Arcade Mode has been a staple of fighting games eversince they first came onto the scene in the 1990s. While these modes usually just consist of a few fights and minigames to complete, they also reward the player with a big cinematic at the end to wrap things up. TheTekkengames have been known to go above and beyond with their character endings, often being very out-there and silly as a way to make the whole journey worth it.Tekken 8is upholding this tradition through its Character Episodes.
With 32 playable fighters to choose from, there are plenty of endings to unlock, but a select few will no doubt go down as some of the most iconic in the series because of how weird and wonderful they are. These endings are the most fun to watch when completing the game’s Arcade Mode with a specific character inTekken 8.
7Asuka
The Intense Rivalry Between Asuka and Lili On Full Display
Throughout each of the games they are both featured in, Asuka and Lily always find something new to fight over. InTekken 8, it’s none other than Asuka’s very own dojo. After rebuilding it from scratch, Lily, seemingly out of nowhere, appears before Asuka and claims that she’s on a mission to destroy every dojo in Japan. But out of respect for her rival, she offers to fight over the possession of Asuka’s to see who deserves it most.
The result is a brief but stunning hand-to-hand scene where the two combatants throw trash talk at one another while exchanging blows. While the ending is comical, it also does a great job at showcasingthe fierce competitive bond that the two girls share, and how they are pretty much equals when it comes to combat prowess.
6Jin
Jin Showcases a Slightly Goofier Side
Jin is often portrayed as a stoic and brooding character throughout theTekkenseries. He rarely gets to have much fun due to his importance within the wider story, so it’s nice to see his goofier side shine through in his ending. While the scene begins with him reflecting on his draw with Kazuya, he’s quickly approached by his mother, Jun, who tells him that she’s prepared lunch for them to enjoy together.
Jun, being the loving and protective mother she is, orders Jin to start off with a massive bowl of peas, which Jin seems less than happy about snacking on. This ending is actually fairly emotional, considering how little time Jin and his mother get to spend together in the story. It’s a treat for fans to see them relaxing together in a more casual setting and sharing a few laughs.
5Steve
His Determination To Bulk Up Makes Him As Imposing As Ogre Or Jinpachi
Considering he’s a pro-level boxerwho’s renowned for his hard-hitting attacks and rock-solid defense, it only makes sense that Steve would need to bulk up in the gym, but he takes this a little too literally in his arcade ending. After winning four different weight divisions, the final title that Steve can earn is the prestigious Heavyweight Title. But when Law and Paul come to check on how his training has been going, Steve looks almost unrecognizable.
It turns out that Steve has been preparing so hard that he’s become more or less a giant, towering over his friends as he assures them that he’s ready for the biggest fight of his life. Steve’s always been a hard worker, and while this ending proves that to still be the case, the concept of himbeing the size of Ogreis a hilarious thought.
4Dragunov
The White Angel Of Death Must Improvise
With someone whose nickname is"The White Angel of Death,“it would be easy to assume that their ending cutscene would involve them taking out a group of enemies or completing a secret mission. Instead, Dragunov is simply building a bright pink toy tank in his apartment. Just seeing a man as intimidating as Dragunov doing such a casual activity is already hilarious, but what really takes the scene to a whole new level is the inclusion of Mokujin, a training dummy who unfortunately didn’t make it as a playable character.
After finding out his model tank is missing a turret, Dragunov decides to improvise, ripping the head off Mokujin and creating a devastating new tank of his own. This ending subverts expectations, but Bandai Namco knew exactly what they were doing by placing Dragunov in such a relaxing environment, resulting in a funny and memorable scene that never gets old.
3Bryan
Full Of Small Details and Plenty Of Explosions
Bryan is a man of few words, often preferring to let his fists do the talking. Despite this, he’s still managed to form a small militia of his own by the time players reach the end of his arcade story. The scene shows Bryan on the way to his personal shooting range, as he sits atop a gigantic tank while Hwoarang and Law ride alongside him on motorbikes. To top it off, Bryan has his own custom throne and a little bobble head to accompany him on the journey.
Once Bryan reaches the firing range, which turns out to be the “Yoshimitsu Store,” he holds nothing back as he fires a barrage of bullets from two light machine guns, decimating the building while he laughs maniacally. The ending has clearly taken inspiration fromthe belovedMad Maxmovies, but it also showcases just how dangerous Bryan would be with this kind of power and authority.
2Reina
Reina Proves How Ruthless She Would Be As Ruler Of The World
Reina is an immensely powerful member of the Mishima bloodline. She’snot afraid of pummeling anyone that gets in her way, including Kazuya, who she manages to defeat in her ending thanks to her new loyal army of soldiers. Through her incredible strength and influence, Reina manages to make Lars, Victor, Jin, Lee, and even Kuma her subordinates, with the group following her every word and capturing Kazuya per her request.
It’s a fascinating ending that depicts a “What if” sort of scenario in which Reina is the one to rule the world. But near the end, she promises to build the world anew in order to continue Heihachi’s legacy, whose face is somehow imprinted onto the moon itself. This memorable ending also packs in quite a few action scenes where Reina gets to show off her dazzling moves on Kazuya, who just can’t seem to keep up with the feisty newcomer.
1Kazuya
Kazuya Answers Questions About His Dreams, Relationships, and Hobbies
Kazuya’s arcade ending isset up like a mini-documentrarywhere small questions pop up before each scene. It would be no surprise if the powerful madman himself staged the whole thing to make himself look as good as possible. While it starts off with “His thoughts about ruling the world,” Kazuya says this is a foolish question, and demands to move onto the next one, which just so happens to be about how he feels about his wife, Jun.
He begrudgingly admits that she’s a strong combatant, before Jun herself actually shows up in his office to give him a menacing stare, prompting Kazuya to move forward with the final question, which asks about his hobbies. Without uttering a word, Kazuya opens up a gigantic vault full of high-quality sneakers, which is an unexpected way to end this hilarious and extremely detailed ending for the character.
