Tekken 2
| Tekken 2 | |
|---|---|
| Tekken 2 Arcade Flyer | |
| Developer(s) | Namco |
| Publisher(s) | Namco |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 (as part of Tekken 5's Arcade History mode), PlayStation Network |
| Release | Arcade
PlayStation  March 29, 1996 August 25, 1996 October, 1996 |
| Genre(s) | Versus fighting game |
| Mode(s) | Up to two players |
| Arcade system | Namco System 11 |
Tekken 2 is the second installment in the popular Tekken fighting game series.
Gameplay
Much like its predecessor, Tekken 2 doesn't change its gameplay distinctions, but simply adds upon them. It continues to use out backgrounds in its stages, features an infinite playing field, and uses a fighting system that utilizes four buttons: two for left and right punches, and two for left and right kicks. Distinct additions included attack reversals for some characters, back throws, chain-throws, and a sidestep unique to one character (Kazuya Mishima). Tackles also were modified to inflict damage, if the character were to run from a greater distance.
Story
A worldwide martial arts tournament was nearing its finale. A large purse of prize money which was to be awarded to the fighter who could defeat Heihachi Mishima in the final round provided incentive for warriors from all over the globe.
Financed and sponsored by the giant financial group, the Mishima Zaibatsu, the first Tekken tournament began with eight fighters, all of whom had emerged victorious from various matches held all over the world, all brought together by different motives, all possessing the skill and power to crumble mountains.
Many battles were fought. But only one lone warrior emerged with the right to challenge Heihachi Mishima for the of "King of Iron Fist" title. This warrior was Kazuya Mishima, Heihachi's cold blooded son. Bearing the scar given to him by Heihachi, he enters into vicious combat with his father on the same field where Heihachi last struck down his own son and dropped him into a trench at age five.
After a grueling battle which raged on for hours, Kazuya emerged victorious by utilizing the power granted to him by the supernatural entity known as Devil.
As Heihachi's broken body lay on the ground, Kazuya dropped to his knee and slowly lifted his father into his arms. Kazuya walked slowly to the edge of the same cliff from where his father had thrown him from, as a child. He stared out over the landscape, and let go of his father's body. As Heihachi's body plummeted, Kazuya's smile gleamed in the sunlight...
A year had passed. The Mishima Zaibatsu under Kazuya's leadership has become even more powerful with its tendrils reaching to all corners of the world. Soon after his father's apparent death, Kazuya disappears into the shadows. However, rumors of his immense power, and a dark side, slowly begin to spread throughout the world.
Exactly one year after the end of the first Tekken, a message is relayed from the Mishima Zaibatsu fortress to news agencies all over the world announcing a second tournament with a prize a thousand times that of the first.
So begins the tournament...
Ports
Tekken 2 was ported to the Sony PlayStation which is considered to be vastly superior in content to its arcade counterpart. Aside from unique CGI endings for every character, it featured numerous modes such as Survival, Time Attack, Team Battle, and a Practice Mode. All those modes were a first for the fighting genre.
The 2005 release of Tekken 5 had the arcade version of Tekken 2 version B playable.
Tekken 2 is available to download for PlayStation 3 [1] which allows PlayStation 3 users to download it onto the PSP however Multiplayer options have been removed.
Trivia
- Tekken 2 was an instant blockbuster that greatly benefited Namco on both the arcade and console markets. Aside from winning rave reviews from the critics, it was the number 1 arcade game in America for 24 straight weeks and on the PlayStation console, it sold 3,000,000 copies worldwide.
- Tekken 2 was released in America in August 1996, around the same time Nintendo launched its Nintendo 64 console. Tekken 2 had opening day sales of 250,000, which at that time became a record.
- Some versions of the arcade game have Baek in place of Jun as one of the 10 characters the player begins with. In these versions, Jun is a boss that can only be beaten using Marshall Law. Also in these versions of the arcade game, Jun can NOT be selected, as the bottom of the screen says "Now 22 Characters Are Selectable!" during demonstrations. This is absent in the PlayStation 2 version in the Arcade History mode in Tekken 5, as Jun can be selected even if the "New Character" setting is set to Baek & Lei in Test Mode.
- Despite the fact that two years passed after the first tournament, the Tekken 2 booklets still have the character's Tekken 1 ages written in them.
- The music tracks used in the game were all reworked for the PlayStation. The PlayStation version offers the choice to hear either the PlayStation remixed tracks or the Arcade original versions during the game. All unlockable characters, except for Kazuya Mishima, Devil/Angel, and Baek Doo San have themes from the original Tekken stages as their music tracks. The only unused theme is Venezia:
Character roster
Returning characters
- Heihachi Mishima
- Kazuya Mishima (Unlockable)
- Marshall Law
- Paul Phoenix
- Michelle Chang
- Nina Williams
- King I
- Yoshimitsu
- Lee Chaolan (Unlockable)
- Kuma (Unlockable)
- Kunimitsu (Unlockable)
- Armor King (Unlockable)
- Ganryu (Unlockable)
- Anna Williams (Unlockable)
- Wang Jinrei (Unlockable)
- Prototype Jack (Unlockable)
- Devil (Unlockable)
New characters
- Jun Kazama
- Lei Wulong
- Jack-2
- Baek Doo San (Unlockable)
- Bruce Irvin (Unlockable)
- Roger (Unlockable)
- Alex (Unlockable)
- Angel (Unlockable)