Some Of Tekken's Best Characters - Releasing June
With the new Tekken 7 just around the corner at the start of June, we've taken a look at some of the very best characters the Tekken series has thrown in the roster.
It's no secret that Bandai Namco's Tekken series has quite the crazy plot with plenty of mind-boggling twists through the years. That just means we get some of the true crazies coming out of the shadows to throw their hat in the ring.
Heihachi Mishima
A complicated man to be sure and is often seen as the anti-Hero of Tekken. You tend to earn that label when your history includes betraying your own father to assume the family business and, er, throwing your own child down a ravine to 'motivate them' to toughen up or die. Incidentally is when young Kazuya makes a pact with the Devil and introduces the Devil Gene to the Mishima bloodline.
Of course you cement that anti-Hero reputation further when you throw that same son into a volcano later because he did manage to survive the ravine incident and Heihachi's pride just couldn't stomach losing in a tournament to him and being chucked down the same cliff edge. Also he back-stabs Jin to lure out the powerful Ogre.
Jin Kazama
First introduced with Tekken 3 (1997), Jin became the main protagonist for the series at the age of 19. He's had quite a tragic life what with his father and grand-father being ruthless, back-stabbing tyrants. Still he soldiered on and tried to turn his fortune and even his family name around but, tragedy kept on striking. Ultimately he succumbed to the 'curse' of his families' Devil Gene, whereby he assumes the role of Devil Jin.
King II
A wrestler who wears a Jaguar mask, and who came from and runs an orphanage of poor children he likes to make happy. He's pretty much ready for the Noble Peace Prize except that whole violence thing he does. He loves his chain throws - which can drain an opponent dramatically - and can even growl like a Jaguar. He's one of the Tekken favourites with some flashy moves. He was first introduced in Tekken 3.
Kuma
This is no masked wrestler - it's an actual bear. He is the loyal pet of Heihachi Mishima and also inherits his own father's rivalry with Paul Phoenix. He was trained by Heihachi but eventually went into the wilderness to be forced into better shape by nature itself.
Kuma has something of a flawed devotion to his master who even tried to cheat him out of the zaibatsu. He came to loathe his master's grandson, Jin Kazama, who also banished him to the wilderness. There might be a strain though in the mutual affection between Kuma and Heihachi. He remains a favourite because he's a freakin' bear. He was his master's bodyguard in Tekken 3.
Kazuya Mishima
Devil pact man himself, Kazuya. Understandably he becomes quite an evil do'er considering his abusive father and the lengths he went to in order to survive. He has some of the best and most powerful moves in the game. Also not many can survive being thrown into an active volcano - major props right there.
Kazuya can transform into Devil when he chooses as he appears to have abandoned any struggle he once had against his darker nature. This makes him extremely cold-blooded and ruthless and therefore a favourite among Tekken fans.
Nina Williams
Ms. Ice Queen herself. She, along with her sister Anna, where cryogenically frozen for 15 years so that explains her youthful vigor for someone who is technically in her 40s. She is almost devoid of all emotion and that's a combination of experimental drug treatments to turn her into an unmatched assassin and because of Ogre. She's none-to-fond of being impregnated without consent and giving birth to 'her son' Steve Fox during her slumber either.
Marshall Law
He's basically the martial artist Bruce Lee as he uses all the style and moves of the man. He featured in the original Tekken and continues to be an honored member of the roster. He's a favourite simply for being a veteran of the series.
Lei Wulong
Another 'inspired' character based of a real-world martial master and this time it's Jackie Chan. Consider this fighter to be one for the die hard experts given Lei's versatility of stances to master if you want to use him effectively. Opponents to Lei are often left at the mercy of 'predicting' what style he'll use at any given time.
Robert Richards a.k.a. Bob
Originally a much slimmer fighter, Bob decided in order to match his opponents for their bulk he'd add to his own. His choice of speed and weight seemed to pay off despite the backlash from his fans who saw him as a washed-up has-been. Amazingly his 'technique' proved very successful and now he spends time maintaining that new 'balance' in his diet, when he's not performing vigilante-style justice to criminals. He adds some much needed comic relief to family drama.
This was a list of just some of Tekken's best characters and there are many more returning with the next Tekken.
Tekken 7 releases on PC, Xbox One and PlayStatiion 4 June 2, 2017.
