Well now, if that cutscene were from Tekken 8, Kazuya probably would have shot him 9 times in the head, uppercut him, turn into a demon and then laser him before firing a kamehameha at him.
the early 2000's had this magic where everything was dark, gritty, and cool as hell. everything was perfect, serious in tone, hi-tech and as futuristic as possible. for some reason though I can't imagine this phenomenon coming back nowadays. just the games, songs and movies were mostly all serious, everyone was a professional and involved dark aesthetics. movies like the Blade trilogy, Matrix and stuff, songs like Justin Timberlake (and 50 Cent with Ayo technology), Britney Spears with her blackout album (especially Break the Ice and Gimme More), Timbaland with Morning after Dark and so on, games like Deus Ex, Zone of the Enders, Metal Gear Solid 1-2, Halo 1-3, Mass Effect and the likes. it's just an era which you can never replicate ever again, it's all too iconic and perfect in every sense edit: even the unreleased Duke Nukem Forever had this dark futuristic setting with it's HUD and UI, it's brutal
I thought I was too nostalgic about how good ps2 games were, I spend so many hours playing Tekken, MGS, and pretty much all the bangers back then. Turns out it wasn't me, they were and still are dope
amen, as my friends and I get older I hear more and more that maybe things just arent as fun these days cause we arent the kids we used to be. to hell with that!! the games we grew up with just had this magic that is lost now and theyre as fun as they ever were
@@Ronbotnik I’ve been thinking about this a lot too man. A lot of games genuinely had more care put into them, like is it nostalgia that Halo 3 is better than the newer releases? or was it just a far better game all along
Finally someone that gets it. People crap all over this game and ignore how special and unique it in the tekken series. Tekken 4 has a special place in my heart even though some other entries in the series are objectively better games
people dunk on T4 because it's objectively bad as a competitive title due to the stage elevation and ridiculous sizes. It's an otherwise great and perfectly fine game. There's a reason why Namco returned to only making flat stages (but instead added breakable walls/floors) for every future iteration
Completely agree with you my favourite tekken game grew up with this intro is sick the Mishima devil gene storyline is amazing you’ll be lying if you said the graphics weren’t mind blowing back then I also enjoyed tekken 6 but that game missed the dark vibe in my opinion played tekken 5 but not 7 but I am aware with the storyline which they included akuma from street fighter which is unreal 💯 saw the teaser for tekken 8 can’t wait
This is the most passionate tekken game ever come into production. You can tell they spent ages on this and were so detailed. Like the tekken force was good as well as the character stories. You can just tell a lot of work went into far more than any of the other games. This is by far the best tekken.
Yeah I can see myself like that cuz even today the atmosphere in this game is pretty intense compared to the other ones that just delved into being pure schlock with 8 being this over the top Hollywood summer blockbuster with end of the world stakes. 4 just feels .... cold and mysterious.
the tone of this game was simply unmatched. the story has never been more mature before or since. things like marduk being sent to a state penitentiary for murder, law losing his restaurant & falling into depression & alcoholism, steve escaping the mafia because they put a hit out on him, etc. this game did not coddle you or hold your hand.
Unfortunately, if I'm not mistaken, 4 is also the game that started the whole dumbass "Devil Gene" thing, right? Which is probably the least grounded thing ever and quickly led to Tekken turning into what is essentially a fighting game Kingdom Hearts. It was cooler and somehow more grounded when it was Kazuya being actually possessed by the devil.
List of games in this video: Tekken Tekken 3 Tekken 4 Tekken Tag Tournament The Bouncer Galerians: ASH Zone of the Enders 2 Final Fantasy 7 Metal Gear Solid 2 Metroid Prime 2 Final Fantasy X Armoured Core 2: Another Age The Evil Within
Tekken 4 gets a lot of hate for trying too many new things but it really felt ambitious and like we were moving forward. The atmosphere on each stage felt very distinct. And the character designs were realistic. Now almost every male character in Tekken has a copy & paste overly muscular physique. And we have cinematic combos that are suppose to be rage arts or "finishers".
Tekken 4 has the best backgrounds in the none infinite background era of Tekken. I love this more than I did as a kid. They had great ambition they only messed it up by taking out too much of the wackiness. I feel Tekken 3 had the right balance of seriousness and silly. Now the series got too wacky after 5.
I'm lucky enough to have a local arcade just few miles away. We were playing TTT for a few months, then switched to T4 which the cab is still on, so I have the benefit of having an impression of both right after each other. There is a lot to like about T4. Without question, the environments/stages are far and away the best the series have. Even with lower poly count and low rez textures, because they actually feel like lived in location and can actually exist in real life, they leave a much better impression than any stages I've seen on more modern Tekkens. I've seen complains in the past about the uneven terrain or stages are asymmetrical (not boxes), but it puts more empathize on space awareness which I really like. Also I like how the controls were adjusted to better move around in a 3D environment more naturally, closer to Soul Caliber. It's not without it's major flaws however. While 3D movement is better, general movement was nerfed such as to KBD. Also juggles were nerfed as well, EWGF only launches on Counter hit for example, and what and how long you can juggles with is much more limited than what was in TTT. Its not necessarily a bad thing, since I feel in modern Tekken, especially after Bound was introduced, the game is now too ridiculous where a character is juggled, then dribbled across the stage, and then eats a wall combo, then the flood breaks and, then you get a combo extension on the lower Floor. T5 really got it right with just enough fun doing the combos while not being tired of waiting 10-15 seconds for a combo to end. The major problem with T4 is that it wasn't balanced enough and there are many bugs and bad hitboxes. Jin is a monster that stomps rest of the cast. Attacks that should hit, models make contact with each other, but misses anyways. And there are various things like wall infinite that should have been better tested. A big reason why this game became the black sheep is because the competitive players coming from TTT found this game to be frustrating, and voiced their disapproval to this day. With all that said, I like the game and what it does well. I also find many players that fondly remember this game, as they played it on console, and isn't jaded like the arcade players. The single player content is very well done and without question has the best story mode and presentation. I also like that Paul isn't treated like a Clown like he does in newer Tekken. If there is one thing that would have helped T4 back then, it would have been another revision like say 4.2 or a "Dark Resurrection"-like update that addressed complains like better movement, better juggles, and fixed bugs and hitboxes.
The real reason Tekken 4 gets a lot of hate was because it was a terrible fighting game with really poor balance that killed the Tekken competitive scene. Most of the community actually likes the presentation and ideas. That doesn't give the game a pass for poor execution. Say what you will now but Tekken 7 is a significantly better fighting game with a far more healthy balance and competitive community.
I totally forgot about the Kazuya Stage 7 cutscene. Actually such a simple alteration of his story that has a huge impact. Always love it when you get to face off against specific people at certain stages, where unique cutscenes or interactions take play. Also you pretty much took the words out of my mouth. I always end up going back to Tekken 5 due to the bigger cast and more fluid fighting but I can't quite shake the atmosphere of Tekken 4, from the music to the stages and so on. Also i first played Tekken 4 on a demo disc where Paul and Christie were the only two characters and yes, the quality of the faces on the loading screen blew my mind back then.
T4 was my first Tekken game. The art direction was pulled off so well. The rooftop stage, the mall , the beach, the jungle. There were so many incredible stages that made me feel like I was in the game. It was almost addicting. Hooded Jin was so mysterious making you wonder who he was if you didn’t play Tekken 3
God, I miss the "digital apocalypse" aesthetic so much. It was a little moody, but also tried to give off the impression that it was sophisticated in the sense that the game you were playing was an example of something that was pushing the limits of technology at the time, and it absolutely ozzed style. I also loved fiction that just embraced this idea of an ultra sophisticated digitized world and just had fun with the idea of it, stuff like being able to navigate the internet as if it were a physical place like in Mega Man Battle Network. It was so fun and cool. On a side note I miss when most AAA games had UI and menus that weren't soley made up of transparent boxes and text that that's all displayed in the most basic font. I love games that have really unique coherent styles in the presentation of their UI and menus that are able to help illicit a specific tone and compliment the game in a meaningful way other than just their functionality.
See, i always called it the y2k aesthetic, I genuinely think that it's a difficult style to pull off but I'm hoping one day a game or a show or movie could recapture that nostalgia.
@@Alastarsblade Porter Robinson's "Virtual Self" project pulled off the Y2K aesthetic pretty well, but I can't think of other recent examples that did it nearly as well. It would be cool to see a sort of 'revival' of the aesthetic, maybe once all of this 80s nostalgia blows over lol 😂
A lot of industrial themes, with influences from sci-fi flicks of the time and Y2K, a lot of PS2 games had such cool aesthetics, soundtracks, color palettes and HUDs / Menues.
The PS2 era is honestly so unmatched, but this specific aesthetic you mention makes me so happy because I personally couldn’t put into words how games with the aesthetics like in Tekken 4 made me feel. I know for sure it was a positive feeling though. Like a rush🔥 so much nostalgia, man😭😭😭😭
I still remember the price tag of Tekken 4 when I went to the store to buy it, I somewhat noticed the darker, more serious tone and focus on realism, with no monster or demon bosses, I honestly wasn't that big of a fan and preferred Tekken 3, but then Tekken 5 came out and it felt like a true follow up to Tekken 3 But looking back, Tekken 4 now feels more special
The late-90's to early/mid 2000's was a golden age where the limitations of the technology still forced creativity and crafty design choices from devs, but wasn't so limited that said creativity itself had to be limited too. Soundtracks, UI's, gameplay, everything was fresh and fun or cutting edge in some way, industries started really making their tropes and aesthetics theirs and the notable games were just fucking good no matter what console they were on. Gaming now is the opposite, where it's the advancements in technology enable more creativity and intensity than ever before, so there's still gems to be enjoyed, but they're gems and beloved for entirely different reasons than games like Jak & Daxter, Ridge Racer, Golden Sun, Resident Evil, Katamari, SotC, Metroid Prime, Wind Waker, and many, many other standouts of the time.
I've always felt like i'm the only one with a passion for atmosphere and aestethics in video games. content like this shows me others feel the same way and it makes me happy
I remember when Tekken 4 came, it was critized for being "Too slow", but for some reason, I loved Tekken 4 with the storyline of Jin and how his ending was great with the "single white feather" to show that there are still hope for Jin
Right on mate, the stories and endings were some of the best ever in my opinion, the ending that stuck with me the most was King's ending, so tense and touching. Paul's was also beautiful, and the Mishimas are either the end of humanity or in case of Jin, a story of hope for the character.
@@hanchiman I feel like Asuka is in Paul's situation nowadays, like, Asuka had a potential to be a really interesting character, her motivations in T5 were very sincere, and then she was either "The big boobs girl" or Lili's main rival and just that. Really sucks how they handle most of the character's nowadays, not saying that Kuma, Mokujin or Roger jr. need a tragic backstory, but so many characters had entry level promise and they later turned into a joke. Though I have faith in new people like Claudio, Shaheen, and the story between Katarina and Gigas has potential to do something amazing (if they choose to pursue it further which I hope they do).
@@jakubbiay3893 yeah I think T5 kinda ruin a bit also with Jin doing heel turn at the end just to create "negative aura". Also bit sad Heihachi is offiicial dead as he was an icon or Sony
@@hanchiman I think it's a good thing if Heihachi is killed of for good, was a great villain, but now Kazuya has taken his place, and I think it's good. But yeah, Tekken 5 did a lot of things wrong story-wise in my opinion. Jin's heel turn just to "destroy the physical version of evil" or whatever his goal was, fake killing of Heihachi, introduction of characters that were either forgettable, wasted etc. The only good thing about 5's stories I remember is Wang's ending and his friendship with Jinpachi, that was a thing of beauty. Edit: Was a bit harsh on the new characters, Dragunov is still intriguing and cool imo, but still, not much progress with him.
You're just making this video to help indie devs recreate this aesthetic for when all their PS2 inspired games come out in a year or two and frankly, I'm all for it.
If there's one thing that really sticks with me from Tekken 4 after all these years: it's the soundtrack. The intro, the stage themes, the ui sounds, etc... Every single sound just felt like it fit in perfectly like a jigsaw puzzle. It really helped set the entire mood and atmosphere for the whole game
Tekken 4 had an amazing atmosphere, I remember practicing Paul's demoman blue spark for hours at the airport stage without noticing how much time passed.
You really really hit this very specific nail on the head. I especially loved how you captured that exact feeling that a lot of early Japanese PS2 games had and gave some meaning to those concepts that 4-year-old me was constantly exposed to but never truly understood, like words and numbers constantly blasting across the screen in white Arial font.
Tekken 5 was my introduction to Tekken so that's the one I'll always hold the most nostalgia over, but I did go back to T4 after becoming curious as to what Tekken was like before 5 and I honestly feel like Tekken 4 was the peak of the series aesthetic and my favorite tone and atmosphere
@@philithegamer8265 Nah. I think GTA 4 was overall better recieved. In fact, GTA 4 for the most part is considered one of the best GTA games out of the series and for good reason. Tekken 4 however is a black sheep in a way. Though Tekken 4 is admired in hindsight, there's still alot of fans to this day that isn't too fond of it
I really appreciate this video. It's pretty common to hear people talk about the atmosphere of places in games, but I think the impact and mood of menu and graphic design is a little understated. I love this era of games. Sleek, stylish, clean. But cold. Mechanical and devoid of soul. It's so sick. Bring on the Digital Apocalypse.
You understand. Tekken 4 will always stick with me from the PS2 era. It’s one of my favorite games in the Tekken series and PS in general. The airport stage was always my favorite. The atmosphere this game presents is astounding. It gets hate because of the new things but I found them very innovate for the series. That’s what I love the most about this game. Not only that, I had fun playing with everyone in the game. I would hope one day they allow us to play this again.
This digital apocalypse aesthetic, and the general late 90s, early 2000s art movement(s) that you can see in pop culture and especially graphic design and video games is exactly what I’ve been trying to articulate for so long now but couldn’t quite piece it all together. Nice to see someone finally verbalize at least a piece of it.
Same here! This late 90s/early 2000s surreal techno/dark ambient vibe is something I can finally define with an easy name. Digital Apocalypse just feels right. I'm all for this aesthetic coming back.
I feel the exact same way man, It feels so good to have it spelled out in front of me and to see that others agree with me and have noticed the things that I have noticed!
I got that exact same feeling about It when he talked about "Becoming one with the machine". It would be Very Nice and new to study and explore this Aesthetic nowadays, when we really became one with the machines and It turned out not to be so good at ALL! Would love to discuss references and visuals w/ you guys, if you'd like to. How about we set up a Discord server about It?
I, on the other hand, always felt the vibe of Tekken 4 as "everybody goes on vacation" just look at all their costumes and styles! Even paul let his hair loose for this!
ah yes, Hwoarang in his vacation soldier uniform, Nina in her vacation spy catsuit. honestly a lot of character's alts in Tekken are either casual or formal clothes tbf, it's not a Tekken 4 exclusive thing. But I kind of see what you mean, some of the stages are super chill in their nature and soundtrack by Tekken standarts, like the beach stage, the airport, the rooftop, city streets.
@@He11Jumper i mean vacation as in for once everyone not going to the tournament vibe. Like they all got other thing to attend to than attending the tournament and donning their "TOURNAMENT OUTFIT" a la wrestler costume. So in a sense i guess they take vacation from tournament-ing.. Some of their outfit is so down to earth and most only appear in t4, some hairstyle also only appear as their default in t4. Its as if hwoarang and paul take a break from doing wwf and said fudge this public ring look of mine, gonna cut my hair and stop using gel for once. Hey even hwoarang taekwondo outfit got a casual shoes and only appear here. Also the stage is sooo very un-tournament stage... They're just places we're passing everyday. Sorry im rambling, i got two wives and and no money, time to sleep
Tekken 4 was very much a product of the post-Y2K world; what was once this sleek, chrome-colored vision of the future now was fizzled down to a mystical and industrial realization of the world. From The mention of how early PS2 games felt like "leaping into the digital world" or "into the next generation," was excellent. As many have stated, that weird middle ground between the late 90's and the early 2000's was beautiful - we saw a stark change in modern culture. We were coming from an optimistic, highly stylized idea of how things were to be and then into a very grounded yet charming reality of what we dreamed to be the world of tomorrow.
The PINNACLE of this aesthetic was in Namco's Breakdown. The menu clicks and "digital nightmare" vibe are so central to everything that game is going for.
You have no idea how many deep memories you just unlocked within me. Tekken 4 came as a demo on my copy of demodisc added to PS2. I was a small kid living in Poland so money didn't exist for me. Even buying that PS2 was only after my father came back from working in US for months. I had two games, NFS UG2 and HP 3 but what was extreamly fascinating for me was that blue disc that they added to the console. I never had a console before, never occured to me that they can have demos. I booted it up and oh man. That music that was playing there, in the menu. The whole look of it and asthetic. It was giving off exactly what you were talking about in the video. Like i just hacked into the PS2 itself and was viewing some things that i wasn't supposed to see. I remember so many things from it. The amazing trailer for KH. The demo of R&C, i must have spent like 70 hours running around Metropolis and Rilgar. And the amazing demo of Tekken 4. With your video you reminded me of some feelings that were buried under the passage of time. Thank you.
I had a similar experience from south Africa, I see you even have Ratchet as your profile Pic... Playing ratchet and clank 1 on that demo is also nostalgic
Dude. *Ugh* . *_Finally_* , someone talks about the atmosphere of this game (and games of that era, which fit nicely). Tekken 4's atmosphere left a massive impression on me. It's dark, chilling, almost horror-like presentation not only spooked me as a kid, it made me really respect its art direction as I grew older. It's gameplay direction wasn't great, as the sloped & uneven surfaces with random objects caused some exploits and unfair balancing, but I honestly wish the vibe of Tekken 4 came back in a future entry. I think it really fits the series, considering most of the main cast are often more villains than heroes and constantly contend with their selfishness. Plus that announcer REALLY needs to be hired again. I should also mention that the rooftop stage's "Authentic Sky" theme is still, to date, one of my favorite video game tracks ever, along with one of my favorite calming songs in general. It's so polished. It's a black sheep as a fighting game, but an innovator in presentation. If Bamco can take the elements that work and apply them again, but better, we could have the uniquely moody Tekken with solid competitive mechanics we've always wanted.
This game was my crack back in the day. Always stuck with me, even to this day. When I saw this video uploaded, I couldn't click it fast enough. It still shows in my taste today. I still like more grounded, darker, melancholic, atmospheric kinda stuff. Maybe T4 had a part in it? Always found that announcer so freaking cool and was disappointed every time when a new Tekken didn't have him back. They took risk with this one and it paid off. It's my favourite Tekken bar none. Wished more games would take this route
The problem is when they brought out tekken 5 and onward releases, the games were dope but i feel like they were just playin it safe , like when i play tekken 7, i feel like im playin a re-skined edition of tekken 6 with extra characters lol
This is probably one of my favourite videos you've put out. It's rare you get people talking about the "vibe" of games at least in my experience. The phrase "digital apocalypse" is also perfect for describing that particular aesthetic.
The PS2 felt so insanely revolutionary, and it was. I was only 10 or 11 at the time, so I didn't think much of it since I couldn't fully grasp the time-line and progress of technology. But looking back now, I wonder if people older than me felt that same revolutionary impact.
Yes. PS2 was the promise of a better future, no less. The first wave of games didn't look much better than Dreamcast games, but fall 2001 started delivering the big hitters. Google "PS2 fall 2001 lineup" on Google images, you'll see a picture that has them. I got mine on launch day and felt really starved for a year. SSX was amazing, Ridge Racer 5 was meh (in comparison with RRT4 on PS1), Tekken Tag was alright, but it did feel desertic for a year.@@SharkWithFreakinLaserBeam
Shoutout to the rather subdued Tekken 4 announcer, and one of a kind voice in the world of fighting games. Guys like the sf alpha and soul calibur voices are great and all but nothing beats the sleek almost sinister vibe of this game's "Round 1, Fight"
I agree, the Tekken 3 announcer also nailed it for the tone of the game, shoutout to the whole sound team too, fuck it everyone involved deserves a heihachi trophy
I like these type of videos where you explore the atmosphere and discuss the emotions you felt playing the game, rather than reviewing it and being critical about it. This video was crisp, well-edited, nostalgic and very enjoyable.
Tekken 4 was the first PS2 game I’ve ever played. I remember it like it was yesterday when I was very content playing my PS1 until my father randomly came home and proceeded to unwrap and plug in the new PlayStation. This video will forever hold a special place in my heart for so accurately describing my nostalgic experience playing this game!
I was always taken in by Tekken 4's more moody aesthetic. It's a unique atmosphere for a fighting game to have, the overwhelming majority of them are very bombastic. While I'd say I prefer T3 and T5's art direction more(and gameplay), the uniqueness of T4 gives it a special place in my heart.
Tekken 4's graphics were such an advancement at the time, I remember playing it in the arcade before it came out for the PS2 and my dad and I were blown away. Paul having his hair down for the first time and flowing was what really did it.
100%, I've always felt T4 was the most unique of the series. A lot of PS2 games had this just indescribable atmosphere. I'll always remember that distorted **"Welcome to the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4"** Also, BRING BACK COMBOT
@@waspennator They brought him back as a someone with a mixture of moves (of the player’s choosing) from other characters, honestly I prefer if they brought him back like that since not only storywise that’s what Lee had visioned Combot, how he was in Tekken 4 was just Mokujin.
After going through too many “retrospective” videos trying to look back at the game but fail abhorrently, it’s good to see that there’s ONE video that talks about something good here. And with everything that came after this including what we’ve seen of Tekken 8 so far, this continues to be the one that actually RESPECTS the dang game more than insults it for its faults. Really makes me wish they used this as a inspiration for a future Tekken game, right down from the music to the stage designs .
Thank God, another person on the internet recognizes the cool aesthetic of this game. Tekken 4 was one of the first PS2 games I experienced back in the day, with 3 being the last Tekken game I played, this game felt like night and day in terms of graphics, story presentation (it was the first game with all characters having spoken dialogue), stage designs, unique soundtrack, and overall UI and menus, it was groundbreaking for it's time. it's a shame the game ended up being divisive when it comes to the combat and character roster, which is obviously something the Tekken Team immediately addressed with Tekken 5, which is a pretty good game in it's own right, but lacked that cool and moody early 2000s aesthetic that 4 had, sadly.
Absolutely loved this, mate. This and The Beach Generation are both so good for capturing a certain nebulous kind of vibe and making it concrete. I wish this kind of insight was more common.
I always loved the weird ps2 menus from that era. They felt so isolated and otherworldly but also strangely comfortable and it made me excited to explore whatever world they were gonna put me in.
I swear every time I pass by an airport this theme plays in my head much like every time it snows yoshimitsu’s theme from the first tekken tag plays in my head. Authentic sky, the airport theme and hon Maru are the top three best tracks in this game for me personally. I remember finally playing the Mishima storyline after the longest because I didn’t really care to play them because law was my main and experiencing the hon maru stage along with the theme for the first time my hype went to the moon it was so fucking awesome. Tekken 4 will always have a place in my heart no matter how much it gets hated on. And I’m glad that one you made a video highlighting how unique and special this game is and seeing men of culture gathered here singing it’s praises as well
I thought that snow stage is Anna’s stage from T1? Because that’s the only track i like from T1. The rest are forgettable. Tekken 2 had some great tracks tho.
Tekken 4 was my absolute favourite in the series! I loved the darker and more grounded setting. The gameplay changes might have upset the pros but it was a real evolution to the series, even though going back to basics with Tekken 5 was probably for the best. I think the gameplay shift reflected the style of fighting games at the time like the controls felt similar to the Dead or Alive and Virtua Fighter games including the menus. I miss when the characters actually had purpose and weren't just given joke endings. It is a perfect window in the early 2000's era and aesthetic seen in movies like The Matrix, Daredevil, Blade, Underworld etc. My only complaint is the removal of so many good characters which was disappointing after Tekken Tag Tournament. The music is atmospheric and beautiful too!
Tekken 4s graphics really looked amazing on the PS2 early years. Even the stages looked so good and enjoyable. It’s just amazing that how gaming in general has been evolved over the past 20 years. I had such great nostalgic memories I had with this one.
I loved that dark element the game had it felt like a true Tekken game because of how dark Jin & Kazuyas stories are, the music was amazing too it was another vibe that I enjoyed because I love dark movie’s, Anime, shows etc I hope they bring this style back on Tekken 8
Agreed, I love the PS2's overall aesthetic, and how it seemed to transcend one specific developer and envelop an entire generation, even if the techno style of the era wasn't original to games. One game that's another great example of this is Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies. Even if you don't wanna play a bad ass flight action game, check out the menus. Game has a vibe that no other game in the series does. Call it a sign of the times, but it was a cool ass time.
I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to video games broadly being seen as "virtual realities" rather than "interactive media" or something akin to movies. If you look at how tech has been innovated over the years to emulate film cameras and their dynamics, from flaws in exposure to motion blur to literal lens flares, you can seen how deeply engrained it is now. Hell, compare MGS2 to MGSV, where one has digital glitches in its visuals and another has burning celluloid for when you take damage. It honestly makes me a little sad just how many ways video games have chained themselves to the tech and look of movies where they could do something novel and unique.
THIS! This is why T4 is still one of my favorites. Is it an unbalanced mess with a bare bones roster? Yes. But the presentation (and Tekken Force) makes up for it. Feels less like traditional japanese arcade fighter, and more like a UFC game but with all these strange anime-esque newcomers in the mix. Love it!
Finally, a video about GETTING it. Tekken 4 stands to date as my favorite game of all time. Yes, the gameplay is subpar for Tekken standards, but does that really matter when the environment is so goddamn goosebumps inducing? Shinjuku. Arena. Underground. A real, authentic street fight has just occurred in a public setting and shit is about to go down. Parking Lot. Beach. Jungle. Mall. Stages that are extremely groovy and super adventurous, making you wanna jam and beat down, to kick ass in a rhythm. LABORATORY. HON-MARU. AIRPORT. BUILDING. THE PEAK OF TEKKEN 4's MOODY BEAUTY. Just thinking about these stages makes my back drop 5 degrees in temperature. THIS is how you do aesthetic. The stage design is downright godly here. Not to mention the story building itself. When was the last time a bloody character introduction gave you chills? I know, Tekken 4! And that applies to every single one of them! Even the wardrobe design stands out as a particular shade of "Shit is real now" with just the slightest touch of unorthodox. Paul, Jin, Lei, Lee and Hwoarang stand out as examples for me in this category. God I fucking love this game.
We got this, MGS2, the Bouncer, and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex all in the span of like 2 years. And also Gunslinger Girl, the original FMA, and Texhnolyze. That era just had a certain trance fueled pseudo-cyber punk feel.
That fight between Jin and Kazuya at Honmaru...when the music for the honmaru stage starts, its just totally epic. One of those video game moments that stays in your mind
Also, SmackDown: Just Bring It has an eerily similar atmosphere. The dark techno menu music, the reverberating hushed announcer (CAUTION-caution-caution...) and the hexagonal neon menus.
I wondered if anyone would bring up JBI. While the game certainly was not great (especially compared to its immediate successors), it still to this day has one of the most impressionable and distinctive sound / visual designs, when it comes to the UI and soundtrack of any game out there. The Create-A-Wrestler menu / BGM is the one that resonated with me the most.
Your eloquences at ascribing and describing Leitmotiff and tones of these 2000s era nostalgia music (least to my experience as I was born in the 90s) is flourily impeccable as always mr Charlie
This is legitimately one of my favorite pieces of content I’ve ever seen. Thank you for capturing this. I’ve tried figuring out for YEARS what made me love the late 90s and 2000s gaming aesthetics. PS2 and GameCube specifically captured this so well with games like Super Monkey Ball and Custom Robo. You’d get that ambient, transcendental trance music and the digitally-advanced visual aesthetics. I find it interesting that a game like Tekken 4 captures the coldness yet incredibly intoxicating vibe of a dystopian future far better than, say, Cyberpunk 2077. Whereas that game is quickly becoming a well-worn trope that is inspiring several clones, I still feel like the millennium productions of Namco and Sega especially stand out as their own thing.
On the topic of menu's, Ace Combat 5 had one that felt so natural to the game. The way you select one option and the line that runs off to the right heads to another box that had the menu you selected. It felt like you were going sub-menu after sub-menu to find what you were looking for, as if you had to dig around a computer to find the right info.
Tekken 4 is far from my favourite Tekken game, but you perfectly captured what I love and miss about that era of video games. I don't need remasters, I'd just love some direct ports of these classic games to current consoles.
This video has managed to describe so many of the same sort of vibes and feelings I got from those early PS2 games that I've never been able to describe before. And now I also want to go play Tekken 4 again.
This game gives off a melancholic mood of the Sunsetting that felt really specific to that period between the late 90s to early 00's(I think Authentic Sky captures it best). It's not the series best, but for better or worse, it is a series standout.
when i think of tekken 4, the airport music and jin/kazuyas final battle music is what always instantly comes to mind. it's so enchanting and invokes a sense of nostalgia like few video games will ever do. this was a magical time in gaming history
I was one of those people who genuinely appreciate the aesthetic of Tekken 4 .. the first time i launched this game on the PS2 it felt like something i never felt before .. hearing the narrator voice in the character select , hearing the Airport / Building / Laboratory theme for the first time, goosebumps hits all over my body .. the atmosphere , the music , the futuristic feeling of every corner even ending themes of every character , every stage and detail makes you hopeful for the future of gaming in the early 2000's, it was way ahead of its time , aside from Tekken 3 non of the Tekken games left that impact on me more than Tekken 4 , the early 2000's PS2 games had a lot of aesthetic gems but Tekken 4 was special
I really appreciate your scriptwriting here and your ability to take a collective feeling of group nostalgia and articulate it into words via a well thought out script and video presentation. You nailed it! Tekken 4 had a huge part in my life and now I can understand why I liked and played it so much for so long. The nostalgia of that game in particular is very special.
I still have my original copy of Tekken 4. It was among the three games I got with the PS2 alongside ATV Off-road Fury and Twisted Metal Black. I put so much time into Tekken 4. It holds a nostalgic place in my heart. In retrospect, I like how grounded it was compared to other entries in the franchise. It definitely had its own unique charm and aesthetic.
The sound design, soundtrack and many aesthetic choices make Tekken 4's atmosphere one of a kind. You can draw similarities between Tekken 3, 5, 6 and even 7, but 4 was just a whole different thing. I think it is heavily underrated among Tekken fans. It's not my favourite, but I still LOVE it
Its a shame this game often gets shiton by old tekken heads because of the nerfed movement and combo variety (which was a response by the devs to tag1) but as you said in the video I always felt the omnious vibes you got from the game were so unique for the franchise. Also I miss T4 version of Paul mans' became a joke after this game.
It wasn't shat on because of nerfed movement so much. It was more shat on because the game was completely unbalanced and I'd say barely-playable on the competitive scene. Which is a shame since I also LOVED the style and atmosphere of this game :(
@@suiken3149 too much focus on the competitive scene ruined the aesthetics of just about EVERY fighting game nowadays. just about all my favorite fighting game series, 3D or otherwise, lost a lot of their magic somewhere within the last 2 console generations.
The PS2 era was probably the peak of fighting games, at least in regard to the amount of content per game. Sequels in the HD era did the neat little trick of cutting half the roster because "pretty graphics are hard and we need content for the season pass."
Oh I know I'm gonna like this. 3, Tag and 5 were my go-to games, but I always knew I underrated 4 like everyone else, and it definitely has that distinct, ethereal style.
I’m so glad someone made video on this. You truly captured the true essence of Tekken 4 and the wave of new gen console gaming at the time. Namco really outdone themselves with this game, despite the reviews on the gameplay side of it, the presentation and cutscenes of each fighter had a real dark and suspense tone. Take Yoshimitsu’s ending video as the music builds up, or of course the amazingly done intro video. I loved everything about this game when I was young, the stages, the characters, the music, everything! I genuinely wish we get a remake or somehow maps put into tekken 7 or 8. The aesthetics of Tekken 4 is an underrated gem of a game!
Touch and Go is the name of the Airport theme. I listen to it frequently, such a banger that none of my friends appreciate. I hang out with scrubs. I never noticed that the jump in tech from the PS1 to PS2 lent itself to the theme of the game as a whole. Interesting observation, and great video as always!
You probably get this comment a lot, but you won't believe how delighted I was to see a video regarding a PS2 game presented in its original aspect ratio. I watched this video two times back to back, just to gaze at that fantastic Tekken 4 capture. It was really nostalgic, and looked perfect to me.
My dad told me when Jin's hood came off, it was his strongest form. As a 5 year old at the time, I believed him because I didn't win another round after that hood came off. No amount of button mashing would've saved me.
Thanks for giving this gem some love! Feels very overshadowed by 3 and 5. Was always fascinated by that eerie atmosphere no other Tekken game captures...
Kazuya threatening towards the Camera with a gun only to then punch the guy instead is the most Tekken thing I've seen.
Well now, if that cutscene were from Tekken 8, Kazuya probably would have shot him 9 times in the head, uppercut him, turn into a demon and then laser him before firing a kamehameha at him.
When the game is called "King of Iron Fist"...you better use your Iron Fist.
Underrated comment @@anonymous-one
bro hahhaahahhah
Plot twist there wasn’t any ammo 💀
the early 2000's had this magic where everything was dark, gritty, and cool as hell. everything was perfect, serious in tone, hi-tech and as futuristic as possible. for some reason though I can't imagine this phenomenon coming back nowadays. just the games, songs and movies were mostly all serious, everyone was a professional and involved dark aesthetics. movies like the Blade trilogy, Matrix and stuff, songs like Justin Timberlake (and 50 Cent with Ayo technology), Britney Spears with her blackout album (especially Break the Ice and Gimme More), Timbaland with Morning after Dark and so on, games like Deus Ex, Zone of the Enders, Metal Gear Solid 1-2, Halo 1-3, Mass Effect and the likes. it's just an era which you can never replicate ever again, it's all too iconic and perfect in every sense
edit: even the unreleased Duke Nukem Forever had this dark futuristic setting with it's HUD and UI, it's brutal
That Messiah game from 2000
True
It’s got that old Linkin park feel if that makes sense
@@souljamarx Based and AMV-pilled
Best era
I thought I was too nostalgic about how good ps2 games were, I spend so many hours playing Tekken, MGS, and pretty much all the bangers back then. Turns out it wasn't me, they were and still are dope
amen, as my friends and I get older I hear more and more that maybe things just arent as fun these days cause we arent the kids we used to be. to hell with that!! the games we grew up with just had this magic that is lost now and theyre as fun as they ever were
@@Ronbotnik I’ve been thinking about this a lot too man. A lot of games genuinely had more care put into them, like is it nostalgia that Halo 3 is better than the newer releases? or was it just a far better game all along
Same their still so god damn good
@@HeroicHamburger halo 3 is and always will be good my friend they don't make em like they used to sadly
Also zone of the Enders. The atmosphere of ps2 games were something else
Finally someone that gets it. People crap all over this game and ignore how special and unique it in the tekken series. Tekken 4 has a special place in my heart even though some other entries in the series are objectively better games
people dunk on T4 because it's objectively bad as a competitive title due to the stage elevation and ridiculous sizes. It's an otherwise great and perfectly fine game. There's a reason why Namco returned to only making flat stages (but instead added breakable walls/floors) for every future iteration
Completely agree with you my favourite tekken game grew up with this intro is sick the Mishima devil gene storyline is amazing you’ll be lying if you said the graphics weren’t mind blowing back then I also enjoyed tekken 6 but that game missed the dark vibe in my opinion played tekken 5 but not 7 but I am aware with the storyline which they included akuma from street fighter which is unreal 💯 saw the teaser for tekken 8 can’t wait
This is the most passionate tekken game ever come into production. You can tell they spent ages on this and were so detailed. Like the tekken force was good as well as the character stories. You can just tell a lot of work went into far more than any of the other games. This is by far the best tekken.
@@-PVL93- I think this is the only Tekken game where you see Heihachi wearing a diaper
@@chickendipper4866 I'd argue the tekken tag games are their passion projects
Every character's prologue in the game had great art work, narration and background music. This game truly is one of a kind.
Couldn’t have said it better myself
True
I remember playing Tekken 4 as a 5-year old kid and was actually a bit scared by the atmosphere.
Same! The intro alone gave me nightmares. Today I appericiate the aesthetic and storytelling, but I still think it’s a bit scary
Yeah the song Fetus and the "Continue?" track always scared me.
@@janerra_avaIn Tekken Force Continue the Tekken Force Attacks the Character Too
Yeah I can see myself like that cuz even today the atmosphere in this game is pretty intense compared to the other ones that just delved into being pure schlock with 8 being this over the top Hollywood summer blockbuster with end of the world stakes. 4 just feels .... cold and mysterious.
@@shawklan27 Problem is we already had end of the world stakes in both Tekken 5 and 6
the tone of this game was simply unmatched. the story has never been more mature before or since. things like marduk being sent to a state penitentiary for murder, law losing his restaurant & falling into depression & alcoholism, steve escaping the mafia because they put a hit out on him, etc. this game did not coddle you or hold your hand.
I wish they kept the story as grounded as they did in 4. I checked out at 6 and haven’t looked back. Things got a little too nuts for my taste.
Also the real Paul before his character gets thrown away in tekken 5
2 was the closest thing you can get on the grounded level. It's atmospheric and make you feel you are really there at least, during its time.
Unfortunately, if I'm not mistaken, 4 is also the game that started the whole dumbass "Devil Gene" thing, right? Which is probably the least grounded thing ever and quickly led to Tekken turning into what is essentially a fighting game Kingdom Hearts.
It was cooler and somehow more grounded when it was Kazuya being actually possessed by the devil.
@@neonfatum I mean Kazuya being possessed by the devil isn't exactly grounded either lmao
The music in TK4 is terrifyingly atmospheric deep Japanese ambient music of early 2000's of Japan.
I see
Can you refer me to some of these ambient music from the early 2000's of Japan?
Me too pls
@@reymenders5437 shenmue for the Sega dreamcast has this kindve music
@@FultonRecovery I too would like to know, also, nice MGSV:TPP username :)
So true
List of games in this video:
Tekken
Tekken 3
Tekken 4
Tekken Tag Tournament
The Bouncer
Galerians: ASH
Zone of the Enders 2
Final Fantasy 7
Metal Gear Solid 2
Metroid Prime 2
Final Fantasy X
Armoured Core 2: Another Age
The Evil Within
lol the title of the video made me cream, and then i see this comment. this gun be a gud vid
I’d love to see you cover both Galerians titles
Tekken 4 gets a lot of hate for trying too many new things but it really felt ambitious and like we were moving forward. The atmosphere on each stage felt very distinct. And the character designs were realistic. Now almost every male character in Tekken has a copy & paste overly muscular physique. And we have cinematic combos that are suppose to be rage arts or "finishers".
Tekken 4 has the best backgrounds in the none infinite background era of Tekken. I love this more than I did as a kid. They had great ambition they only messed it up by taking out too much of the wackiness. I feel Tekken 3 had the right balance of seriousness and silly. Now the series got too wacky after 5.
I'm lucky enough to have a local arcade just few miles away. We were playing TTT for a few months, then switched to T4 which the cab is still on, so I have the benefit of having an impression of both right after each other.
There is a lot to like about T4. Without question, the environments/stages are far and away the best the series have. Even with lower poly count and low rez textures, because they actually feel like lived in location and can actually exist in real life, they leave a much better impression than any stages I've seen on more modern Tekkens. I've seen complains in the past about the uneven terrain or stages are asymmetrical (not boxes), but it puts more empathize on space awareness which I really like. Also I like how the controls were adjusted to better move around in a 3D environment more naturally, closer to Soul Caliber.
It's not without it's major flaws however. While 3D movement is better, general movement was nerfed such as to KBD. Also juggles were nerfed as well, EWGF only launches on Counter hit for example, and what and how long you can juggles with is much more limited than what was in TTT. Its not necessarily a bad thing, since I feel in modern Tekken, especially after Bound was introduced, the game is now too ridiculous where a character is juggled, then dribbled across the stage, and then eats a wall combo, then the flood breaks and, then you get a combo extension on the lower Floor. T5 really got it right with just enough fun doing the combos while not being tired of waiting 10-15 seconds for a combo to end.
The major problem with T4 is that it wasn't balanced enough and there are many bugs and bad hitboxes. Jin is a monster that stomps rest of the cast. Attacks that should hit, models make contact with each other, but misses anyways. And there are various things like wall infinite that should have been better tested. A big reason why this game became the black sheep is because the competitive players coming from TTT found this game to be frustrating, and voiced their disapproval to this day.
With all that said, I like the game and what it does well. I also find many players that fondly remember this game, as they played it on console, and isn't jaded like the arcade players. The single player content is very well done and without question has the best story mode and presentation. I also like that Paul isn't treated like a Clown like he does in newer Tekken. If there is one thing that would have helped T4 back then, it would have been another revision like say 4.2 or a "Dark Resurrection"-like update that addressed complains like better movement, better juggles, and fixed bugs and hitboxes.
@@realamericannegro977 agreed
The real reason Tekken 4 gets a lot of hate was because it was a terrible fighting game with really poor balance that killed the Tekken competitive scene. Most of the community actually likes the presentation and ideas. That doesn't give the game a pass for poor execution. Say what you will now but Tekken 7 is a significantly better fighting game with a far more healthy balance and competitive community.
@@makeitthrough_ Even outside competitive, balance is still be pretty important
I totally forgot about the Kazuya Stage 7 cutscene. Actually such a simple alteration of his story that has a huge impact. Always love it when you get to face off against specific people at certain stages, where unique cutscenes or interactions take play.
Also you pretty much took the words out of my mouth. I always end up going back to Tekken 5 due to the bigger cast and more fluid fighting but I can't quite shake the atmosphere of Tekken 4, from the music to the stages and so on. Also i first played Tekken 4 on a demo disc where Paul and Christie were the only two characters and yes, the quality of the faces on the loading screen blew my mind back then.
I remember that demo disc. I think the only two stages were the mall and the jungle.
I love your videos man!
Two PS2 legends in one place?
tekken 5 on ps2 is still a beast though, about as much if not more work was put in to being a fun fighting game
you an OG, I had a demo disc with Paul and Christie too. I think that disk also had Rchet & Clank on it
T4 was my first Tekken game. The art direction was pulled off so well. The rooftop stage, the mall , the beach, the jungle. There were so many incredible stages that made me feel like I was in the game. It was almost addicting. Hooded Jin was so mysterious making you wonder who he was if you didn’t play Tekken 3
Same
Same and now I have Tekken 8
God, I miss the "digital apocalypse" aesthetic so much. It was a little moody, but also tried to give off the impression that it was sophisticated in the sense that the game you were playing was an example of something that was pushing the limits of technology at the time, and it absolutely ozzed style. I also loved fiction that just embraced this idea of an ultra sophisticated digitized world and just had fun with the idea of it, stuff like being able to navigate the internet as if it were a physical place like in Mega Man Battle Network. It was so fun and cool.
On a side note I miss when most AAA games had UI and menus that weren't soley made up of transparent boxes and text that that's all displayed in the most basic font. I love games that have really unique coherent styles in the presentation of their UI and menus that are able to help illicit a specific tone and compliment the game in a meaningful way other than just their functionality.
See, i always called it the y2k aesthetic, I genuinely think that it's a difficult style to pull off but I'm hoping one day a game or a show or movie could recapture that nostalgia.
Your pfp reminds me of how much Persona and especially SMT leaned heavy into this idea
@@Alastarsblade Porter Robinson's "Virtual Self" project pulled off the Y2K aesthetic pretty well, but I can't think of other recent examples that did it nearly as well. It would be cool to see a sort of 'revival' of the aesthetic, maybe once all of this 80s nostalgia blows over lol 😂
A lot of industrial themes, with influences from sci-fi flicks of the time and Y2K, a lot of PS2 games had such cool aesthetics, soundtracks, color palettes and HUDs / Menues.
It's funny because Ace Combat 7 definitely oozed that style with it's menu. An era with practical UIs AC7's menu really felt PS2-era aesthetics.
The PS2 era is honestly so unmatched, but this specific aesthetic you mention makes me so happy because I personally couldn’t put into words how games with the aesthetics like in Tekken 4 made me feel. I know for sure it was a positive feeling though. Like a rush🔥 so much nostalgia, man😭😭😭😭
There will never be a more impressive generational leap than going from Tekken 3 to Tekken 4. This game was mind blowing back then.
Mgs2 is right up there and gran turismo 3 and gta 3
Had it's moments
@@Mentis-de The PS1 had 3D polygonal games.
@@Mentis-de And Tekken 1, 2, and 3 were among them.
I still remember the price tag of Tekken 4 when I went to the store to buy it, I somewhat noticed the darker, more serious tone and focus on realism, with no monster or demon bosses, I honestly wasn't that big of a fan and preferred Tekken 3, but then Tekken 5 came out and it felt like a true follow up to Tekken 3
But looking back, Tekken 4 now feels more special
You know you've made a good vid when it gets ripped off twice
Came here to comment the same thing lol
UA-camrs have no shame
Haha, who ripped it off the second time? I've only seen the first where they even bite the "digital apocalypse" label
Putting this amount of quality in constant uploads is radical, can't wait for even more content
Quality over Quantity content.
The late-90's to early/mid 2000's was a golden age where the limitations of the technology still forced creativity and crafty design choices from devs, but wasn't so limited that said creativity itself had to be limited too. Soundtracks, UI's, gameplay, everything was fresh and fun or cutting edge in some way, industries started really making their tropes and aesthetics theirs and the notable games were just fucking good no matter what console they were on.
Gaming now is the opposite, where it's the advancements in technology enable more creativity and intensity than ever before, so there's still gems to be enjoyed, but they're gems and beloved for entirely different reasons than games like Jak & Daxter, Ridge Racer, Golden Sun, Resident Evil, Katamari, SotC, Metroid Prime, Wind Waker, and many, many other standouts of the time.
Man you said it. That's truth.
Yep and every late 90s and early 00s gen z and older Millenials remember this game Tekken 4
I've always felt like i'm the only one with a passion for atmosphere and aestethics in video games. content like this shows me others feel the same way and it makes me happy
hey reddit
@@oldirtyronin hey hows it going
Oh my goodness you put into words exactly what I feel 🥺 Atmosphere and aesthetic is king
I remember when Tekken 4 came, it was critized for being "Too slow", but for some reason, I loved Tekken 4 with the storyline of Jin and how his ending was great with the "single white feather" to show that there are still hope for Jin
Right on mate, the stories and endings were some of the best ever in my opinion, the ending that stuck with me the most was King's ending, so tense and touching. Paul's was also beautiful, and the Mishimas are either the end of humanity or in case of Jin, a story of hope for the character.
@@jakubbiay3893 yes although Paul nowadays is kind of a "Joke" character
@@hanchiman I feel like Asuka is in Paul's situation nowadays, like, Asuka had a potential to be a really interesting character, her motivations in T5 were very sincere, and then she was either "The big boobs girl" or Lili's main rival and just that.
Really sucks how they handle most of the character's nowadays, not saying that Kuma, Mokujin or Roger jr. need a tragic backstory, but so many characters had entry level promise and they later turned into a joke. Though I have faith in new people like Claudio, Shaheen, and the story between Katarina and Gigas has potential to do something amazing (if they choose to pursue it further which I hope they do).
@@jakubbiay3893 yeah I think T5 kinda ruin a bit also with Jin doing heel turn at the end just to create "negative aura". Also bit sad Heihachi is offiicial dead as he was an icon or Sony
@@hanchiman I think it's a good thing if Heihachi is killed of for good, was a great villain, but now Kazuya has taken his place, and I think it's good.
But yeah, Tekken 5 did a lot of things wrong story-wise in my opinion. Jin's heel turn just to "destroy the physical version of evil" or whatever his goal was, fake killing of Heihachi, introduction of characters that were either forgettable, wasted etc.
The only good thing about 5's stories I remember is Wang's ending and his friendship with Jinpachi, that was a thing of beauty.
Edit: Was a bit harsh on the new characters, Dragunov is still intriguing and cool imo, but still, not much progress with him.
You're just making this video to help indie devs recreate this aesthetic for when all their PS2 inspired games come out in a year or two and frankly, I'm all for it.
Agreed
Man I really cannot wait when we get to the Dreamcast/PS2 nostalgia wave on the internet
Holy! I have an idea.
Same
@@petalsinthebreeze I think we're already there tbh
If there's one thing that really sticks with me from Tekken 4 after all these years: it's the soundtrack. The intro, the stage themes, the ui sounds, etc... Every single sound just felt like it fit in perfectly like a jigsaw puzzle. It really helped set the entire mood and atmosphere for the whole game
The stages and the soundtrack really represent the mood/feeling of the first decade of 2000
Tekken 4 had an amazing atmosphere, I remember practicing Paul's demoman blue spark for hours at the airport stage without noticing how much time passed.
You really really hit this very specific nail on the head. I especially loved how you captured that exact feeling that a lot of early Japanese PS2 games had and gave some meaning to those concepts that 4-year-old me was constantly exposed to but never truly understood, like words and numbers constantly blasting across the screen in white Arial font.
Tekken 5 was my introduction to Tekken so that's the one I'll always hold the most nostalgia over, but I did go back to T4 after becoming curious as to what Tekken was like before 5 and I honestly feel like Tekken 4 was the peak of the series aesthetic and my favorite tone and atmosphere
Tekken 4 is pretty much the Grand Theft Auto 4 of the series.
@@philithegamer8265 Nah. I think GTA 4 was overall better recieved. In fact, GTA 4 for the most part is considered one of the best GTA games out of the series and for good reason. Tekken 4 however is a black sheep in a way. Though Tekken 4 is admired in hindsight, there's still alot of fans to this day that isn't too fond of it
I really appreciate this video. It's pretty common to hear people talk about the atmosphere of places in games, but I think the impact and mood of menu and graphic design is a little understated. I love this era of games. Sleek, stylish, clean. But cold. Mechanical and devoid of soul. It's so sick. Bring on the Digital Apocalypse.
You understand. Tekken 4 will always stick with me from the PS2 era. It’s one of my favorite games in the Tekken series and PS in general. The airport stage was always my favorite. The atmosphere this game presents is astounding. It gets hate because of the new things but I found them very innovate for the series. That’s what I love the most about this game. Not only that, I had fun playing with everyone in the game. I would hope one day they allow us to play this again.
This digital apocalypse aesthetic, and the general late 90s, early 2000s art movement(s) that you can see in pop culture and especially graphic design and video games is exactly what I’ve been trying to articulate for so long now but couldn’t quite piece it all together. Nice to see someone finally verbalize at least a piece of it.
Same here! This late 90s/early 2000s surreal techno/dark ambient vibe is something I can finally define with an easy name. Digital Apocalypse just feels right.
I'm all for this aesthetic coming back.
I feel the exact same way man, It feels so good to have it spelled out in front of me and to see that others agree with me and have noticed the things that I have noticed!
I got that exact same feeling about It when he talked about "Becoming one with the machine".
It would be Very Nice and new to study and explore this Aesthetic nowadays, when we really became one with the machines and It turned out not to be so good at ALL! Would love to discuss references and visuals w/ you guys, if you'd like to. How about we set up a Discord server about It?
@@tiaocaminhoneirofromhell4515 good idea man! If you create one reply back here please
I'll do It as soon as i have some spare time (that isn't much lol). Looking forward to it
Great video. You definitely understand the feel of Tekken 4.
I, on the other hand, always felt the vibe of Tekken 4 as "everybody goes on vacation" just look at all their costumes and styles! Even paul let his hair loose for this!
ah yes, Hwoarang in his vacation soldier uniform, Nina in her vacation spy catsuit.
honestly a lot of character's alts in Tekken are either casual or formal clothes tbf, it's not a Tekken 4 exclusive thing. But I kind of see what you mean, some of the stages are super chill in their nature and soundtrack by Tekken standarts, like the beach stage, the airport, the rooftop, city streets.
@@He11Jumper 💀💀💀💀
@@He11Jumper i mean vacation as in for once everyone not going to the tournament vibe. Like they all got other thing to attend to than attending the tournament and donning their "TOURNAMENT OUTFIT" a la wrestler costume. So in a sense i guess they take vacation from tournament-ing..
Some of their outfit is so down to earth and most only appear in t4, some hairstyle also only appear as their default in t4. Its as if hwoarang and paul take a break from doing wwf and said fudge this public ring look of mine, gonna cut my hair and stop using gel for once. Hey even hwoarang taekwondo outfit got a casual shoes and only appear here. Also the stage is sooo very un-tournament stage... They're just places we're passing everyday.
Sorry im rambling, i got two wives and and no money, time to sleep
@@He11Jumper oh and also after 4, all character go back to their respected t2 and t3 "costume"
@@keypath4389 two wives? that sounds lit
Tekken 4 was very much a product of the post-Y2K world; what was once this sleek, chrome-colored vision of the future now was fizzled down to a mystical and industrial realization of the world. From
The mention of how early PS2 games felt like "leaping into the digital world" or "into the next generation," was excellent. As many have stated, that weird middle ground between the late 90's and the early 2000's was beautiful - we saw a stark change in modern culture. We were coming from an optimistic, highly stylized idea of how things were to be and then into a very grounded yet charming reality of what we dreamed to be the world of tomorrow.
Very aptly put. Well said.
Future outlook was really optimistic back into late 90s,
Today, everything just depressive and nonsense
@@conmane3341and full of ads
The PINNACLE of this aesthetic was in Namco's Breakdown. The menu clicks and "digital nightmare" vibe are so central to everything that game is going for.
"You get a sense the game is kind of indifferent to your presence"
Great way to articulate that.
You have no idea how many deep memories you just unlocked within me. Tekken 4 came as a demo on my copy of demodisc added to PS2. I was a small kid living in Poland so money didn't exist for me. Even buying that PS2 was only after my father came back from working in US for months. I had two games, NFS UG2 and HP 3 but what was extreamly fascinating for me was that blue disc that they added to the console. I never had a console before, never occured to me that they can have demos. I booted it up and oh man. That music that was playing there, in the menu. The whole look of it and asthetic. It was giving off exactly what you were talking about in the video. Like i just hacked into the PS2 itself and was viewing some things that i wasn't supposed to see. I remember so many things from it. The amazing trailer for KH. The demo of R&C, i must have spent like 70 hours running around Metropolis and Rilgar. And the amazing demo of Tekken 4. With your video you reminded me of some feelings that were buried under the passage of time.
Thank you.
I had a similar experience from south Africa, I see you even have Ratchet as your profile Pic... Playing ratchet and clank 1 on that demo is also nostalgic
2:26 Kazuya executing that guy while swearing revenge was the absolute most badass moment from the entire ps2 era. Chills
Dude. *Ugh* . *_Finally_* , someone talks about the atmosphere of this game (and games of that era, which fit nicely).
Tekken 4's atmosphere left a massive impression on me. It's dark, chilling, almost horror-like presentation not only spooked me as a kid, it made me really respect its art direction as I grew older. It's gameplay direction wasn't great, as the sloped & uneven surfaces with random objects caused some exploits and unfair balancing, but I honestly wish the vibe of Tekken 4 came back in a future entry. I think it really fits the series, considering most of the main cast are often more villains than heroes and constantly contend with their selfishness. Plus that announcer REALLY needs to be hired again.
I should also mention that the rooftop stage's "Authentic Sky" theme is still, to date, one of my favorite video game tracks ever, along with one of my favorite calming songs in general. It's so polished.
It's a black sheep as a fighting game, but an innovator in presentation. If Bamco can take the elements that work and apply them again, but better, we could have the uniquely moody Tekken with solid competitive mechanics we've always wanted.
This game was my crack back in the day. Always stuck with me, even to this day.
When I saw this video uploaded, I couldn't click it fast enough.
It still shows in my taste today. I still like more grounded, darker, melancholic, atmospheric kinda stuff. Maybe T4 had a part in it?
Always found that announcer so freaking cool and was disappointed every time when a new Tekken didn't have him back.
They took risk with this one and it paid off. It's my favourite Tekken bar none. Wished more games would take this route
The problem is when they brought out tekken 5 and onward releases, the games were dope but i feel like they were just playin it safe , like when i play tekken 7, i feel like im playin a re-skined edition of tekken 6 with extra characters lol
Do you know ThorHighHeels? He talks about this kind of nostalgia game atmosphere all the time.
Well said my friend. I truly miss this vibe from Tekken and it’s awesome story mode.
The game isn't that creepy it's more like its very chill and laid back, almost reflective compared to loud and brash today's tekken is.
The ps2 era was one of my favorite eras of gaming, so many great games, so many hours of fun, great nostalgia
Your absolute favorite era of gaming?
@@philithegamer8265 not absolut, I grew up with nes/snes/sega, hard to choose which era to be my favorite
This is probably one of my favourite videos you've put out. It's rare you get people talking about the "vibe" of games at least in my experience.
The phrase "digital apocalypse" is also perfect for describing that particular aesthetic.
PS2 promos and the PS2 start up + home screen during the early 2000s made me feel this.
Tekken Tag Tournament intro definitely felt futuristic.
The PS2 felt so insanely revolutionary, and it was. I was only 10 or 11 at the time, so I didn't think much of it since I couldn't fully grasp the time-line and progress of technology. But looking back now, I wonder if people older than me felt that same revolutionary impact.
Yes. PS2 was the promise of a better future, no less. The first wave of games didn't look much better than Dreamcast games, but fall 2001 started delivering the big hitters. Google "PS2 fall 2001 lineup" on Google images, you'll see a picture that has them. I got mine on launch day and felt really starved for a year. SSX was amazing, Ridge Racer 5 was meh (in comparison with RRT4 on PS1), Tekken Tag was alright, but it did feel desertic for a year.@@SharkWithFreakinLaserBeam
Shoutout to the rather subdued Tekken 4 announcer, and one of a kind voice in the world of fighting games.
Guys like the sf alpha and soul calibur voices are great and all but nothing beats the sleek almost sinister vibe of this game's "Round 1, Fight"
Always wanted to see his face
I agree, the Tekken 3 announcer also nailed it for the tone of the game, shoutout to the whole sound team too, fuck it everyone involved deserves a heihachi trophy
What a great video. You nailed it mate.
Nice to see you here, love your ideas for T8, hope they seriously get considered, especially the designs for Kaz and Hei
I like these type of videos where you explore the atmosphere and discuss the emotions you felt playing the game, rather than reviewing it and being critical about it. This video was crisp, well-edited, nostalgic and very enjoyable.
Tekken 4 is pretty much the Grand Theft Auto 4 of the franchise.
Tekken 4 was the first PS2 game I’ve ever played. I remember it like it was yesterday when I was very content playing my PS1 until my father randomly came home and proceeded to unwrap and plug in the new PlayStation. This video will forever hold a special place in my heart for so accurately describing my nostalgic experience playing this game!
Namco was the king of aesthetic menus in that era: R4, Ace combat 3, RR5, Mr Driller, all had style for days.
Yeah ever sense they merge, things changed.
R4 is soooooo fucking good!!!!
Authentic Sky (Rooftop Theme) and the Labratory Theme just encapsulates the feeling of the PS2 era of games that I miss so much.
I was always taken in by Tekken 4's more moody aesthetic. It's a unique atmosphere for a fighting game to have, the overwhelming majority of them are very bombastic. While I'd say I prefer T3 and T5's art direction more(and gameplay), the uniqueness of T4 gives it a special place in my heart.
me too, so much so that in ttt2 i replaced all musics with t4 ones
Tekken 4's graphics were such an advancement at the time, I remember playing it in the arcade before it came out for the PS2 and my dad and I were blown away. Paul having his hair down for the first time and flowing was what really did it.
100%, I've always felt T4 was the most unique of the series. A lot of PS2 games had this just indescribable atmosphere. I'll always remember that distorted **"Welcome to the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4"**
Also, BRING BACK COMBOT
I will sometimes just say it out loud in the same way 'cause it sounded so cool 😂
Didn't Combot technically return in Tag 2?
@@waspennator They brought him back as a someone with a mixture of moves (of the player’s choosing) from other characters, honestly I prefer if they brought him back like that since not only storywise that’s what Lee had visioned Combot, how he was in Tekken 4 was just Mokujin.
@@sonomni Except Mokujin changes style every round where Combot changes style per match.
After going through too many “retrospective” videos trying to look back at the game but fail abhorrently, it’s good to see that there’s ONE video that talks about something good here.
And with everything that came after this including what we’ve seen of Tekken 8 so far, this continues to be the one that actually RESPECTS the dang game more than insults it for its faults. Really makes me wish they used this as a inspiration for a future Tekken game, right down from the music to the stage designs .
The character selection screen is really on another level.
The guitars, the announcer voice, the smoke...
Thank God, another person on the internet recognizes the cool aesthetic of this game.
Tekken 4 was one of the first PS2 games I experienced back in the day, with 3 being the last Tekken game I played, this game felt like night and day in terms of graphics, story presentation (it was the first game with all characters having spoken dialogue), stage designs, unique soundtrack, and overall UI and menus, it was groundbreaking for it's time.
it's a shame the game ended up being divisive when it comes to the combat and character roster, which is obviously something the Tekken Team immediately addressed with Tekken 5, which is a pretty good game in it's own right, but lacked that cool and moody early 2000s aesthetic that 4 had, sadly.
Absolutely loved this, mate. This and The Beach Generation are both so good for capturing a certain nebulous kind of vibe and making it concrete. I wish this kind of insight was more common.
I always loved the weird ps2 menus from that era. They felt so isolated and otherworldly but also strangely comfortable and it made me excited to explore whatever world they were gonna put me in.
I swear every time I pass by an airport this theme plays in my head much like every time it snows yoshimitsu’s theme from the first tekken tag plays in my head. Authentic sky, the airport theme and hon Maru are the top three best tracks in this game for me personally. I remember finally playing the Mishima storyline after the longest because I didn’t really care to play them because law was my main and experiencing the hon maru stage along with the theme for the first time my hype went to the moon it was so fucking awesome. Tekken 4 will always have a place in my heart no matter how much it gets hated on. And I’m glad that one you made a video highlighting how unique and special this game is and seeing men of culture gathered here singing it’s praises as well
I thought that snow stage is Anna’s stage from T1? Because that’s the only track i like from T1. The rest are forgettable.
Tekken 2 had some great tracks tho.
Tekken 4 was my absolute favourite in the series! I loved the darker and more grounded setting. The gameplay changes might have upset the pros but it was a real evolution to the series, even though going back to basics with Tekken 5 was probably for the best. I think the gameplay shift reflected the style of fighting games at the time like the controls felt similar to the Dead or Alive and Virtua Fighter games including the menus. I miss when the characters actually had purpose and weren't just given joke endings. It is a perfect window in the early 2000's era and aesthetic seen in movies like The Matrix, Daredevil, Blade, Underworld etc. My only complaint is the removal of so many good characters which was disappointing after Tekken Tag Tournament. The music is atmospheric and beautiful too!
Tekken 4s graphics really looked amazing on the PS2 early years. Even the stages looked so good and enjoyable. It’s just amazing that how gaming in general has been evolved over the past 20 years. I had such great nostalgic memories I had with this one.
I loved that dark element the game had it felt like a true Tekken game because of how dark Jin & Kazuyas stories are, the music was amazing too it was another vibe that I enjoyed because I love dark movie’s, Anime, shows etc I hope they bring this style back on Tekken 8
Agreed, I love the PS2's overall aesthetic, and how it seemed to transcend one specific developer and envelop an entire generation, even if the techno style of the era wasn't original to games.
One game that's another great example of this is Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies. Even if you don't wanna play a bad ass flight action game, check out the menus. Game has a vibe that no other game in the series does. Call it a sign of the times, but it was a cool ass time.
Yep.
And Ridge Racer V ❤
I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to video games broadly being seen as "virtual realities" rather than "interactive media" or something akin to movies. If you look at how tech has been innovated over the years to emulate film cameras and their dynamics, from flaws in exposure to motion blur to literal lens flares, you can seen how deeply engrained it is now. Hell, compare MGS2 to MGSV, where one has digital glitches in its visuals and another has burning celluloid for when you take damage. It honestly makes me a little sad just how many ways video games have chained themselves to the tech and look of movies where they could do something novel and unique.
THIS! This is why T4 is still one of my favorites. Is it an unbalanced mess with a bare bones roster? Yes. But the presentation (and Tekken Force) makes up for it. Feels less like traditional japanese arcade fighter, and more like a UFC game but with all these strange anime-esque newcomers in the mix. Love it!
True that. Tekken 4 feels more like an actual MMA tournament rather than the zaniness of the later games.
Finally, a video about GETTING it.
Tekken 4 stands to date as my favorite game of all time. Yes, the gameplay is subpar for Tekken standards, but does that really matter when the environment is so goddamn goosebumps inducing?
Shinjuku. Arena. Underground. A real, authentic street fight has just occurred in a public setting and shit is about to go down.
Parking Lot. Beach. Jungle. Mall. Stages that are extremely groovy and super adventurous, making you wanna jam and beat down, to kick ass in a rhythm.
LABORATORY. HON-MARU. AIRPORT. BUILDING. THE PEAK OF TEKKEN 4's MOODY BEAUTY. Just thinking about these stages makes my back drop 5 degrees in temperature. THIS is how you do aesthetic. The stage design is downright godly here.
Not to mention the story building itself. When was the last time a bloody character introduction gave you chills? I know, Tekken 4! And that applies to every single one of them!
Even the wardrobe design stands out as a particular shade of "Shit is real now" with just the slightest touch of unorthodox. Paul, Jin, Lei, Lee and Hwoarang stand out as examples for me in this category.
God I fucking love this game.
And also Tekken force Rocked too
We got this, MGS2, the Bouncer, and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex all in the span of like 2 years. And also Gunslinger Girl, the original FMA, and Texhnolyze. That era just had a certain trance fueled pseudo-cyber punk feel.
Yep
That fight between Jin and Kazuya at Honmaru...when the music for the honmaru stage starts, its just totally epic. One of those video game moments that stays in your mind
Also, SmackDown: Just Bring It has an eerily similar atmosphere. The dark techno menu music, the reverberating hushed announcer (CAUTION-caution-caution...) and the hexagonal neon menus.
I wondered if anyone would bring up JBI. While the game certainly was not great (especially compared to its immediate successors), it still to this day has one of the most impressionable and distinctive sound / visual designs, when it comes to the UI and soundtrack of any game out there. The Create-A-Wrestler menu / BGM is the one that resonated with me the most.
Just Bring It's menu style always makes me think it belonged in some kind of SNK fighting game or something.
Tekken 4 was my first tekken and I’ll always have a soft spot for it
Finally, someone talks about the atmosphere in fighting games. It makes such a difference!
The rooftop theme is called authentic sky. So even that sounds simulationesque
Your eloquences at ascribing and describing Leitmotiff and tones of these 2000s era nostalgia music (least to my experience as I was born in the 90s) is flourily impeccable as always mr Charlie
This is legitimately one of my favorite pieces of content I’ve ever seen. Thank you for capturing this. I’ve tried figuring out for YEARS what made me love the late 90s and 2000s gaming aesthetics. PS2 and GameCube specifically captured this so well with games like Super Monkey Ball and Custom Robo. You’d get that ambient, transcendental trance music and the digitally-advanced visual aesthetics. I find it interesting that a game like Tekken 4 captures the coldness yet incredibly intoxicating vibe of a dystopian future far better than, say, Cyberpunk 2077. Whereas that game is quickly becoming a well-worn trope that is inspiring several clones, I still feel like the millennium productions of Namco and Sega especially stand out as their own thing.
Man, I used to LOVE this game when I was a kid. Thanks for the nostalgia trip!
It’s crazy how much I appreciate growing up with this game. Truly a vibe like no other.
On the topic of menu's, Ace Combat 5 had one that felt so natural to the game. The way you select one option and the line that runs off to the right heads to another box that had the menu you selected.
It felt like you were going sub-menu after sub-menu to find what you were looking for, as if you had to dig around a computer to find the right info.
Love the "Ghost in the Shell chanting", there is something special about games from this era.
Tekken 4 is far from my favourite Tekken game, but you perfectly captured what I love and miss about that era of video games. I don't need remasters, I'd just love some direct ports of these classic games to current consoles.
Digital apocalypse... Wow
Finally theres a name to that indescribable feeling
This video has managed to describe so many of the same sort of vibes and feelings I got from those early PS2 games that I've never been able to describe before. And now I also want to go play Tekken 4 again.
They totally should have kept this dark aesthetic instead of the cheesy early 2000's Shonen anime vibe it has now. Ugh.
Love me some Y2K vibes man,
may they forever live on in my heart.
Good stuff Brit
The fighter select music in T4 is top tier. I always appreciated it.
This game gives off a melancholic mood of the Sunsetting that felt really specific to that period between the late 90s to early 00's(I think Authentic Sky captures it best). It's not the series best, but for better or worse, it is a series standout.
Tekken 4 felt like you were in space in a space station. It was cool, clean and had bright colors.
I've always enjoyed the character bios as well. It makes you feel like your in a database gathering information on each character.
Clearly what the devs are going for.
when i think of tekken 4, the airport music and jin/kazuyas final battle music is what always instantly comes to mind. it's so enchanting and invokes a sense of nostalgia like few video games will ever do. this was a magical time in gaming history
I was one of those people who genuinely appreciate the aesthetic of Tekken 4 .. the first time i launched this game on the PS2 it felt like something i never felt before .. hearing the narrator voice in the character select , hearing the Airport / Building / Laboratory theme for the first time, goosebumps hits all over my body .. the atmosphere , the music , the futuristic feeling of every corner even ending themes of every character , every stage and detail makes you hopeful for the future of gaming in the early 2000's, it was way ahead of its time , aside from Tekken 3 non of the Tekken games left that impact on me more than Tekken 4 , the early 2000's PS2 games had a lot of aesthetic gems but Tekken 4 was special
Sucks that the lack of balance or polish is what killed Tekken 4’s competitive scene.
There will honestly never be a time period in gaming as the 6th generation of consoles...
From a PC player.
I really appreciate your scriptwriting here and your ability to take a collective feeling of group nostalgia and articulate it into words via a well thought out script and video presentation. You nailed it! Tekken 4 had a huge part in my life and now I can understand why I liked and played it so much for so long. The nostalgia of that game in particular is very special.
I still have my original copy of Tekken 4. It was among the three games I got with the PS2 alongside ATV Off-road Fury and Twisted Metal Black.
I put so much time into Tekken 4. It holds a nostalgic place in my heart. In retrospect, I like how grounded it was compared to other entries in the franchise. It definitely had its own unique charm and aesthetic.
The sound design, soundtrack and many aesthetic choices make Tekken 4's atmosphere one of a kind. You can draw similarities between Tekken 3, 5, 6 and even 7, but 4 was just a whole different thing. I think it is heavily underrated among Tekken fans. It's not my favourite, but I still LOVE it
Its a shame this game often gets shiton by old tekken heads because of the nerfed movement and combo variety (which was a response by the devs to tag1) but as you said in the video I always felt the omnious vibes you got from the game were so unique for the franchise. Also I miss T4 version of Paul mans' became a joke after this game.
It was really bizarre to me because this was the best Tekken imo.
As an old Tekken head, yeah 4 is based
It wasn't shat on because of nerfed movement so much. It was more shat on because the game was completely unbalanced and I'd say barely-playable on the competitive scene.
Which is a shame since I also LOVED the style and atmosphere of this game :(
@@richardwilliams877 Too much focus on the competitive scene ruined the aesthetics of the series, imo.
@@suiken3149 too much focus on the competitive scene ruined the aesthetics of just about EVERY fighting game nowadays. just about all my favorite fighting game series, 3D or otherwise, lost a lot of their magic somewhere within the last 2 console generations.
Tekken 4 blew me away when I saw it in the arcade, back in the day. Big place in my heart for Tekken 2, 4, and Tag 2.
The PS2 era was probably the peak of fighting games, at least in regard to the amount of content per game.
Sequels in the HD era did the neat little trick of cutting half the roster because "pretty graphics are hard and we need content for the season pass."
Just call this era the 6th Generation of consoles.
Soulcalibur II which was also part of the same generation is still one of the most godlike fighting games in terms of content
Tekken 4 was definitely a vibe. That airport theme got stuck in my head aswell even after all these years...
Oh I know I'm gonna like this.
3, Tag and 5 were my go-to games, but I always knew I underrated 4 like everyone else, and it definitely has that distinct, ethereal style.
I’m so glad someone made video on this. You truly captured the true essence of Tekken 4 and the wave of new gen console gaming at the time. Namco really outdone themselves with this game, despite the reviews on the gameplay side of it, the presentation and cutscenes of each fighter had a real dark and suspense tone. Take Yoshimitsu’s ending video as the music builds up, or of course the amazingly done intro video. I loved everything about this game when I was young, the stages, the characters, the music, everything! I genuinely wish we get a remake or somehow maps put into tekken 7 or 8. The aesthetics of Tekken 4 is an underrated gem of a game!
Touch and Go is the name of the Airport theme. I listen to it frequently, such a banger that none of my friends appreciate. I hang out with scrubs.
I never noticed that the jump in tech from the PS1 to PS2 lent itself to the theme of the game as a whole. Interesting observation, and great video as always!
I hope in the future we get a resurgence in this style games had the same way the retro era has had a huge resurgence in recent years.
You probably get this comment a lot, but you won't believe how delighted I was to see a video regarding a PS2 game presented in its original aspect ratio. I watched this video two times back to back, just to gaze at that fantastic Tekken 4 capture. It was really nostalgic, and looked perfect to me.
My dad told me when Jin's hood came off, it was his strongest form. As a 5 year old at the time, I believed him because I didn't win another round after that hood came off. No amount of button mashing would've saved me.
He wasn't talking about Jin, he was talking about himself. You triggered the second phase of the Dad boss fight and suffered the consequences.
It was something. When we saw his hood comes off we gone nuts!
All the aesthetic that some of these early PS2 titles hold will never leave my mind at all, and I totally love it.
Thanks for giving this gem some love! Feels very overshadowed by 3 and 5. Was always fascinated by that eerie atmosphere no other Tekken game captures...