It should come as no surprise that Tekken 8 has many fans dedicated to mastering its combat by learning about different characters along with the best movement and attack options for each one. To ensure that everyone continues to enjoy playing despite knowing everything they believe they should, the game’s developer, Bandai Namco Studios, provides updates that change important things like the timing of inputs for certain moves or how long it takes for one to land. While these often help balance the game’s combat meta, there are instances where some players believe they miss the mark. A good example would be the season 2 patch for Tekken 8 and its controversial change to the throw mechanic.
During the March 23 Tekken Talk live stream, the developers made multiple announcements regarding the season 2 update for Tekken 8. Although it provided many things to look forward to, such as the Atelier Yumia collaboration DLC and a new Pac-Man 45th anniversary stage, one piece of news that caused a significant commotion from fans was the change to the throwing mechanic: players who successfully break throws are punished by receiving chip damage. Many people have voiced their concern about the change, forcing Bandai Namco Studios to respond in a way that hopefully satisfies Tekken 8‘s playerbase.
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Why Tekken 8’s Throw Mechanic is So Polarizing
With the recent release of Tekken 8‘s season 2 update, players are finding themselves in the difficult position of adapting to the changed throw mechanic. Though some see it as a new way of livening up the combat experience, others see it as a detriment because of what it implies:
- Being able to break a throw move requires skill and timing, and being punished for successfully breaking free can make the skilled execution feel somewhat pointless
- Situations where one could have lived and made a comeback by successfully breaking a throw will be less likely, reducing players’ options for surviving and staying in a match
- It reinforces the idea that players can be as aggressive as they want with little punishment on the aggressor. The Season 2 update promised to fix overaggression by adding more defensive positions, so this change is counterintuitive
A big reason why Tekken 8 remains one of the most popular and relevant fighting games is because of how fair and enjoyable its gameplay combat is, regardless of whether one is a newbie or veteran. The addition of chip damage for successfully breaking out of throw moves arguably takes away some of that fairness for both sides, making many wish for the mechanic to revert to the way it was before.
How Bandai Namco Studios Plans To Address Tekken 8’s Throw Mechanic Controversy
After seeing community feedback, Bandai Namco Studios has made plans to readjust Tekken 8‘s throw mechanic. The news has certainly caught the attention of many, as it showed that the developer has come to understand how much it could affect the game and its playerbase. The chip damage will be removed in May, before the Tekken World Tour 2025, with a subsequent patch that rewards the throw initiator with one point of health. The addition of recovering slightly after a throw may be due to the season 2 patch’s inclusion of widening the break-out window, ensuring that it’s fair for both the giver and the receiver.
With Tekken 8 recently passing an impressive sales milestone, it’s clear that the game can continue being a juggernaut in the fighting game genre so long as it can communicate well with its community. Players have been vocal that the controversial change to the throw mechanic is a move that could go against that, and Bandai Namco Studios’ response shows that it’s willing to do what’s necessary to undo any damage.
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January 26, 2024
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