Tekken 3: Information from Answers.com

Release Date: April 29, 1998
Genre: Fighting
Style: 3D Fighting
Similar Games: Battle Arena Toshinden 3 (PlayStation), Bloody Roar (PlayStation), Dynasty Warriors (PlayStation), Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha (PlayStation), Tekken (PlayStation), Tekken 2 (PlayStation), Bushido Blade 2 (PlayStation), Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition (PlayStation), Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style (PlayStation), Samurai Shodown Warriors: Rage 2 (PlayStation)

Game Description

Tekken 3 is the third installment of Namco's premier 3D fighting game franchise. Converted from the arcade to the PlayStation, Tekken 3 ran on the technology called the System 12 board. It is a step better than Namco's System 11 board, which is nearly identical to the PlayStation. The trick was to pull off a conversion to fit with the console's architecture and technology, and they did just that.

Tekken 3's fighting styles range from street fighting to beautiful ancient oriental fighting styles. Each of the 20-plus characters features a different style (Kung Fu, Capoeira), some of which must be mastered before using adequately. At first, you have 10 fighters to choose from but as you complete the individual story/arcade modes, you will unlock that person's counterpart. Their story is represented by various intro and ending cinematic sequences.

As in the previous Tekken titles, each character has an abundance of moves he or she can perform. They consist of throws (for up close battle), punches and jabs, and kicks (both aerial and on the ground). To help players get used to controlling the game, each fighter's move list can be accessed at any time via a pause menu.

Players are given quite a few options of gameplay styles to choose from: Arcade, Versus, Team Battle, Time Attack, Tekken Force, Practice and a hidden Beach Ball mode (a competition to see who can keep the ball from touching the sand). The arcade version is simply that and the team battle mode allows you or a friend to choose a team of fighters and go into battle one by one. New to the series is the Tekken Force mode -- a Final Fight inspired side-scrolling action game. It contains four levels and after you complete them, you are given a counter. When you finish it a certain amount of times, a special character is introduced and unlocked.

~ Adam Ziegler, All Game Guide

Roots & Influences

Tekken 3 is the third installment of the Tekken series. Like all those before it, it was ported over from the arcades to the PlayStation. Building on the foundation of its predecessors, it adds some brand new characters, fighting styles and gameplay options.

~ Matthew House, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

As the wait for the home version of Tekken 3 expired, the question on everyone's minds was whether or not it had been worth the wait. Many were concerned that Namco wouldn't be able to pull off a successful arcade version this time because the technology the game ran on was much more advanced than the PlayStation hardware. As it turns out, the doubters were wrong as Tekken 3 shines.

Having pulled of a 99 percent accurate conversion of Tekken 2, it should come as no surprise that the conversion for Tekken 3 isn't quite that of the arcade version. The 3D backgrounds were rendered to 2D images, the characters and fighters had been altered somewhat and the spot explosions are pixilated.

None of the above matters because Tekken 3 sports some of the best PlayStation graphics (circa mid-1998). Though they aren't as crisp as the arcade counterpart, the character models are gracefully animated with no signs of polygon breakup. While the backgrounds are 2D, they are rich and diverse and those spot explosions, though pixilated, feature high quality light sourcing.

Of course, Tekken 3 isn't about graphics. It's about sheer, unadulterated fighting game fun! With 23 characters in all (half of them must be unlocked by finishing the arcade mode with various fighters), there is a lot of variation to choose from. Each fighter features a wide variety of special attacks, maneuvers, counter-attacks, linkers, and combinations. Because there are so many characters, you'd be hard pressed to not find a character to your liking.

The control is identical to the arcade version, with a few adjustments. With the home version, you are given the ability to set various button combinations to the shoulder buttons and it implements the astounding Dual Shock Analog Controller. Using this controller, Tekken 3 will rumble (like the Nintendo 64 Rumble Pak) with every hit, power-up, counter and takedown. There's so much rumbling going on that everyone should check it out -- it really adds to the experience.

In an attempt to extend the replay value, Namco has thrown in the standard regiment of modes as well as improving on the existing ones and adding some new things. For starters, there is the arcade mode and a new improved practice option, survival, time attack, team battle and theatre mode (which allows you to watch the rendered endings from all three Tekken games).

It also adds the Tekken Force mode and a Beach Ball mode. The Tekken Force plays almost exactly like Final Fight and you'll have to collect food items and takedown hoards of goons. If you are able to finish it four times, it unlocks another secret character. The Beach Ball mode is a hidden game where two players (either against the computer or a friend) kick and punch a beach ball back and forth. If you miss the ball, you get hurt. It's weird, but definitely fun!

If you have a shred of interest in fighting games, you should definitely check out Tekken 3. It's loads of fun with quick and deep gameplay that'll keep you, your friends, and most of the gamers in this genre busy for weeks and months on end.