in good hands with Lizardcube.

From what we can make out in the trailer the game is not a remake, as I said, this is a sequel to the twenty four year old Streets of Rage 3. Character wise we get to see series vet’s Axel and Blaze kicking arse. Will there be more characters revealed closer to release? I would take a guess and say expect at least one more in there. Heck even if it is just those two I don’t mind.

No release date. Yet. Nor word on what systems the game will be available on or if it will be digital only. I want this beauty on Switch and I think that will be a given. Nintendo’s wonder seems like the ideal home for Streets of Rage 4. Word is there will be new gameplay mechanics. I think if it ain’t broke, which this series is not, don’t bother messing around with an already solid foundation. Hopefully whatever Lizardcube brings to the series gameplay wise will prove welcome.

One question I know a lot fans will want to know the answer to is if series composers Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima will be back to score the game. The music in the Streets of Rage series ranks as some of the best from the history of video game music. It perfectly set the tone for the world the player was about to loose themselves in. With any luck both will be back but if not then I can’t get dissapointed because to be clear I’m just really glad the series is back and looking great.

Check back here for more news and reveals on Streets of Rage 4.

 

Capcom delivers dreams and screams with the Resident Evil 2 remake reveal trailer!

Hey guys. So it is E3 week. The thing is I have decided to pull back on covering the big stuff from E3 this year. Any game stuff covered will be Nintendo and retro stuff or current games with ties to the 80/90’s.

Case in point the awesome reveal this week of the remake of Resident Evil 2. Look at how great and scary this game looks! I can remember being terrified and in awe and loving every second of this classic game back in 1998.

In my opinion, based on the trailer, Capcom have knocked this one out of the park. One thing that worried me – modern game practices and all that – was Capcom would take Claire’s section of the game and trap it behind paid DLC or a season pass or some bull crap. That’s not the case. In fact Capcom have been making a big effort to get back into the good books of gamers of late and I appreciate that because they can and have been one of the greats.

Also, I’ll be vague ’cause this stuff should be a surprise, if there are any fans out there of Resident Evil 1.5 ( that’s the very early build of Resident Evil 2 from WAY back before the game was given a overhaul) well Capcom sees you and wants you to be happy. So look forward to a revisit to Raccoon City which may manage to surprise even the most die hard fans of the original classic.

Resident Evil 2 launches very early next year. The end of January 2019!

EarthBound

 

EarthBound hit the Super Nintendo in 1995 (in North America) and to put it in simple terms it is a role playing game. You a fan of 90’s era Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest? Okay, well if you are, you will appreciate and probably end up loving this charming game. As a kid I had heard of EarthBound through Nintendo Magzine and such. It never got a PAL release, sadly, and although I had a NTSC converter for my SNES EarthBound passed me by. I came to the game late in it’s life. Thanks to the SNES Classic I got to experience it and it’s brilliant.

The game was designed by Shigesato Itoi. I didn’t know who he was before EarthBound but from what I can gather he is known for developing all of the games to date in this series. This game is in fact the second entry in what is known as the Mother series. Not that I feel you have to play the games in any order, from what I understand the sole cross over between them is the villian and other easter eggs. Don’t quote me on that mind! The game celebrates American culture in a cute way. Set in a world that mirrored the USA of the 90’s. An interesting take being that it’s America from the POV of an eastern developer who I guess had a fondness for western culture.

EarthBound’s plot is standard RPG stuff. Giygas, an evil force, begins to influence people and threaten the planet by potentially unleashing chaos. So it falls to four kids to come together, strangers to begin with, to bring down this corruption. The way the game is presented to the player is more unique than it’s story. For example during battles the player’s HP rolls down when dealt powerful blows. In other games that would mean defeat but in EarthBound, if you’re quick enough, you can bounce back from defeat if you heal your party quick enough. This lends battles a feeling of excitement! How you explore towns and (literally) go shopping for items feels funny because normally these games lean on the fantasy element. In EarthBound you need to go to an ATM machine to withdraw/deposit your cash! You shop in actual stores and shopping malls! It’s so cool and the ‘real world’ setting was, at that time, not as present as it is today in games.

EarthBound looks fun and colourful but it has some deep themes and wants the player to think about life. The writing is quirky and at times a little nuts but it a good way. For example if you stop to talk to a dog on the street it tells you how great you are for taking the time to chat to a dog!? Brilliant! There’s certainly a healthy dose of weird in this game and things do go trippy. It’d be a crime to ruin some of those scenes though! Another ambitious thing this game did at the time was the open world design. There’s no load screens, you literally just travel continusely throughout your journey. For 1995 and the SNES this was incredible. Oh and the soundtrack is ace.

EarthBound is a game RPG fans should check out. I think. If you’re not into role playing games or ones which require a time investment then EarthBound probably won’t be your cup of tea. For me, well I’m delighted I got to play this (better late than never) and days after finishing it I’m still thinking about it. Great game, wonderful world and one I hope I can explore more of if it’s sequel ever gets a western release.

NOTE: When you finish the final boss in the game be aware you can freely explore. I didn’t know this. I don’t think you can save a end game state after defeating the boss so if you want the world to explore at your lesiure then make sure you got some free time to give to it once you finish the boss.

 

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a classic from the SNES era. It was released in 1991 and like a lot of SNES games it is thought as, by many, to be one of the greatest games ever made. As a stupid kid I knew the game was good but outside the opening few hours I had no patience for it. I gave up pretty quick. I was content to simply cut down bushes and run through tall grass and bang into trees. In fact I don’t think I actually owned A Link to the Past. How bad is that, for a so called Nintendo fan? I must have either rented it or borrowed it from a friend. I knew the game was special. Even back then. Thanks to the SNES Classic Mini I was able to go back to this great game and finally finish it.

A Link to the Past, feels like it needs little introduction at this stage, is a top down action/ role playing game. You control Link, a young guy who embarks upon a epic journey to save the realm of Hyrule from a dark wizard and rescue the princess Zelda! At the time A Link to the Past looked and felt like a gigantic game. A world map allows the player to see, from the begining, the entire realm of Hyrule and the various locations you will be able to visit. Back in the early 90’s A Link to the Past, with the likes of Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI, was pretty much the Grand Theft Auto’s/ Red Dead Redemptions of their generation. These were living and breathing game worlds.

The true aim of A Link to the Past is to progress and you do that by exploration. Although the map shows off the world you may not be allowed to access all of it until you have obtained the tools to do so. The way you achieve that is by entering and conquring dungeons. Each one is unique in layout, difficulty and with a boss to be defeated at the end of each. Doing so grants Link with a special item that grants him new abilities and therefore lets you access more of Hyrule and get closer to rescuing Zelda and the world! It’s not as straightforward as it seems though.

The game makes you work for your rewards and despite looking like a 16-bit Disney realm Hyrule is one tough and dangerous place. Add to that the maze like structure of some of the dungeons and you are left with a totally rewarding yet challenging game. I used a YouTube guide to finish this. I don’t know how you could do it wihtout some hints so if you have congratulations to you! The game has a classic soundtrack. Many of the tracks that debuted in A Link to the Past would go on to become classics that are still present in the Zelda series. The graphics are great. The game, thanks to the rise in popularity of indipendent retro-like games, doesn’t look dated in the slightest and naturally the gameplay is timeless. Classic Nintendo quality.

A Link to the Past more than earned it’s status as one of the greatest video games ever made. It is a joy to play and to look at. Yes it is a video game first and foremost but really, espechially in the context of history, this game is an experience. Heard of the Zelda series but never really tried it out? Waste no more time. As a gamer you’re missing out. A Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a classic game and fantastic entry point to the world of Zelda.

 

 

 

Super Metroid

When I started Hella Movies it was always my intention to cover 90’s video games along with movies. Although I own an original SNES I found the cartridge price for classic games to be beyond a joke and so my hands were tied in relation to what I had available to review. Thanks to Nintendo and the SNES Mini that is no longer the case and what better game to kick start this passion once more than Super Metroid!

It’s funny. I owned Super Metroid back in the 90’s. I had the BIG box version that came with the game and the guide. I loved it. Back then you could tell it was special and it was destined for greatness. Cut to the release of the PlaySation in ’96 and this idiot trading in his SNES and all his classic games. Like I said I was an idiot.

What I did not realise then but I do now is how late into the SNES life cycle Super Metroid came out. It was ’94. For some reason I always remembered it being an earlier game on the system but it was more like just over halfway through the system’s life cycle. That may have played a role in the series and it’s stop/start sense of delviery over the years. Only now have Nintendo saw fit to revisit the franchise as it has never sold as well, despite being adored as much, as Mario and Zelda.

Super Metroid is side scrolling action game. The player takes on the role of Samus Aran who is a kick ass female bounty hunter. Space pirates have stolen a metroid (which is bad) and it’s up to you to follow them to a distant planet and track them down! The begining of the game is boss, like something out of an 80’s horror movie, it seemingly starts where the last game left off and you think your mission is over and then BAM! There’s this attack at the base, all fully playable for the most part, and the new game kicks off. At this stage in my releationship with videogames I had never seen anything like this. My young dumb mind was blown.

The aim of the game is simple and there in lies it’s true power. The player must navigate several large maze like areas that make up the world with next to no clues on where to go first and what to do. Such is the beauty of Super Metroid. The more you explore the more of the world map is revealed to you via the mini map displayed on the screen. Ever heard of a game nick named “Metroidvania” ? Well you have this game to thank for that.

Each envrionment, while different from one another and offering visual variety, is jam packed with deadly enemies and hazards for the player to overcome. The way in which that is achived is through finding power ups which allow Samus access to more weapons, abilities and health. Exploration leads to rewards, as do boss encounters which always prove a challange without becoming ridiculous. The game controls beautifully for the most part (hang your head in shame wall jump mechanics) and it’s real handy being able to run and shoot in any direction a threat should arise.

The atmosphere of the game is incredible, packed with detail (the game being one of the biggest on the SNES at the time) and it has an amazing soundtrack. It’s a beautiful game that still looks and plays great today, more than twenty years after it’s release. Most people have played this game and fallen head over heels in love with it. So to those folks I need not champion it, but let’s say you haven’t played this but have heard of it’s legacy? If that is the case then do yourself a favour and seek it out. Either via the SNES mini or the Nintendo Virtual Console service, should you happen to own a compatable machine. Super Metroid really is one of the best video games ever made and one which a lot of developers could only hope to re-create today.

 

 

 

Hella Halloween: Resident Evil 7 (No spoilers)

Last year, when the trailer came out for Resident Evil VII, it dropped out of nowhere. Immediately fans of the series knew it was a Resident Evil game unlike any that had come before. That amazing and atmospheric trailer promised an experience that was shrouded in mystery, a darker tone and a plot that felt no obligation whatsoever to adhere to what fans had become acoustamed to. As time went on we learnt more from the makers of the game. The big change was that the game would be played in the first person perspective (compatiable with SONY’S VR ), breaking with the series third person POV the fans were used to.

Resident Evil 7 was met with acclaim from critics and most importantly the fans of the series. Still, this fan couldn’t quite get his head around the drastic changes. To be honest I was not a fan of the first person POV, it looked too different. It became clear as reactions poured in that this Resident Evil, as I said, felt no need to cater to fan service, so absent were legacy characters such as Jill, Chris, Leon, Ada and Claire. In a lot of ways Resident Evil VII is a new beginning. I didn’t think I was ready to say goodbye to what I knew. Now I own the game, having just completed it, I can safely say I was dead wrong to be worried. The game does cater to long terms fans, giving them exactly what they want and credit to Capcom for doing so because until I experienced the game from start to finish I hadn’t realised how ready I was for change, how it pays off and most importantly how it still managed to keep hold of the Resident Evil identity.

All you need to know about the plot of Resident Evil 7 is you play a guy who gets a message from someone he used to know asking for help. What follows is one of my favourite plots from the series to date, believe me when I say avoid plot details because there are twists and turns and scares and pay offs that I think would be a crime to reveal before you get to experience ’em for yourself.

The gameplay is great. The first person POV feels like a perfect fit for the Resident Evil series. It never feels restricting. You can still interact, react, run, hide, fight, cry and scream in terror like you could in any of the previous entries in the series. Enemy interactions, boss fights, level/sound design, music, characters, tone and exploration are some of the best in the series.

Thankfully I did not play the game in VR and I wouldn’t reccomend it because it was scary enough playing on the TV. I can’t imagine what it must be like in VR. 2017 has become one of the best years for video games since the 1990’s and in years to come I feel like Resident Evil 7 will be spoken about with the same acclaim as the original ’96 game and its sequel.

Capcom knew they needed to make Resident Evil great again. Don’t misunderstand me, I’ve stayed a fan of this series for over twenty years but I can see why some felt it had lost it’s way. Capcom make a bold choice in the direction they chose to get the series back on track. Resident Evil is back where it belongs as THE horror title in video games. I can not wait to see what horror awaits in the next instalment.

Resident Evil 7 is out now for PlaySation 4, X Box One and PC.

 

Tomb Raider reboot trailer uncovered!

How about that? I think it looks okay. My gut won’t allow me to get excited for movies based on video games due to the track record of such things which is now like a running Hollywood joke. They’re hardly ever good. As for Tomb Raider, this looks to be a faithful adaptation of the recent video game reboot of the series, combining the plots of both 2013’s Tomb Raider and 2015’s Rise of the Tomb Raider. Basically using the setting of the first game but the bad guys – Trinity – from Rise of the Tomb Raider.

Norwegian filmmaker Roar Uthaug is directing and he made The Wave which is a pretty good disaster movie so direction wise it could work out. Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl, Ex-Machina) stars as Lara Croft with a host of strong support from the likes of Walton Goggins, Dominic West and Daniel Wu.

Tomb Raider opens in cinemas March 16th 2018. Expect the worst but let’s hope for the best.

Tekken 7 brings the hurt (in a good way)

Hey guys so wow, after like two years (or more?) since it’s initial reveal TEKKEN 7 is finally out. I know right, it’s been out for a few months now but the way of it is that I wanted to put time into the games’ new characters and ways to play before belting out some review which honestly wouldn’t have done the game justice. It always shocks me when reviewers have reviews out for fighting games like the day after it’s been released! How the heck have they been able to get to know the game beyond just a surface playthrough?

I am a big Tekken fan. Been one now for twenty years and for me the series has not wavered, I’ve enjoyed them all but for the sake of clarity I don’t think any either before or after Tekken 3 have stood out as much as that game did. I love that game. Tekken 7 doesn’t break that tradtion for me, but that is not to say the game is not a hell of a lot of fun to play. With a healthy (yet much needed trimmed down) roster of thirty nine characters there are enough styles and personalities available to suit any player weather they be competitive or casual. Thankfully the same goes for modes; present and accounted for are – ARCADE MODE, VS., TREASURE BATTLE, STORY, PRACTICE and ONLINE. I don’t play online so you’ll have to look elsewhere for thoughts on that.

Few drawbacks? Sure. Despite featuring a healthy dose of ways to play the modes are slightly trim on what they offer. Story mode is fun yet is over in a matter of hours, Arcade has had it’s number of fights brought down noticably and Tekken Bowl is now PAID DLC (back in the day kids we used to get modes like this for FREE! REALLY!). The load times between matches can be slightly longer than you’d think which is a shame but maybe that can be fixed via a patch down the line.

Thankfully Treasure Battle, which replaces Tekken 6’s Ghost Mode, offers unlimited fun and allows you to unlock cool customization items you can use in the Customization mode for your characters, as well as in game cash to just buy items you can’t be bothered fighting for. It’s a lot of fun. The fun factor is what goes a long way here to help me reccomend the game because had this mode not been included this review would have been less positive.

Tekken 7 feels like an ending of sorts to the series as we have come to know it over the years while in others like a new beginning. So much so I wouldn’t be surprised if the next entry in the series is simply called Tekken. The game has loads of new characters and they’re all great. My favourite out of the new guys and gals being Shaheen, Katarina and Josie! It’s fun seeing Street Fighter’s Akuma showing up here also. He plays great and fits into the Tekken world with no problems. Shout out to my two mains Jin and Nina. As great as ever.

I play my fighters for fun. For me these are games and not a sport. Sure there’s new mechanics and ways to play – each character now has a Street Fighter like super move that looks awesome, as does a new slow motion effect when fights get too close to call making for some dramatic and very fun resolutions – but I simply just love the arcade fighter feel to these games (as well as the -now expected for this series – excellent soundtrack) and as a fun fighting game I think Tekken 7 more than delivers, yet “boo!” on the DLC push for the likes of Tekken Bowl. I really do dislike this ‘Game as service’ bullshit that seems so popular these days.

Tekken 7 is available now for PlayStation4, Xbox One and PC.