Tekken 8 is continuing the trend of recent fighters like Street Fighter 6 and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising by including a new feature to entice new players. With its “Special Style,” the King of Iron Fist Tournament is poised to suck new players into its surprisingly bizarre story.
Tekken 8 joins the new generation of fighting game controls
Special Style is a new control method where players are able to pull off special moves and combos with the press of a button. Unlike the Modern Controls in Street Fighter 6, Special Style can toggled on or off at any point in the fight by pressing LB (L1). This makes it a great tool that allows players to learn a character while also making simpler controls just a touch away in tough spots.
Specialty Move
Pressing X (Square) launches a Heat Engager, which primes an offensive drive. This begins consuming the Heat Bar, which is a meter below the character’s health bar. Should Heat already be activated, Heat Dash will trigger automatically, lunging the character forward.
With Heat activated, Special Style allows players to unleash flashy and devastating combos just by pressing X (Square). Attacks can also be varied by pressing Left, Right, or Down in addition to X (Square).
Air Combo
Pressing Y (Triangle) initiates a combo setup. Should the blow connect, Special Style allows players to continue the air combo using the same button. Players can also experiment with different moves during the Air Combo by pressing different buttons like Y, X, X (Triangle, Square, Square) or Y, A, A (Triangle, X, X).
Power Crush, Low Attack, and Throws
These attacks are going to be the bread and butter for your mix-ups and counterattacks. Pressing A (X) activates Power Crush, which is a counterattack that is most effective just before an opponent’s blow is about to land. Think of it like the Parry System in Street Fighter 6, where you can take the hit and launch into your offensive.
B (Circle) launches low attacks, which can counter Power Crush and blocking. This can also be used to set up Air Combos or Specialty Moves. Like any fighter, it’s all about keeping your opponent off guard.
Finally, using B and a directional button will perform a throw, which is also a great countermeasure against someone who is turtling. It’s also fun to take advantage of an opening and completely disrupt another player’s flow.
Heat Burst and Heat Smash
Heat Burst activates the Heat System by pressing RB (R1) and strikes out at your foe. Should the blow connect, you’ll be able to chain it into a combo. Alternatively, you can press RB (R1) again to activate Heat Smash, which consumes the entirety of the Heat Bar in exchange for a powerful attack.
Rage Art
When your health is low (last fifth of your health bar), you’ll be able to enter the Rage State by pressing RT (R2). Much like Power Crush, Rage Art allows you to soak hits and deal explosive damage to your opponent. It’s a neat little final stand mechanic where you can use it to turn the tables. Just don’t expect it to hand you a victory, as you’re not invincible in Rage State.
