Tekken Tag Tournament 2

Overview

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a 3D fighting game developed and released by Namco Bandai for arcades (using PS3-based Namco System 369 hardware) exclusively in Japan on September 14, 2011.

A tag-team focused spin-off of the Tekken series, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is the successor to the 1999 game Tekken Tag Tournament, pitting most characters from the series' history (at that point in the series) in non-canonical 2-on-2 team battles. Like the previous entry, it builds on the game engine and roster of the latest entry in the series (in this case, Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion) and features special tag-team mechanics.

The game received an update on March 27, 2012, titled Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Unlimited. Along with customization updates and character balances, this version includes a new ratio system (allowing players to fight with a solo character, changing the Rage system to that in Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion) and a "pair play" mode (where players team up, each controlling a single character).

The Unlimited version was later ported to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 worldwide on September 11, 2012 under its original Tekken Tag Tournament 2 name. Along with online multiplayer, this version features additional returning characters, stereoscopic 3D support, customizable soundtracks (with music from previous games as DLC), a special "Fight Lab" mode (where players learn the mechanics of the game while unlocking new abilities for a customizable training robot), and a special pre-order stage featuring the likeness and music of rapper Snoop Dogg. The online multiplayer used a special online service (called the "World Tekken Federation", later discontinued) for stat-tracking and originally required a $9.99 Online Pass DLC.

This console version was later ported to the Wii U on November 18, 2012 (as a launch title) as Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition, featuring a bonus mini-game (Tekken Ball), touch-based controls (using the Wii U Gamepad), and bonus costumes based on popular Nintendo franchises.

A special demo of the game (known as Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Prologue) was included in the Tekken Hybrid compilation for the PlayStation 3 on November 22, 2011. Bundled with Tekken Tag Tournament HD and the 3D CGI film Tekken: Blood Vengeance 3D, this version only includes four characters (Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama in their "Devil" forms, and film protagonists Ling Xiaoyu and Alisa Bosconovitch) and an offline-only arcade mode.

Gameplay

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a combination of Tekken 6's mechanics and the previous Tekken TAG's 2-on-2 system. This section will exclusively cover the game's tag mechanics.

In TTT2, matches still consist of best-of-3 or best-of-5 sets. (Local matches default to best-of-3, while ranked online matches are best-of-5.) A round ends when one character is knocked out, regardless of the health of their partner.

Tagging is accomplished with a fifth "tag" button. Inactive partners slowly recover any "red" health that they may have received from taking damage while active. Unlike most tag-based fighting games, red health is not lost whenever a character is tagged in normally.

Rage is a comeback mechanic state that is enabled for the inactive character once the point character has received a certain amount of damage. When enough damage is taken, the partner's life-bar will flash, and tagging them in will allow them to deal more damage for a short while. The damage required to activate Rage is partially dependent on in-story character relationships: for example, Heihachi will receive Rage faster than normal if Kuma is the active character, but will receive it much later than normal if his partner is Jin or Kazuya. Solo characters receive Rage at 50% health, at near-death, and whenever hit with a Tag Assault.

By pressing the Tag button while performing a launcher, the player will perform a Tag Combo. The player's inactive character runs in, and the resulting combo will eliminate part of the opponent's red health. Pressing Right Punch and Tag together performs a Tag Throw, which switches characters while eating the opponent's red health. Some pairings have special Tag Throws; their method of activation varies per team.

By pressing Tag during a Bound move (or both Punch buttons and Tag to create a generic bound), the player will perform a Tag Assault. The partner will jump in, losing all of their red health in the process, and the player can perform one attack string before control is passed back to the original point character. However, Tag Assault doesn't eliminate red health, and will always give the opponent's partner Rage.

The Tag Crash system gives players a way to tag in safely while under pressure. It requires the active character to be grounded and the inactive character to have Rage available. By pressing both Punch buttons and Tag simultaneously, the partner character will dive in from the air. Performing Tag Crash surrenders both Rage and the exiting partner's red health.

Ranking System

How the Ranking System Works:

• All Players start at "Dan 1" Rank
• To get promoted you need 6 points to get demoted you need -6
• If you fight someone at your rank, you can win or lose 2 points to your current rank.
• If you fight someone +1 or -1 of your rank then you get or lose 1 point.
• If you fight someone 2 ranks above or below you, you only get or lose .5 points.
• If you fight anyone more than 2 ranks above or below, you only gain or lose .25 points.

Full List of Ranks

Brown

• Beginner
• 9th Kyu
• 8th Kyu
• 7th Kyu
• 6th Kyu
• 5th Kyu
• 4th Kyu
• 3rd Kyu
• 2nd Kyu
• 1st Kyu

Silver

• 1st Dan
• 2nd Dan
• 3rd Dan

Light Blue

• Disciple
• Mentor
• Master
• Grand Master

Green

• Brawler
• Marauder
• Fighter
• Berserker

Yellow

• Warrior
• Avenger
• Duelist
• Pugilist - ( Current Online Ranking Cap)

Orange

• Vanquisher
• Destroyer
• Conqueror
• Savior

Red

• Genbu
• Byakko
• Seiryu
• Suzaku

Blue

• Fujin
• Raijin
• Yaksa
• Majin
• Toshin

Purple

• Emperor
• Tekken Lord
• Tekken Emperor

Gold

• Tekken God
• True Tekken God

Characters

Like the previous Tag Tournament, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 features an extensive roster of characters from throughout the Tekken series. Unlike previous games on the series, this is the first game where "costume swaps" (such as Kuma and Panda) are given their own character slots, for a grand total of 44 playable characters (59 after the console version with post-release unlocks).

The only fighters not to return are the original Roger (from Tekken 2), Gon (a guest character from Tekken 3), Tetsujin (from Tekken 3), and both Azazel and NANCY-MI847J (from Tekken 6).

The Prologue version of the game includes four characters: Kazuya (restricted to his "Devil" form), Devil Jin, Xiaoyu, and Alisa.

From Tekken

• Kazuya Mishima (can transform to his "Devil" form)
• Paul Phoenix
• Marshall Law
• Nina Williams
• King
• Yoshimitsu
• Lee Chaolan
• Kuma
• Wang Jinrei
• Anna Williams
• Armor King
• Ganryu
• Prototype Jack (added in the console version)
• Michelle Chang (added in the console version as a pre-order bonus, made available on November 13, 2012)
• Kunimitsu (added in the console version as a pre-order bonus, made available on November 13, 2012)
• Heihachi Mishima (younger appearance, sub-boss along with Jinpachi)

From Tekken 2

• Lei Wulong
• Baek Doo San
• Bruce Irvin
• Alex (added in the console version)
• Angel (added in the console version as a pre-order bonus, made available on November 13, 2012)
• Jun Kazama (final boss, where she transforms into Unknown after she loses a round)

From Tekken 3

• Jin Kazama
• Hwoarang
• Eddy Gordo
• Ling Xiaoyu
• Panda (similar moveset to Kuma's)
• Julia Chang (as the masked luchadore Jaycee)
• Mokujin
• Bryan Fury
• Forest Law (added in the console version)
• Tiger Jackson (similar moveset to Eddy's, added in the console version)
• Ancient Ogre (originally known as "Ogre", added in the console version as a pre-order bonus, made available on November 13, 2012)
• Dr. Bosconovitch (added in the console version on November 13, 2012)
• Ogre (sub-boss, originally known as "True Ogre")

From Tekken Tag Tournament

• Unknown (true final boss, similar moveset to Jun, only playable in the console version after November 13, 2012, must be unlocked in the Wii U version)

From Tekken 4

• Steve Fox
• Craig Marduk
• Christie Monteiro (similar moveset to Eddy's)
• Combot (customizable moveset, added in the console version, cannot be played in online modes)
• Violet (similar moveset to Lee's, added in the console version on November 13, 2012)
• Miharu Hirano (similar moveset to Xiaoyu's, added in the console version on October 8, 2012)

From Tekken 5 / Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection

• Asuka Kazama
• Feng Wei
• Raven
• Roger Jr.
• Devil Jin (similar moveset to Jin's "Tekken 3" version)
• Emily "Lili" Rochefort
• Sergei Dragunov
• Jinpachi Mishima (sub-boss along with Heihachi)

From Tekken 6 / Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion

• Zafina
• Miguel Caballero Rojo
• Leo Kliesen
• Bob
• Jack-6
• Lars Alexandersson
• Alisa Boskovitch

New Characters

• Sebastian (similar moveset to Lili's, added in the console version on October 8, 2012)
• Slim Bob (similar moveset to Bob's, added in the console version on October 8, 2012)

Console Version Information

Returning Gameplay Modes

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 features many of the same gameplay modes as its predecessors: Arcade Battle, Time Attack, Ghost Battle, Team Battle, and Survival. Pair Play mode allows up to four players to participate, giving each player control over a single character.

Fight Lab

Fight Lab is a tutorial mode. The player trains a Combot by participating in various minigames; each of these minigames emphasize certain aspects of the main game. Combot's movelist consists of other characters' techniques and can be customized by the player.

Tekken Tunes

Tekken Tunes allows players to replace the normal in-game BGM with his or her personal music. Songs can be assigned to each individual stage.

Preorder Bonuses

Namco Bandai offered a large number of incentives to those who preordered Tekken Tag Tournament 2, including early access to four characters.

Those who preordered at GameStop received:

• Day-one access to four characters: Kunimitsu, Ancient Ogre, Michelle Chang and Angel
• Day-one access to the Snoop Dogg stage and Knocc ‘Em Down song
• Snoop Dogg Knocc ‘Em Down Mash Tracks
• Collectable Girl Power poster
• Exclusive Xbox 360 avatars or PlayStation 3 system themes
• Big Bikini Bundle – over 100 summer styles for the entire cast of characters
• Tekken Takes Tokyo Documentary
• Art gallery with 20 pieces of original art

Those who preordered from other retailers received (items may vary by retailer):

• Day-one access to two characters: Michelle Chang and Angel
• Day-one access to the Snoop Dogg stage and Knocc ‘Em Down song
• Snoop Dogg Knocc ‘Em Down Mash Tracks
• Big Bikini Bundle – over 100 summer styles for the entire cast of characters

World Tekken Federation (WTF)

Launching alongside the game will be a brand new community site called WTF. It will be similar to the Halo Waypoint or Call of Duty Elite services in that it will have complex stat-tracking and allows players to form clans (called Teams in this game) to earn points together.

Patches

According to Harada, on October 9 a patch was released to lower the waiting time in ranked matches along with changing the difficulty of the offline modes.

Demo

A demo version, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Prologue, was included in Tekken Hybrid, a hybrid Blu-Ray that also includes the Tekken: Blood Vengeance CGI film and the previously unreleased Tekken Tag Tournament HD.