Highlights

  • Tekken 8 DLC character releases remain a mystery, but fans are hoping for notable guests like in previous games.
  • The crossover success of Kazuya in Smash Ultimate showed that characters can thrive in different environments.
  • Nintendo characters from Smash like Zero Suit Samus and Mario could potentially fit seamlessly into Tekken 8.

While more unknown Tekken 8 DLC character releases are lined up for months to come, some players expected the latest entry in Bandai Namco’s 3D fighter franchise to feature some kind of guest character by now. Following the landmark success of the previous game’s addition of Akuma and other fighters from different IPs, the Tekken franchise has become more renowned for its guests than even SoulCalibur in recent years. There are many routes to take when it comes to Tekken 8’s potential crossovers, but a fair trade with Super Smash Bros. could be one of the most novel and bold options within the scope of what’s realistic.

It’s true that Brawl is seen as the first of the Smash series to establish third-party representation, but the inclusion of Kazuya Mishima as one of Smash Ultimate’s DLC characters still beat the odds in the eyes of many doubtful fans. Translating Snake, Sonic, or even later guests into Smash’s streamlined mechanics was likely a similar process to the rest of the crossover title’s roster, but Kazuya managed to have his moves list shrunken down significantly while retaining his identity. It’s a challenging prospect, but this union also opened the door for a Smash fighter to one day be brought up to Tekken’s level of complexity in turn.

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Tekken 8: Why Free DLC Characters Would Be a Big Boon

The DLC practices of Tekken 8 have earned a mixed reception so far, and releasing new fighters for free could be the best way to remedy this.

Tekken’s History of Flexibility with Crossovers

They eventually cemented their places in the meta and became familiar sights, but some guest characters in Tekken 7 were practically as unpredictable as they could be. Akuma and Geese Howard brought sometimes jarring 2D mechanics into a 3D engine, and the likes of FF15’s Noctis or The Walking Dead’s Negan in Tekken 7 are about as far removed from a martial arts tournament as can be. Gon in T3 has already set the tone for how ridiculous can get, but all of these fighters still had viable movesets crafted for them which prove that essentially everyone is on the table.

Kazuya’s Unexpected Smash Bros. Appearance Broke Barriers

There have been cases such as Heihachi popping up as a guest in the past, but having Kazuya Mishima in Smash Ultimate was a fully-realized instance of a Tekken character within another iconic franchise from a different developer. In the same way that T7 managed to respect the Street Fighter and Fatal Fury games it borrowed characters from, Kazuya is still able to evoke the gameplay feeling of his home series even in a platform fighter environment. Considering that Tekken has earned a reputation for effectively recreating mechanics specific to single guests, an attempt at Smash could be the next logical step.

The Super Smash Bros. Roster Has Several Candidates for Tekken 8 Guests

At a glance, the massive roster of Smash Ultimate contains multiple fighters who could easily fit in as possible guest characters in Tekken 8. Despite how straightforward it could be to implement another Final Fantasy or Fatal Fury representative in Cloud or Terry, for example, these are all third-party fighters who have their own chances of appearing outside the context of Nintendo IP. Most members of the roster from Fire Emblem, or Zelda’s Link could likely fit into Tekken with relative ease, but their medieval-type theming is a much better fit for SoulCalibur. Considering its emphasis on style and humor alongside precedents set by past fighters, Nintendo characters from Smash who might fit into Tekken 8 include:

  • Zero Suit Samus/Samus
  • Mario
  • Captain Falcon
  • Pit

Pokken Tournament DX is Already a Blueprint for Pokemon Fighters

While it didn’t succeed on the level of the franchise which inspired it, Pokken Tournament channels Tekken elements into its own mixture of 3D and arena fighter combat. Serving as the only official Pokemon fighting game, this title includes several overlapping characters with Smash Bros. in a way that has further exemplified their potential within the broader genre. Pokemon from Smash who are featured with full movesets to reference in Pokken are:

  • Mewtwo
  • Lucario
  • Charizard