Tekken 8 PC Closed Network Test Impressions
Bandai Namco recently gave a bunch of lucky fans access to the recently ended Tekken 8 closed network test to compete and stress test servers using several characters from the upcoming game. While the build did not feature anything but the settings and the ranked, tutorial, and training modes, the network test still provided an exhilarating experience, but not one without blatant flaws.
Immediately upon booting the game, I could tell Tekken 8’s visuals were impeccable. Character models are pristine and incredibly detailed, and their designs are highly intricate and accurate to each character’s narrative or aesthetic growth. The build also provided players access to five new stages: Arena, Rebel Hangar, Sanctum, Urban Square, and Yakushima. All stages have impeccably rendered, vibrantly detailed backgrounds with fun elements like cool environment transitions. In short, Tekken 8 looks visually appealing in several ways so far on PC. That is if you have an impressive rig, specifically a very high-end graphics card because otherwise, anyone else would have a rough time. While sporting incredible visuals, said visuals significantly negatively impact the performance. While I have to admit that my RTX 3060 PC could’ve been better at running the game optimally, I’d also argue that this specific build was quite unoptimized. Even on low settings, which the devs advised struggling players to switch to, I still got consistent framerate dips while playing the game no matter how many options I tweaked in the graphic settings.
However, it’s also worth noting that this is primarily an optimization issue, as the game’s rollback netcode worked fantastically in every match. During moments of having both good and bad connections, I had no problems with the online matches as every single one of them played really well despite my opponent’s connection quality, so it’s obvious the netcode works, and it works really well. A great part of the build was it also allowed players to choose what rank range their opponent is and how good their opponent’s connection is. So if, like me, you’re a beginner (Tekken 8 specifically) and want to play against players with a good connection, you can do so, but it’s worth noting this will impact matchmaking significantly as you’ll get fewer matches compared to people who fight against players with any type of connection or rank. Additionally, as a result of these settings, players with a bad connection will noticeably get matched with the same type of players.
Other than that, I was able to test out all 16 characters between matchmaking in the training mode. My favorite fighters to use were Nina, Xiaoyu, Lili, and Law because of their quick movement and moveset. Other characters like Jack-8, King, and Paul serve as big heavy hitters with devastating attacks. In contrast, others like Jin, Kazuya, Asuka, and Leroy are balanced characters most players can pick up and use. Every character plays their roles well, but not all are easy to use. Tekken 8 also introduces the Heat system, a mode a character can enter to perform devastating combos, attacks, and an ultimate attack all in one once its bar is filled up. While I like the Heat System’s direct approach, as it supports the game’s combo-oriented gameplay, I still prefer the previous installment’s mechanic, where players had access to more advanced moves with a hold of a button. However, as this isn’t the game’s final build, it is yet to be seen how control modes or types will be implemented in the future.
Final Thoughts?
Overall, the Tekken 8 Closed Network Test provided a highly enjoyable experience, albeit one bogged down by poor optimization for those who don’t have an incredibly high-end PC. Despite this, I still look forward to the full game and the additional characters.
About the Author
Abdul Saad Abdul Saad is a seasoned entertainment journalist and critic, and has been writing for five years on multiple gaming sites. When he isn't writing or playing the latest JRPG, he can be found coding games of his own or tinkering with something electrical.
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