Tekken 3 but with a new tag mechanic and a huge roster.

Tag Tournament takes the existing Tekken formula and adds a new tag team mechanic, allowing up to four characters to fight against each other. Its also one of the few games to be released for three generations of PlayStation hardware (sort of, The System 12 arcade board is an overclocked PS1 board.)

The fighter roster is stacked with an insane lineup of characters, many of which all featured in the first three installments of the Tekken franchise. You’ve got your classics like Kazuya, Jin, and Heihachi, all ready to unleash their devastating combos. Its like a Tekken greatest hits reunion featuring everyone’s favourite characters from previous games, but there are a few omissions like the original Jack, King and Armour King. Still Namco have also implemented Easter eggs for when you choose a certain par of characters, that affect the characters animations before and after the fight. Pairs like Nina & Anna, Kazaya & Heihachi and Michelle & Ganryu are a few examples to name that do this this, and it gives a nod to the Tekken backstory that fans of the franchise will be invested in.

Some pairs will also have unique moves that can be used to attack and switch out at the same time. These require a button combination along with the tag out button to trigger.

Versions

Arcade

The original release of the game was in the arcade, like other early Tekken games. The game ran on the Namco System 12 board which was an upgraded PlayStation with additional memory and a faster clocked processor. This allows for multiple fighters to be featured onscreen, required for some of the character move sets. This version of the game also features its own soundtrack which is played on Namco’s own C352 sound processor that was also used in their System 23 arcade boards.

Many characters are locked in this version and are on a time based unlock, where characters gradually come available as the arcade machine is powered on. There is a MAME cheat to unlock all the characters upon clearing the EEPROM that can be used instead.

PlayStation 2

Tag Tournament was one of the launch titles for the PS2, and remained exclusive to the console for the home release until the HD PS3 version. This version features completely upgraded graphics that take advantage of the PS2’s Graphics Synthesizer

Unknown is a fully playable character in this version and has a unique feature where she can emulate another fighters moves.

This version also features a few unlock-able features and game modes.

Tekken Bowl: In Tekken Bowling, players would select a character from the roster and take them to the bowling alley. The character would replace the traditional bowling ball, and players would control their chosen character’s movement and angle as they approached the lane. The objective was to knock down as many pins as possible in each frame.

The mini-game incorporated the unique abilities and characteristics of each character into the bowling mechanics. Characters would have their own distinct bowling animations and techniques, adding a touch of personality to the gameplay. Some characters might have special abilities or moves that affected the trajectory or speed of the “ball” they threw.

Namco would later create a Tekken bowling spin-off for smartphones.

Screenshots: A screenshot can be captured and saved to the memory card, useful when you want to capture for character whilst they’re in the middle of a combo. A screenshot can be taken by pressing the pause button and selecting screenshot.

Pair Play mode: Another feature is the pair play mode, which allows two players to fight with their own controller against the CPU. Four plays can also play in a VS match if the PS2 multi-tap controller is used.

Lastly each character has a unique ending sequence which is rendered within the game engine, except for unknown which is a pre-rendered MPEG2 FMV.

PlayStation 3

Namco ported the game to the PS3 in 2012, and was released as part of Tekken blood Vengeance. Inserting the Blu-ray disc would prompt you to install the game as a bonus feature of the disc.

This version featured upscaled graphics running in HD resolution, trophy support, and is a port of the PS2 version. The soundtrack mostly remains the same, though there are some differences in composition. Sadly there is no online play over the PlayStation network, which would have made a nice addition though it would have suffered a limited population, as this game was not released standalone. Rather it was treated as a bonus.

Conclusion

Tekken Tag Tournament is an absolute knockout of a game. It’s a high-energy, pulse-pounding experience that’ll have you hooked from the moment you pick up the controller. Whether you’re a casual fighting game fan or a seasoned pro, this game delivers the goods. The Tag Tournament formula would be repeated in 2011 with the release of Tag Tournament 2 for the PS3, Wii U and Xbox 360.