Heihachi Returns to Tekken 8!
Tekken 8 players rejoice! The iconic Heihachi Mishima is making a triumphant comeback as the third DLC character, slated for release in Fall 2024.
The news was unveiled at EVO 2024, much to the delight of fans who have been eagerly awaiting his return since his supposed demise in Tekken 7. While Heihachi's end during Tekken 7's storyline was seemingly definitive, his enduring popularity led developers to consider bringing him back.
Speaking to IGN, Tekken producers Katsuhiro Harada and Kohei Ikeda shed light on the reasoning behind Heihachi's resurrection.
"Tekken 7 really focused on the story arc between Heihachi and his son, Kazuya, and so, we really wanted to show that kind of final conclusion, and he seemed to die at that point," said Harada. "But then, after that happened, Tekken 8 was released, and we put a lot of effort into the story and the fans really seemed to be engaged with that. And as that was happening, we were kind of feeling that the players kind of missed him as well. Obviously, we did, too. So, it was kind of decided later on that we would do that."
However, Heihachi's return wasn't simply a knee-jerk reaction. Ikeda revealed that subtle hints and preparations were already woven into the Tekken 8 universe, foreshadowing his eventual reappearance.
"We did kind of make the preparations for Heihachi," Ikeda shared. "Reina was one due to that link that she has to Heihachi. And then, if you look closely at the 30th anniversary logo, you can see that it's comprised of Devil's wings. There are two different styles, but if you take a step back and look at, it actually looks like the silhouette of Heihachi's face. Right? So, we were doing some of the preparations in the background."
Although details surrounding Heihachi's gameplay are still under wraps, Ikeda provided a few tantalizing clues.
"Like you imagine, it is a bit too early to be talking many details about his character, but to give some hints, he has a very powerful play style throughout the series, so we tried to recreate that in Tekken 8," he said. "So, the focus is on that. But also, if you saw the story hints about the monks in the footage and what he has to do with them, that will maybe dictate some of his move set as well."
Heihachi's arrival marks the third DLC character for Tekken 8, following Eddy Gordo and Lidia Sobieska. But the excitement doesn't stop there. Tekken 8 is also set to introduce the franchise's first-ever story DLC, titled "The Dark Awakens." This new chapter will continue the epic rivalry between the Kazama and Mishima families, and will be available as a free update for all players.
Fans are undoubtedly eager to see how Heihachi's return impacts the Tekken 8 universe and what new twists and turns await in "The Dark Awakens". Stay tuned for more updates and prepare for the grand return of the King of Iron Fist himself!
