Tekken Revolution (PS3): "First Impressions"

When I first watched the trailer of this latest installment of the Tekken series I was truly mesmerized. The game looked gorgeous, and the fact that it was going to be a Free-to-Play exclusive for the PS3 made it seem even more special. The fact of the matter is that not everything we see in the world of gaming is as it seems though, and Tekken Revoulution unfortunately serves as a reminder of this. When you hear the term Free-to-Play in association with a game release it usually means that there are strings attached. Just how many strings, and the extent of those strings all depend on the developer releasing the game to the public. Some Free-to-Play games can be quite enjoyable, offering enough to the gamer to be fine without any additional DLC purchases. In the case of Tekken Revolution however this is not the situation.

Tekken Revolution, as "Free-to-Play" as Namco deems it to be is anything but that. Sure you can enjoy both offline (Arcade Mode), and online modes (Ranked Matches & Player Matches) with no money out of pocket, but when you read the fine details included with the download you'll find that your time with the game will be very limited unless you are willing to purchase in-game tokens to extend your play time. This to me is a huge turn off. The fact that the tokens replenish over time offers little reason to sway my unsatisfied opinion of the already flawed experience.

One thing you'll immediately notice, and need to pay close attention to upon starting up Tekken Revolution (after the initial download & installation) is that there is a mandatory pop-up agreement that appears which you must agree to before you can even begin playing. The first legal stipulation in this said agreement states that if you play 30 days after a game revision you will be bound by the terms of the newly revised version. This means that if they try to pull something like the "Xbox Tournament App" did where you get charged $2 for every week or so of inactivity you will be bound to pay up. Not only that, but further down the agreement statement it also states that you will be held responsible for any court fees that should arise ($250). Think on that for a second folks. For that first term to be included in the agreement Namco must already have a revised version in their plans. What this revised version includes is anyone's guess, but whatever it is it will likely be sneaky.

After spending some time with the game I found that this newest version of Tekken is basically a mixture of visual enhancements, and poorly executed online/offline experiences. Tekken Revolution, in retrospect is a toned down game that was based on features from Tekken 6, and Tekken Tag Tournament 2. At the core of it you will find a basic Tekken 6 experience with hints of visual features (certain characters & character intros) based on Tekken Tag Tournament 2's offerings. There's also an overly simplified menu system that offers the gamer limited access the usual bare bones offline, and online modes of play. There are no costume creation options, or any alternate costumes of any kind to be found within this game's basic menu system. The only thing customizable you'll find this time around is a character enhancement feature (Power = Damage, Enurance = Defense, Vigor = Life Meter) that gives unfair advantages to players who are already exploiting the horrible lag within the online settings. The added RPG-like character improvements only serve to make the over-powering situation all the more intolerable, especially with the added critical hit, and enhanced damage system that Namco implemented.

With the lack of a decent online netcode, and gamers who are intent on lagswitching the hell out of online matches, Tekken Revolution is undoubtedly doomed to fail amongst the fighting game community. The fact that you have to pay for extra time with the game, and certain premium features only worsens this game's overall appeal. As far as the graphics go this version of Tekken is hands down the most visually impressive so far. It's how Tekken 6 should have looked, and most definitely how Tekken Tag Tournament 2 should have been. In fact I'd go so far as to say Tekken Revolution is one step below the graphics engines of the upcoming next-gen consoles. It's a pity Namco could not have achieved this level of visual perfection within a full game release on current-gen consoles.

To further disappoint myself, and other gamers Namco also chose to ditch it's signature character customization options for a new RPG upgrade system. I think this was likley their biggest mistake this time around, and one that could definitely turn away legit fighting game enthusiasts. You have to understand that Namco not only tweaked the fighting mechanics of the game by adding critical hits as well as a critical hit boost for winning consecutive matches, but that they have also included moves that make each fighter invincible. These invincible attacks make approaching a lagswitching gamer dangerous. Often times as a result of the invincible moves, and poorly executed netcode players will play chicken with each other waitng for the other to strike. Anyone foolish to charge at any lagswitching OP player/character, and try to attack will lose very quickly. With the poor netcode, lagswitching (that is commonplace, because Sony could give two shits about online security/experiences), and OP character improvement options you will hardly ever find a fair fight in Tekken Revolution. Had it have been released on the Xbox 360 the game might have actually stood a chance.

Onto my initial verdict ...

Okay, so here's where I stand as of now. The game is shit. The fact that it is "Free-to-Play" doesn't make it any better. Both the offline, and online modes are plagued with problems that should not be there. The offline for example should have been "Free-to-Play" all the time, but isn't. The online on the other hand is shit, because of the OP features that Namco have applied to the classic Tekken experience as well as the shitty netcode. As far as the legalities go I have no doubt in my mind that Namco will try something sneaky with the game before the year is over. The gaming industry in general has become a greedy cesspool, and Namco has chosen to dive right into the middle of it. Remember folks, just because it's "Free-to-Play" doesn't mean it's entirely free to play. I'll end my "First Impressions" review on that note. Be sure to leave a comment if you like. Just don't troll, and your comment will remain.

NOTE: I will do a follow up article soon, after I spend some more time with the game. Namco seems to be working out the kinks with the online netcode, and the game is actually playing much smoother now. My concerns about the game's legal agreement, and thoughts on the pure chickening style of combat that seems to be taking place online still remains the same ...

- Brad (OtakuDante) -