Short And Sweet Review: Tekken Hybrid

This week is officially fighters week, Tekken, King Of Fighters, and the new WWE game.  I've always been a fan of the Tekken game ever since the old school days.  This package consists of a HD package that includes a remake of Tekken Tag Tournament, a 3D version of the CGI film Tekken: Blood Vengeance, and a playable teaser for Tekken Tag Tournament 2. This is a full version of the original PS2 game, with its full roster of fighters already unlocked. 


Presentation:
Graphically, Tekken Tag Tournament looks pretty impressive with the conversion to HD and it plays silky smooth.  The great animations and smooth clip moving stand out and you'll quickly come to appreciate the little nuances the game has.  The character models don't hold quite as much and doesn't benefit all that much with the HD treatment.  Only a few of the characters look a little stiff and blocky compared to others.   The audio is similar to other japanese fighting games, an eclectic mix of otherwise forgettable music.  


Gameplay:
The action in Tekken Tag Tournament is as fast-paced and smoother than ever.  The classic Tekken move set returns, the usual kicks, punches and throws combining nicely with the myriad combos.  Tag represents one of the most different approaches to the Tekken formula, as you have two characters to send into battle, instead of just one.  I've always liked this formula more than the traditional one-vs-one battles.  The game's Netsu Power system, which charges up your resting fighter while the other one takes damage, creates more strategy opportunities that you can capitalize on.  Since I'm a button-masher at heart, I have to spend more time learning the controls.  It takes a lot more patience and skill than the MvC games.


Final Thoughts:
If anything is sorely lacking from Tekken Tag HD, it's the online portion.  I would've liked to have a solid online portion along with the game, but at the already discounted price, I can't complain.  There is a lot to love, from the 3D film to the HD-ified Tekken Tag Tournament.  If you're a fan, this is a definite purchase.  If you're a casual fan like myself, give a try first and see what you think.

Final Score = 8.5/10