The countdown to Tekken 8 has begun. Revealed midway through the 2022 at EVO, this will be Bandai Namco's next hotly anticipated fighting game. While Tekken 7 has been holding down the fort through multiple surges of popularity, the community is ready to move on. Tekken 8 promises a new suite of balance changes, mechanical revamps, quality-of-life additions, and a new chapter in Tekken's ongoing story. It will feel strange to play something new after spending so long with Tekken 7, but since Street Fighter 6 is doing the same, Bandai Namco can’t rest on its laurels.
One of the bigger questions going into Tekken 8 is its roster. Almost every character in the franchise could potentially return, and the only two confirmed fighters so far are Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima. Fans have no way of knowing what could return in Tekken 8, even with Tekken's tendency to keep its core identity and cast intact. Some hints emerged recently thanks to footage of Tekken 8's motion capture, which included video of a sword-wielding character thrown against a wall and an actor snarling while a tail prosthetic is held behind them. The latter sounds like the surprise return of dinosaur boxer Alex, but the former sounds an awful lot like Tekken regular Yoshimitsu.
Behind Tekken’s Most Iconic Swordfighter
Few Tekken characters bring weapons into their movesets. The two generations of Kunimitsu and Tekken 7's Master Raven use swords, the android Alisa can deploy chainsaws, and guest fighters Noctis and Negan bring various other weapons to the franchise. However, if there's one fighter who is known for bringing a sword to a fistfight, it's Yoshimitsu. This cyborg ninja is the leader of the Manji clan, an ancient group dedicated to helping those in need. In modern times, this manifests as robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. Many of Yoshimitsu's endings are based around doing this, or helping Dr. Bosconovitch - who saved his life with a cybernetic conversion.
Apart from almost always holding a sword and drastically changing in appearance between every Tekken, Yoshimitsu fights in especially strange ways. In a series known for having very consistent mechanics, Yoshimitsu adds stance changes and even teleportation to the mix. He can fly, heal himself, damage himself, stand on his sword, and even sheath his sword to fight barehanded in recent entries. There have even been games where Yoshimitsu could copy his opponent’s signature move. Players don't know what they're getting into with each version of Yoshimitsu, and that has made him very popular among casual fans.
Why It’s Time for Yoshimitsu to Take a Break
However, the same can be said for a number of mainstay Tekken characters. Just because someone is popular doesn't mean they're necessary, and it’s still unclear whether Yoshimitsu will make the cut for Tekken 8. The cyber ninja is synonymous with both Tekken and Soulcalibur, having appeared in most entries from each franchise. Keeping out a character that's a Tekken regular, almost a mascot for Bandai Namco, would send the message that Tekken 8 is trying something new after a long time not reinventing itself.
That's not to say that Yoshimitsu needs to disappear forever, rather he needs some time off. In fact, replacing him might be the best direction for his character. While comedy characters are always welcome in Tekken, Yoshimitsu has lost sight of his original role. What was originally a cheesy Robin Hood story turned into an unfocused revenge plot involving Bryan Fury attacking Dr. Bosconovitch and the Manji clan. It feels like Yoshimitsu's place in Tekken isn't as concrete as it used to be, and his story in Tekken 7 is essentially non-existent. Tekken 8 may want to evaluate how relevant its characters are when choosing its base roster.
Why Yoshimitsu Should Stay in Tekken 8
Seeing a core part of Tekken left behind likely won't be popular with fans, but there is room for a clever compromise with Yoshimitsu. As Soulcalibur 5 established, Yoshimitsu is a title passed down to members of the Manji clan who kill the previous Yoshimitsu. This is primarily to ensure that the cursed blade they wield stays in worthy hands. Much like how that game used its time skip to introduce a new Yoshimitsu, Tekken 8's new timeframe could justify the same.
In fact, Tekken 8 could go even farther and have one of the two Kunimitsu’s become the first female Yoshimitsu, especially as a trailer suggested that they may have stolen his ancestral sword. This would keep Yoshimitsu's moveset alive, as he and Kunimitsu sprang from the same template in Tekken 1, and would produce the expected new Yoshimitsu design.
With all that being said, Yoshimitsu is a core part of Tekken's identity. It would be understandable to keep him around in any other franchise, and Tekken tends to hold closer to its core than most. With the ninja's return already probable, there's no reason to fix what isn't broken. Yoshimitsu’s story could use a tune-up, but his wacky fighting style and visual variety is too popular to arbitrarily remove. Hopefully, Tekken 8 can strike a good balance between making its older elements feel new, and preserving what has made the franchise and its characters so beloved.
Tekken 8 is expected to release in 2023 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
