Bandai Namco
Heihachi Mishima is alive and kicking in Tekken 8 and will be the next DLC fighter
One of the most iconic fighters from one of the most popular fighting sagas of all time refuses to die and is back in Tekken 8.
It’s not the first time Heihachi Mishima has died in a Tekken video game, and living up to his reputation as one of the biggest badasses in the fighting genre, he’s back as the next DLC fighter in Tekken 8, available this fall. This marks the return of Heihachi, the head of the Mishima family, to the series after his supposed and final death in the previous title left many fans of the game in doubt.
Author’s note: This news contains spoilers for both Tekken 7 and Tekken 8. Be warned!
First Trailer for Heihachi Mishima in Tekken 8: Legendary Fighter Returns After Presumed Death
Bandai Namco Studios released the first trailer for Heihachi Mishima in Tekken 8 at this year’s Evo, and it contains a rather shocking revelation. Not only did he not die at the end of Tekken 7, but he’s alive, kicking, and ready to continue doing what he does best: destroying his opponents with his perfected Mishima-style karate.
In the video in question, we can see how, after Kazuya was defeated by Jin and lost his powers, a group called the “Tekken Monks” began eliminating the remnants of the Mishima Zaibatsu forces around the globe.
The leader of this brotherhood of monks is an enigmatic yet familiar figure: he wears a tiger mask to hide his face, but there is no doubt that he is Heihachi Mishima himself, who has been secretly moving around the world after his supposed death. The monk-like appearance with covered face and hat seems to be one of his new costumes.
Heihachi retains his classic moves from previous titles in the series, so we can expect that his punches and combos will not be very different from those we already know, as was the case with all the characters who returned in Tekken 8.
Of course, it remains to be seen how their heat mechanics are, the great new gameplay of the eighth numbered installment of the series.
The reaction to this announcement has been mixed among fans of the series, with some celebrating the return of one of Tekken’s most iconic and memorable characters, and others criticizing that Heihachi’s return means that the outcome of Tekken 7 loses all of its impact, since he theoretically died in that game. This return also muddies the motivations of some of the characters in Tekken 8, such as Reina, Heihachi’s illegitimate daughter, who is willing to do anything to avenge him.
Heihachi Mishima is the third DLC fighter for Tekken 8 and will arrive in the game sometime in Fall 2024. The game’s first two downloadable fighters were Eddy Gordo (Spring 2024) and Lidia Sobieska (Summer 2024). They will be available for purchase individually or as part of the Year 1 Pass, which includes a total of four fighters.
Follow MeriStation USA on X (formerly known as Twitter). Your video game and entertainment website for all the news, updates, and breaking news from the world of video games, movies, series, manga, and anime. Previews, reviews, interviews, trailers, gameplay, podcasts and more. Follow us now!