07-07-2004, 11:31 PM
Namco plans to initially market Tekken 5 to Japanese arcades as a package of two linked cabinets and an attached 42-inch plasma TV monitor. All told, the set will run operators 3,129,000 yen (about $28,500). The extra monitor is intended to display versus matches to an audience, but it can also display information related to the game's ALL.Net features -- it might display a reel of tournament news, national leaderboard rankings, and other information.
Each cabinet will also be equipped with a card reader to let players take advantage of the ALL.Net online rankings, character customization, and ghost character system. Customizing a Tekken 5 character works a bit differently from the related system in Virtua Fighter 4. Tekken 5 lets players buy extra equipment -- some of it rather picturesque, like a three-cornered pirate's hat for Craig Marduk -- with a currency called "fight money" that the game awards for specific achievements. Players thus have some choice in what upgrades they acquire, instead of depending on the pure luck of the draw.
The ghost character system, meanwhile, maintains its data on a central server, rather than on the player's data card. Players can pick and choose ghosts they'd like to fight and even follow the progress of their own ghosts via Namco's official site, checking up on how well their virtual counterpart is doing against human competition.
Gameplay details on the sequel remain a bit sparse, but the general impression seems to be a reversion to a style more like Tekken Tag Tournament after the many changes featured in Tekken 4. The more confined arenas of the previous game have been replaced by more open stages, and where walls do appear, their effect has evidently been moderated somewhat, with less damage caused by wall hits.
On the other hand, Tekken 5 reportedly features more moves for evasion at close range -- jumps, ducks, and sidestep maneuvers -- especially for more mobile characters. Some characters have signature step-in moves and other evasive maneuvers. Others, to make up for a lack of maneuverability, have new long-range throws and air throws to chain together with juggle combos -- Craig Marduk has apparently picked up some new moves along those lines.
With a test-worthy Tekken 5 already together, and the finished version scheduled for distribution within the year (Japanese arcade distributors are soliciting orders for November delivery), Namco should have the game on location test in North America sooner rather than later. We'll likely have more updates in short order
For those catching up, this brings the total announced cast of the fifth Iron Fist tournament to 20:
Raven*
Feng Wei*
Asuka Kazama*
Jack-5*
Julia Chang
Craig Marduk
Kazuya Mishima
King
Bryan Fury
Yoshimitsu
Nina Williams
Steve Fox
Marshal Law
Christie Monteiro
Ling Xiaoyu
Lei Wulong
Paul Phoenix
Hwoarang
Ganryu
Lee Chaolan
* New to the series
Each cabinet will also be equipped with a card reader to let players take advantage of the ALL.Net online rankings, character customization, and ghost character system. Customizing a Tekken 5 character works a bit differently from the related system in Virtua Fighter 4. Tekken 5 lets players buy extra equipment -- some of it rather picturesque, like a three-cornered pirate's hat for Craig Marduk -- with a currency called "fight money" that the game awards for specific achievements. Players thus have some choice in what upgrades they acquire, instead of depending on the pure luck of the draw.
The ghost character system, meanwhile, maintains its data on a central server, rather than on the player's data card. Players can pick and choose ghosts they'd like to fight and even follow the progress of their own ghosts via Namco's official site, checking up on how well their virtual counterpart is doing against human competition.
Gameplay details on the sequel remain a bit sparse, but the general impression seems to be a reversion to a style more like Tekken Tag Tournament after the many changes featured in Tekken 4. The more confined arenas of the previous game have been replaced by more open stages, and where walls do appear, their effect has evidently been moderated somewhat, with less damage caused by wall hits.
On the other hand, Tekken 5 reportedly features more moves for evasion at close range -- jumps, ducks, and sidestep maneuvers -- especially for more mobile characters. Some characters have signature step-in moves and other evasive maneuvers. Others, to make up for a lack of maneuverability, have new long-range throws and air throws to chain together with juggle combos -- Craig Marduk has apparently picked up some new moves along those lines.
With a test-worthy Tekken 5 already together, and the finished version scheduled for distribution within the year (Japanese arcade distributors are soliciting orders for November delivery), Namco should have the game on location test in North America sooner rather than later. We'll likely have more updates in short order
For those catching up, this brings the total announced cast of the fifth Iron Fist tournament to 20:
Raven*
Feng Wei*
Asuka Kazama*
Jack-5*
Julia Chang
Craig Marduk
Kazuya Mishima
King
Bryan Fury
Yoshimitsu
Nina Williams
Steve Fox
Marshal Law
Christie Monteiro
Ling Xiaoyu
Lei Wulong
Paul Phoenix
Hwoarang
Ganryu
Lee Chaolan
* New to the series
