Why Does Tekken 8 Feel So Slow?

Why Does Tekken 8 Feel So Slow?

As a veteran of the Tekken franchise, I’ve had the opportunity to delve into the latest installment, Tekken 8, and I must admit that it feels noticeably slower compared to its predecessors. While this change may be intentional to cater to a broader audience or introduce strategic depth, I believe it’s essential to examine the reasons behind this perception of sluggishness.

Reduced Movement Speed:

One of the most apparent changes in Tekken 8 is the reduced movement speed. Characters now seem to move at a slower pace on the ground and in the air. While this may reduce the risk of overly aggressive playstyles, it also makes it more difficult to close the distance between opponents and land combos. The slower movement speed can be particularly frustrating for players who rely on fast-paced movement to create pressure and impose their game plan.

Longer Startup and Recovery Frames:

Another factor contributing to the feeling of slowness is the extension of startup and recovery frames for moves. In previous Tekken games, characters could launch powerful attacks with relatively short startup frames. However, in Tekken 8, many of these attacks have been slowed down, making them more punishable. Similarly, the recovery frames for certain moves have been increased, leaving characters vulnerable for a longer period. These changes reward opponents for blocking and punishing attacks, but they also limit the offensive options and creativity of players.

Increased Counter Hit Potential:

Tekken 8 has also seen an increase in counter hit potential across the board. Most moves now have counter hit properties, which means that they deal more damage and cause additional hit effects when they connect on an opponent’s attack. While this can promote more cautious gameplay, it also increases the risk of losing momentum when attempting to engage in offense. Players need to carefully weigh the risks and rewards of initiating attacks, which can lead to a more hesitant and passive playstyle.

Other Factors Contributing to Slowness:

Beyond the core gameplay mechanics, there are other factors that may contribute to the perception of slowness in Tekken 8. These include:

• Larger Stages: The stages in Tekken 8 are generally larger than in previous games, which means that characters have to cover more ground to engage in combat.
• More Wallbounces and Juggles: Tekken 8 introduces new wallbounce mechanics that allow characters to chain together more hits. While these mechanics can create spectacular and damaging combos, they also slow down the pace of the game as players have to wait for the wallbounce animations to complete.
• Slower Rage Art Cooldown: The Rage Art cooldown has been extended in Tekken 8, making it less frequently available to players. This change reduces the potential for one-shot kills and forces players to be more judicious in using their Rage Arts.

Conclusion:

While I understand the intentions behind the changes in Tekken 8, I believe that the overall feeling of slowness may hinder its accessibility and appeal to a wider audience. It’s important to strike a balance between strategic depth and fast-paced gameplay, and I hope that future updates or patches will address the current limitations and provide a more satisfying experience for both casual and competitive players alike.

Why Does Tekken 8 Feel So Slow?

As a longtime Tekken enthusiast, I couldn’t help but notice the significant change in gameplay speed when the latest installment, Tekken 8, was released. While some may appreciate the slower pacing, others like myself find it a bit disheartening. So, let’s dive into the reasons why Tekken 8 feels slower and explore some potential fixes:

1. Increased Recovery Time:

One of the most noticeable differences in Tekken 8 is the increased recovery time after moves. Attacks that previously had lightning-fast recoveries now take longer to return to a neutral state, leaving you more vulnerable to counterattacks. This change makes it more difficult to maintain momentum and execute fast-paced combos.

2. Slowed-Down Movement:

Tekken 8 has also introduced a noticeable slowdown in character movement. Dashing and sidestepping, which were once essential for evading attacks and setting up combos, now feel sluggish and less responsive. This slower pace makes it easier for opponents to anticipate your moves and react accordingly.

3. Reduced Damage Scaling:

Another factor contributing to the slower gameplay is the reduced damage scaling. In previous Tekken games, repeated attacks would gradually deal less damage, encouraging players to mix up their strategies. However, in Tekken 8, damage scaling is less pronounced, meaning that it takes more hits to defeat opponents. This leads to longer matches and a more defensive playstyle.

Potential Fixes:

While the slower pace of Tekken 8 may appeal to some, it’s important to acknowledge the concerns of players who prefer a faster-paced experience. Here are some potential fixes that could address these issues:

1. Decrease Recovery Time:

Reducing the recovery time of certain moves would restore some of the game’s former speed. This would allow players to quickly follow up with combos and make it harder for opponents to punish their attacks.

2. Increase Movement Speed:

Speeding up character movement would make the game feel more fluid and allow players to adapt more easily to various fighting styles. Increasing the speed of dashes and sidesteps would encourage more aggressive gameplay and make it more challenging to predict opponents’ movements.

3. Adjust Damage Scaling:

Reintroducing stronger damage scaling would encourage players to vary their attacks and prevent matches from dragging on. By decreasing the damage of repeated attacks, players would be incentivized to use different moves and strategies to secure victories.

Conclusion:

Tekken 8’s slower gameplay may be a deliberate design choice to cater to a wider audience. However, it’s understandable that longtime fans may miss the frantic pace of previous installments. By addressing the concerns raised in this article, Bandai Namco could find a balance that satisfies both casual and hardcore players alike. Ultimately, the best solution is to find a gameplay speed that allows for both tactical depth and the adrenaline rush that Tekken is famous for.

Why Does Tekken 8 Feel So Slow?

As a seasoned Tekken veteran, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of Tekken 8, but my initial experience with the game left me feeling perplexed. While the game undeniably offers stunning visuals and an expanded roster of characters, the overall gameplay felt noticeably slower than its predecessors. Here’s a deep dive into the reasons why:

1. New Input Buffering System:

Tekken 8 introduces a new input buffering system that prioritizes reliability over speed. This means that the game will often wait to execute a move until after you’ve fully pressed all the necessary buttons. While this may increase the consistency of inputs, it creates a noticeable delay between when you press a button and when the move is performed.

2. Reduced Movement Speed:

The characters in Tekken 8 move slower than in previous installments. This is partly due to the new input buffering system, which limits how quickly you can cancel moves into each other. Additionally, the developers have stated that they intentionally slowed down movement in order to give players more time to react and make decisions.

3. Longer Animations:

Tekken 8 features more detailed and realistic animations for both moves and transitions. While this certainly enhances the visual appeal of the game, it also contributes to the slower pace of gameplay. The time it takes for a character to perform a move is simply longer, leaving less time for players to react and make follow-up attacks.

4. Reduced Damage Scaling:

The damage scaling in Tekken 8 has been reduced compared to previous games. This means that combos are less likely to end with a knockout, and players need to be more patient in building up damage over time. This slower pace of combat can be frustrating for players who are used to the more high-octane action of previous Tekken titles.

5. Limited Move Options:

Tekken 8 has reduced the number of moves available to characters, and several popular options from previous games have been removed. This limits the creativity and variety of combos, making the gameplay feel more repetitive and predictable. The lack of certain key moves also reduces the effectiveness of certain characters and playstyles.

6. Larger Stages:

The stages in Tekken 8 are noticeably larger than in previous games. While this may provide more space for movement and positioning, it also increases the distance between characters, making it harder to close in and start a combo. This slower-paced gameplay can be especially frustrating in online matches, where latency can further exacerbate the delays.

7. Reduced High-Damage Options:

Tekken 8 has scaled back the damage potential of high-damage options, such as wall splat combos and juggles. This makes it harder to build up large amounts of damage and end matches quickly, contributing to the overall slower pace of gameplay.

8. Defensive Mechanics:

Tekken 8 introduces a new Rage Art system and several other defensive mechanics that give characters more options to get out of unfavorable situations. While these mechanics can make the game more balanced and strategic, they also slow down the pace of combat by giving players more time to react and defend themselves.

Conclusion:

The slower pace of gameplay in Tekken 8 is a result of a combination of factors, including the new input buffering system, reduced movement speed, longer animations, decreased damage scaling, limited move options, larger stages, reduced high-damage options, and new defensive mechanics. While these changes may have been made with the intention of creating a more balanced and strategic experience, they have also led to a noticeable slowdown in the pace of gameplay. Only time will tell whether players will adapt to and embrace the slower pace of Tekken 8 or if it will ultimately deter fans from the franchise.