Tekken 4 (鉄拳4) is a fighting video game developed and published by Namco as the fourth main and fifth installment in the Tekken series, following the release of the non-canon crossover titled Tekken Tag Tournament in 1999. It was released as an arcade game in 2001, and on the PlayStation 2 in 2002.

Placing distinction on the plot in the console version, the tone of Tekken 4 was noticeably darker than other installments of the series.^[2] The game also harbored many gameplay revisions, such as the series-unique ability for the player to move about before the round begins and the introduction of walled stages. There are up to twenty-three characters to choose from, including six newcomers. The game’s story reveals that Kazuya has been revived following his death 20 years prior and enters the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4 to take back the Mishima Zaibatsu. Its sequel, Tekken 5, was released in 2004.

Gameplay

Tekken 4 introduced significant new gameplay changes from the previous games in the series.^[3] For the first time, it allowed players to maneuver around an arena interacting with walls and other obstacles for extra damage. These “environmental hazards” in turn allowed players to juggle opponents for consecutive combos and allowed the designers to implement a “switch maneuver”, which let players escape from cornering and throw the tide in their favor. The game engine had been tweaked to be more focused on the environment, causing the characters to move more slowly and fluidly than in Tekken Tag Tournament. Finally, the game introduced a brand new graphics system, that featured increased lighting, dynamic physics, and smoother surfaces.

The console version of Tekken 4 includes a beat ’em up minigame available from the outset, called Tekken Force. Similar to the previous minigame found in Tekken 3, it presents the player with an over-the-shoulder perspective as they fight wave upon wave of Heihachi’s Tekken Force through four stages, eventually facing Heihachi himself. The player can pick up health and power-ups while fighting waves of enemies. In the minigame it is discovered that the Tekken Force possesses different ranks in the organization, evident in different amounts of stamina, strength, and skill. A new Story mode in the home version unlocks cutscenes when played, in contrast to previous installments in which such cutscenes were unlocked from playing the Arcade mode. Tekken 4 received generally favorable reviews. Community reception was generally negative, with competitive players pointing out its balancing and gameplay issues. However in recent years, Tekken 4 has been widely praised for its innovation, atmosphere and attention to detail.