Tekken 8 Adds 2 New Characters to Fighter Roster—Who Are They?

Jace Dela Cruz, Tech Times 02 April 2023, 10:04 am

Tekken 8 is coming soon and the hype continuously builds up as new characters are slowly being introduced with their own gameplay trailers.

Bandai Namco, the developers of the popular fighting game series Tekken, has announced the addition of two new characters to the roster of fighters in Tekken 8: Asuka and Leroy Smith.

Asuka and Leroy Smith's Gameplay Trailers

Asuka, who made her first appearance in Tekken 5, is a skilled martial artist from Japan. She is the granddaughter of a dojo master and uses a combination of Aikido and Kempo in her fighting style.

In the announcement trailer released by Bandai Namco, Asuka is shown wearing a new outfit while featuring her Kazama-style fighting with hints of brawl combat.

Leroy Smith, on the other hand, was first introduced as a DLC character in Tekken 7 and will be returning as a playable character in Tekken 8.

Leroy Smith is a Wing Chun master from New York City who seeks to avenge the death of his family at the hands of a gang. He is described as a wise and patient fighter, who uses his age and experience to his advantage in battle.

He is also known for his stylish appearance, which includes a long coat, fedora hat, and sunglasses.

The announcement of Asuka and Leroy has generated a lot of buzz among Tekken fans, who are eagerly anticipating the release of Tekken 8. The game is currently in development and does not have a release date yet, but it is expected to be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Tekken 8 is the latest installment in the popular fighting game series, which has been around since 1994. The game is known for its diverse cast of characters, each with its own unique fighting styles and personalities.

What to Expect for Tekken 8?

Although Tekken 8 has not been released, it has already been played by various influencers to publish a hands-on review about the game.

Based on these reviews, Tekken 8's graphics appear to have significantly improved since Tekken 7. In fact, Bandai Namco revealed that they remodeled all of the characters from scratch.

To improve the visual effects of characters, the huge game developer even switched from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5.

In addition, combo controls were made easier so that more players, including beginners, could enjoy the new combat game.

Additionally, the Rage Arts mode will be back along with the brand-new Heat Engager mode.

Bandai Namco included Recoverable Gauge, a brand-new feature that allows you to recover health while avoiding aerial or strong combo attacks.

Tekken is famous for its father vs son narrative which has largely centered on Heihaci Mishima and Kazuya's rivalry since the first game. Tekken 7 was the final battle between the two where Kazuya ended up throwing Heihachi into a volcano.

Tekken 8 will now focus on Jin Kazama's quest to go after his father Kazuya. However, there is a twist as his mother Jun Kazama returns as a playable character after 11 years despite being presumed dead after Tekken 3.