Tekken 8: Why You Should Consider Maining Asuka Kazama

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Tekken 8

Highlights

Tekken 8 marks the start of a new era for fighting games with increased single-player content and improved graphics.
Asuka Kazama is a beginner-friendly character in Tekken 8, rewarding both new and veteran players with her defensive abilities and simple combos.
Asuka's unique feature is her extensive use of crush moves, making her a strong choice for players who can accurately predict and punish their opponents' actions.

2023 was the start of a new generation of fighting games. Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 were released for current-generation consoles, and Tekken 8 is coming out at the end of January, continuing this new golden age of fighting games. Like its contemporaries, Tekken 8 will feature a considerable increase in single-player content and a leap in its graphical presentation. Tekken stands out as the only major 3D fighting game series on the market, which appeals to many, but it also has a reputation for being difficult to learn, making it as daunting as it is tantalizing. Thankfully, certain characters make diving into the long-running franchise more approachable.

One of Tekken's defining traits is the extent to which it rewards legacy skill. If a player learns a character in an older entry, they will play largely the same in later ones, usually with added abilities rather than altered ones. This means that a player's experience is rewarded across entries much more than in other fighting game series. Of all the characters in Tekken 8's roster, Asuka Kazama stands out because she is easy to pick up but powerful. Her defensive abilities reward veteran players for understanding the enemy's moveset while allowing new players to learn simple combos as they come to understand the series' intricacies.

Tekken 8's Usage of UE5 Gives It a Leg Up Over the Competition

The latest version of Unreal Engine could truly set Tekken 8 apart, even at a time when many fighting game franchises are making moves.

Asuka Kazama is One of Tekken's Most Defensive Characters

Historically, Asuka Kazama has been awful at creating openings with her offensive attacks. Kazama-Style Traditional Martial Arts is a defensive fighting style that rewards punishing opponent's mistakes and predicting their actions. This stands in stark contrast to the Mishima Family's fighting style, the other most recognizable clan in the series. Asuka combines the defensive style of her family with some rough-around-the-edge brawler techniques, eschewing some of the elegance in characters like Jun Kazama's moveset in favor of hard-hitting haymakers and other brutal attacks. Asuka may be bad at opening up opponents, but her defensive fighting style lets her counter opponents with powerful grabs and short but devastating combos.

Asuka Has Lots of Crush Moves

Crush moves were introduced alongside Asuka in Tekken 5, and her unparalleled access to them is still what sets her apart. Crush moves allow the player to dodge usually unavoidable attacks and punish them. To effectively use crush moves, players need to be able to accurately predict or quickly read their opponent's actions. Asuka is effective at punishing attacks without these moves as well, but if her opponent is spamming something that can't be evaded otherwise, they are her best tool for keeping the opponent at bay. Her wide array of crushes makes her unique, though one of the new characters, Reina, also appears to have a plethora of them.

Who Should Play Asuka Kazama in Tekken 8?

Asuka Kazama is a strong choice for veterans and new players alike. She has plenty of easy combos and is rewarded for defending. Focusing on punishing rather than lashing out is an effective way for new players to see what does and doesn't work, making Asuka a good introduction to Tekken. For veteran players who know how most of the characters play, Asuka's array of crush moves rewards game knowledge. Playing as Asuka entails learning about all the characters, which also makes her a good fighter to branch out from. Jun Kazama has many of the same moves but is more focused on offense, and Reina blends evasion with an aggressive playstyle rather than a defensive one. Jin Kazama utilizes some Kazama-style techniques in his fighting as well.

Tekken 8 will feature a roster of 32 characters at launch, meaning that there will be a combatant for almost every playstyle. Tekken 8 DLC leaks have suggested that even more fighters will be added as well. For players who are more defensively inclined or unsure of which character to pick, Asuka Kazama is a strong choice, as she embodies the concept of easy-to-learn but hard-to-master. Asuka allows players to build a skill set quickly and feel comfortable in matches but rewards extended study of the game as well, making her a great main for all types of players.