Download Tekken Hybrid :PlayStation 3 | Review

Rating: 7.5
Platform: PlayStation 3
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Namco Bandai

Genre: Fighting
Players: 1-4
Classification: M

 

Tekken Hybrid froom Namco Bandai Games Inc delivers three separate Sony PS3 exclusive Tekken experiences on the one Blu-Ray disc; Tekken Tag Tournament HD, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Prologue and the 3D full length CG movie Tekken Blood Vengeance.

The original Tekken Tag Tournament (commonly known as TTT) was the fourth instalment in the popular Tekken series. Although it does not play any part in the Tekken storyline it established itself as one of the most popular arcade games before being ported to Sony’s PS2. Whilst the arcade version ran on a 32 bit graphics engine the PS2 was upgraded in a similar fashion to Tekken 4 and Soulcalibur II.  Now in Tekken Hybrid – TTT has been remastered for the PS3 to HD and relabelled Tekken Tag Tournament HD. The game itself is the same as the PS2 version albeit with the aforementioned graphic overhaul.

 

Tekken fans out there that have long since packed away their beloved PS2 are likely to love the opportunity to play TTT HD on the bigger brother. There isn’t too much more to say about the game itself as it plays exactly the same as the original. 

 

Those who know and love TTT won’t be disappointed. For those new to TTT the mechanics are the same as with any fighting game in the series with one twist being the ability to battle as one of two teams of two characters. At any point in the match a player can hit the tag button to swap to their other fighter allowing for some rest and recovery of lost health. 

 

There are also opportunities to do special tag team combos and throws. However, unlike other Tag Team fighters, a team will lose when any one of the two characters are KO’d.  In the event of a timeout the team with the most health wins. There are over 35 characters that were chosen from Tekken 2 and Tekken 3.  As an added bonus there is also Tekken Bowl which is a bowling mini-game.

Of course this game was developed over a decade later so you should expect to be wowed by what’s on display. It has all the Tekken charm accompanied by outstanding animation. I really enjoyed playing this one especially after the thumb workout of TTT HD.

 

The CG movie Tekken: Blood Vengeance is a Japanese 3D full length movie based on the Tekken series video games. The story revolves around events between Tekken 5 and Tekken 6 where Anna faces off against her sister Nina who is working for Jin Kazama. Anna now working for Jin’s father Kazuya Mishima and both are seeking a student name Shin Kamiya.

 

 Without giving any more of the story away the movie revolves around Shin, a Chinese student (Ling Xiaoyu) and Alisa Bosconovitch. The movie is a marvel of CG animation with plenty of action and more than a few camera angles seem to spend a little too much time emphasising the curvaceous females on display. The movie is voiced in English or Japanese and offers subtitles for other languages.

All in all this a great package for Tekken fans especially those who have missed the action of the old TTT. The peek of TTT2 offered in this prologue version certainly makes me itch for more and I was more than a little disappointed when it ended all too abruptly. For anyone new to the Tekken series I would advise having a play first to make sure it’s your cup of tea. It’s important to remember that this is a HD makeover of the original game and not a new standalone title; however TTT2 Prologue will give you the opportunity of what is hopefully not too far off arriving on a console near you.  [7.5]