The Tekken 8 community is reeling from the backlash following the Season 2 update, which introduced a series of changes that have stirred up significant controversy among players. The patch notes unveiled a universal increase in character damage output and offensive capabilities, prompting many in the community to argue that the game has veered too far from its traditional roots.
Professional Tekken player JoKa voiced his discontent, stating that the Season 2 update has fundamentally altered the feel of the game. "This does not feel like Tekken AT ALL," he remarked. JoKa elaborated on his concerns, pointing out that the buffs to characters, enhanced stance transitions, and the introduction of new moves with minimal counterplay options have shifted the game's dynamics. He criticized the developers for what he sees as lazy balancing, leading to the homogenization of characters and the erosion of their unique identities. Furthermore, he highlighted the imbalance between offensive and defensive gameplay, noting that while sidesteps have been improved, they are overshadowed by moves with exaggerated tracking and hitboxes. JoKa also lamented the lack of promised defensive options, expressing frustration over the game's move towards more 50/50 situations at the expense of strategic depth.
The discontent has manifested clearly on Tekken 8's Steam page, where players have flooded the platform with negative reviews, accumulating over 1,100 in the past two days. This has resulted in a 'mostly negative' rating for recent reviews. One particularly scathing review described the game as "genuinely good [but] held back by schizophrenic insane developers sent from hell." Others echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the new season for transforming characters into "braindead easy mix-up machines" and lamenting the lack of defensive buffs in the face of overwhelming offensive power.
The outcry has led some fans to abandon Tekken 8 for Capcom's Street Fighter 6, while others have labeled Season 2 as the "worst patch in Tekken history." In a poignant social media post, professional player Jesandy expressed deep disappointment and even depression over the changes, having dedicated 70 hours to preparing for the season only to have his expectations crushed.
Amidst the uproar, the Tekken 8 community is clamoring for a response from the development team. Many are calling for the patch to be rolled back entirely, while others hope for an emergency follow-up patch to address the most pressing issues and restore balance to the game.
