Summary
- King is a standout character in Tekken 8 with a unique design, wearing a jaguar mask and speaking in jaguar growls, making him cool and memorable.
- King's moveset is filled with classic wrestling maneuvers and references, appealing to pro wrestling fans and adding an extra layer of excitement to his gameplay.
- With access to intricate grapple chains, King is a highly technical fighter with a high skill ceiling, suitable for both beginners and experts, making him a versatile and rewarding choice for players.
Once Tekken 8 comes out, there will be plenty of reasons for players to consider picking King as their main fighter. Considering that Tekken 8 will have a wide array of fighters available, with more likely to come via DLC, it can be hard to point to just one to focus on. In spite of that, King is one of the most interesting and distinctive fighters to grace the series. He may not be the main character, but he's a fascinating one regardless. After all, there is a reason why he has appeared in every game thus far.
Although he isn't involved with Tekken's ongoing Mishima family storyline, King is an iconic member of the series nonetheless. A professional wrestler who runs an orphanage, the original King was actually killed following the events of the second game. The King that has appeared in the games starting with the third is actually one of the kids from King's orphanage, now grown and having been trained by the original Armor King. In a series whose story seems to get darker with every installment, King is one of its most steadfastly good and heroic characters. Just like his predecessor, he always fights for the children of Mexico.
King was inspired by the real-life priest-turned-luchador Fray Tormenta, whose story was also loosely used as the basis for the film Nacho Libre.
Tekken 8: Why You Should Consider Maining Asuka Kazama
Tekken 8 has a big roster of 32 characters, but Asuka is the clear choice of main for defensively inclined players and Tekken newcomers.
King is a Valid Choice in Tekken 8 For Newcomers and Veterans Alike
King is One Of Tekken's Most Memorable Fighters
Among the many faces on Tekken 8's launch roster, let alone the series, King stands out as one of the most unforgettably designed fighters. In addition to his great height and muscular build, he always wears his jaguar mask, no matter what the occasion. Not only that, but he speaks solely in jaguar growls. While he may look a bit outlandish next to some members of the cast, there's a definite cool factor with King. He's an incredibly strong and stylish character despite not having any supernatural abilities at all. One can't be blamed for wanting to play King based on appeal alone.
King's Fighting Style Is Filled With Wrestling Moves and References
King also deserves credit for being one of the most iconic wrestlers in fighting games. King's design and moveset are practically a pro wrestling fan's dream. He has several classic wrestling maneuvers like dropkicks and clotheslines, as well as several suplexes at his disposal. Tekken 8 even went the extra mile by adding Randy Orton's memetic RKO to his moveset. In the collaboration between Tekken 7 and New Japan Pro Wrestling, King even got an alternate outfit based on NJPW icon Kazuchika Okada, along with his iconic Rainmaker as a Rage Art. Pro wrestling fans have more than enough reasons to love King.
Chain Grapples Make King a Highly Technical Tekken Fighter
One aspect of King that cannot be overlooked is his access to some of the more intricate gameplay mechanics in Tekken. Fittingly for a wrestler, King has a lot of grapple moves. However, he goes further than that with access to many grapple chains, transitioning from one move to the other. It can be difficult to memorize the timing and commands but, once mastered, players can use them to remove large chunks of their enemy's health bar unanswered. This adds an extra layer to King's gameplay that gives him one of the highest skill ceilings of any fighter from the Tekken series.
There is a good reason why King has been such an enduring fighter in the series. Even taking into account the new characters in Tekken 8, there are several good reasons to choose King as a main. In addition to his cool luchador theme and fighting style, he has an incredibly deep moveset full of tricks. He is a character who works well for both beginners and experts, making him a versatile choice. Players looking to get into Tekken 8 can't go wrong by choosing King as their main.
Tekken 8
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- January 26, 2024
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Arika
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S
WHERE TO PLAY
Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
- Franchise
- Tekken
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
