When it comes to the world of 3D fighting, two names rise above the rest with loyal followings and a track record considered to be paramount. While the Virtua Fighterseries has always been for the hardest of the hardcore, focusing on deep gameplay that feels obtuse to the casual gamer, the Tekken games have always been more accessible, allowing both the experienced player and the much-despised button mashers to have their fun. Now, Tekken Tag Tournament has come, featuring the tried and true Tekkengameplay combined with a new gimmick sweeping the fighting genre: the ability to tag multiple characters in and out of combat.
It is key to note that the Tekken Tag engine is not in any way new. It's simply a modified update of the Tekken 3 engine, with some improvement in the graphics and a tag feature. In this game, you select two different characters, bringing them in and out of combat with the new Tag button. While many games of this type don't end until all of your characters have lost the entirety of their life, in Tekken Tag, once one of your characters is done, you're done.
This changes the strategy of the game considerably. The tag feature itself is deceptively simple, causing some people to site it for a lack of depth. But this is not the case. A huge part of the game is learning to control the tag, not only when, but how. There are several ways to enter and a number of options to choose from when deciding how you'll run in, as well as how to deal with your opponent when they do.. The key to victory in the game is controlling the tag, both yours and your opponent's.
The game moves at a constant 60 frames per second, and it has to. Tekken's battle system is precise, measured to a sixtieth of a second, and the timing involved in the game would be thrown off completely if the game wasn't so exact. Believe it or not, despite the fact that you've watched people play Tekken in the arcade by pounding as hard as they can on the buttons, the game possesses considerable depth. While it can be enjoyed by the so-called scrubs who mash away, the real gameplay is only understood by peeling away the desire for thumping on the buttons and learning the timing and finesse that the engine offers.
Tekken Tag offers a wealth of characters, featuring every fighter from the previous arcade versions, many making their presence felt on the Tekken 3 engine for the first time. Although there are plenty of characters who possess similar moves, most everyone is unique in their own way, requiring you to use different strategies and techniques. The combo system features linked attacks, or 'canned combos,' that are programmed into the game, and there are plenty of combos that you can learn on your own that were not pre-set.
Juggles are also a large part of Tekken, and many players will have you kissing much of your life bar goodbye once they launch you into the air. Also key to the gameplay is the subtle art of rising from the ground. Many people think its annoying or unfair to pester players while they're getting up, but this is one of the elements at the heart of Tekken. With so many different ways to rise in Tekken Tag, learning how to do it effectively, without getting creamed, becomes an important aspect of your game.
Because of all this, Tekken Tag Tournament is, simply put, the best fighting game to come out in the arcade in years. The accessibility for different levels of players is outstanding. Button-mashers, novices, intermediates, and masters can play against each other, and all seem to really enjoy the game. There are few games that combine fun, fast-paced gameplay with astounding depth the way Tekken Tag Tournament has managed to do.

The graphics of Tekken Tag are ultimately its worst facet, as they are running on an aged engine that hasn't been updated enough to fit with the current crop of arcade experiences. Still, there's a lot of detail for what's there, and the backgrounds look good enough.

The techno music is great for background while you're duking it out with your friends, strangers, or the CPU, and the various noises of battle are dead on.

The combination of depth and speed make Tekken the best fighting game, period. Some will not agree, but for people to claim that Tekken has no depth is foolish. Legions of fans agree that Tekken is excellent, and while there is certainly room for argument that it is king of the hill, there's no denying its quality.

For years, people have loved playing Tekken, and even now, after the series has reached its climax, there is still plenty of fun to be had. If you love Tekken, dropping your credits into the machine when you walk into an arcade is almost second nature, whether to practice your juggles one more time or play someone you know is going to be good competition.