The Worst And Best Tekken Guest Character Of All Time
Collaboration has become a staple in the fighting game genre. Just look at "Super Smash Bros Ultimate," a title where Mario can go toe-to-toe with Ryu, Kazuya, and Kirby simultaneously. Bandai Namco's iconic 3D fighter series "Tekken" is also no stranger to crossovers. "Tekken 7," for example, famously became home to Akuma from "Street Fighter." Akuma was a welcome addition to "Tekken" for "Street Fighter" fans as he retained his iconic moveset despite being shifted from 2D to 3D (per TekkenGamer).
Not every crossover character is well-received, of course. Even Akuma had critics due to his floaty jump, fireball, and unique rage meter (via theScore esports). The dinosaur Gon, from the Japanese manga series by the same name, is another example of a guest character that felt out of place to some, as he has no relationship with the rest of the "Tekken" cast. According to a tweet from series director Katsuhiro Harada, Gon never returned after his "Tekken 3" debut due to time constraints.
Although Harada explained to GameSpot how difficult it is to implement crossover characters in "Tekken," he stated in a separate interview with IGN how pleased he was with how the crossovers went in "Tekken 7." He also shared that he isn't against considering the possibility of adding them again in the future. With that in mind, it's time to look back at the worst and best "Tekken" guest characters.
Worst: Noctis Lucis Caelum
Few could have predicted that a spiky-haired "Final Fantasy" protagonist would someday join the "Tekken" roster. But, in one of the first "Tekken 7" DLCs, Noctis Lucis Caelum entered the King of Iron Fist Tournament. Noctis is the young prince from "Final Fantasy 15" armed with an oversized sword and a signature Warp-strike move that allows him to teleport to target locations easily. Unfortunately, his introduction to "Tekken 7" was less hype than most, with his debut trailer showcasing him enjoying his favorite pastime: fishing. In addition, many considered Noctis a bad fit for "Tekken" (via Push Square), and it likely didn't help that he isn't among the top ten most popular "Final Fantasy" characters, according to a 2020 survey.
Noctis' gameplay is often described as "annoying" by those unfortunate enough to fight him, and the list of grievances against him is long. The reach of his sword, his Warp-strike, and his retractable spear make Noctis a pain to battle at range, while his daggers and quick movement make him a menace up close. Further, unlike most powerful characters in "Tekken," Noctis requires very little execution and has a relatively small move list, making him an easy character to pick up. Noctis' frustrating attacks and his questionable place in the "Tekken" universe make him a character that some predict won't ever return.
Best: Geese Howard
Antagonist Geese Howard from "Fatal Fury" and "The King of Fighters" is the perfect example of how to do a "Tekken" guest character right. Geese's backstory is similar to Jin Kazama of "Tekken." After Geese's mother died, he made it his life goal to find his estranged father and exact his revenge. He soon found that would be no easy task, and so he trained long and hard to take on his father in battle. His insatiable lust for power eventually led him to organized crime.
It's not hard to see how Geese's design and backstory fit seamlessly into "Tekken." Upon debuting in the "Tekken" universe, Geese joined the King of Iron Fist Tournament to defeat Kazuya and Jin in hopes of harnessing their Devil powers (per Tekken Wiki). Like Akuma, Geese has a special Rage Drive system. Unlike Akuma, Geese's Rage Drive system is more traditional and used only for pumping out big damage. Combining his powerhouse of a Rage Drive with his satisfying Reppuu Ken and unique parry system makes Geese an enjoyable character to play at every skill level.