Tested on PlayStation, Xbox, PC and Steam Deck.
It’s an absolute blast to play whether you’re looking for competitive play or an over-the-top single-player experience.
It’s also the first big fighting game built using the latest generation of Unreal technology.
It’s almost awe inspiring to see so much stuff in a fighting game.
Characters are chiseled with exaggerated features and clothing designed to emphasise their style.
Integration into the much-improved scene lighting is also a night and day difference.
More importantly, Tekken 8 isn’t limited by older consoles, there’s no cross-gen drag here.
It’s crisp and sharp on almost all systems, with a higher ‘quality of life’ factor.
It’s slightly faster on PS5 versus other platforms including my PC, but all are extremely quick.
Beyond that, the three consoles boast similar visual parameters while PC offers a range of tweakable options.
In reality, they often hang closer to 1440p or slightly above.
All consoles use TAA combined with a spatial upscaler.
When comparing the various presets, I would argue that everything medium and up looks great and comparable.
It’s only when using the lowest controls that visuals degrade to the point where it’s noticeable.
However, the bigger question stems from the upscaler and AA options available.
When putting them side-by-side, all three solutions look pretty good.
By the time you reach ultra performance, FSR2 is reduced to a messy, borderline unusable image.
XeSS and DLSS also lose a lot of quality but not to the same degree.
Combining TSR with 100 percent scale provides the absolute best image possible.
Minimal artefacts, the sharpest edges and cleanest visuals.
So, if you have the headroom, I recommend this option.
All of which brings us onto Valve’s Steam Deck.
Firstly, I had issues running pre-release code but that was solved by using Proton GE.
Once in-game, though, it quickly becomes clear that adjustments are needed.
On lower controls, these two in particular have a profound impact on the presentation.
That’s not bad, but Tekken 8 has improved even further.
I’ve played all versions, but which one’s best?
That said, PS5 and Xbox Series X versions are also exceptionally well done and recommended.
Series S is fine as well and plays great but the visuals definitely take a noticeable hit.
Beyond the tech, I also want to spend a little time talking about the game itself.
Namco has never made a bad Tekken but not all series entries are created equally.
