Out of all the fighting games that have ever been, Tekken is one of, if not the most, well-known. Since its debut in 1994, Namco has created a franchise whose titles have become synonymous with the fighter genre, and to this day, it remains incredibly relevant and successful.
Tekken is currently on its 8th mainline entry, and it wouldn't be a stretch to believe that Namco is going to keep pushing out Tekken games for the foreseeable future. But how did Tekken reach the level of status that most of its competitors could only dream of?
Well, I believe it can thank its success to one of its early entries: Tekken 3.
Now, some of you may be asking how a game from the original PlayStation could possibly be responsible for putting the entire franchise on the map. Well, to start, it's because of what it was able to do for the fighting genre at the time.
During the 90s, game companies and developers were still testing the waters when it came to 3D fighters. It resulted in titles like Bloody Roar or Soul Blade, and while those were great and ambitious in their own right, none of them revolutionized the genre the same way Street Fighter did for 2D fighters.
However, on March 20, 1997, Tekken 3 was released and was able to do what its competitors could not. It changed the genre for the better with its fast and fluid gameplay, along with enhanced 3D movements and mechanics that were incredible for its time.
I was there during its heyday, and it was, hands down, the best fighting game of its era.
Tekken 3 had one of the most unique and diverse character rosters in the franchise, and many still consider it one of the best to this day. It is also responsible for introducing iconic characters such as Hwoarang, Ling Xiaoyu, and the most well-known of them all, Jin Kazama.
Aside from amazing characters, it also had optional modes with entirely different gameplay styles. It had one that lets you play a side-scrolling beat-'em-up and another where it's volleyball with a twist, and they were so well-received that they inspired future entries to have their own.
It was the blueprint that helped set up its successors for the praise and popularity they would eventually receive, and fans should acknowledge everything that it did for the franchise. I can confidently say that without its third entry, Tekken would not have achieved the level of success it enjoys today.
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