Preview: 'Tekken 4' fights onto the PlayStation 2

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By Tokyo Drifter

(IDG) -- "Tekken Tag Tournament" was fun, but fighting fans have been waiting for the real sequel to "Tekken 3" for quite a while now. The wait is almost over as "Tekken 4" readies for its arcade debut and then cuts a beeline to the PlayStation 2. Everyone knew the graphics would get a major overhaul, but it's great to see that the fighting system is getting some dynamic changes as well.

For the first time, the stages will have walls, and will be very different from one another, meaning players will have to study layouts and think about their positions on the play field if they want to become masters. Some areas will be very narrow while others will have vast amounts of ground to cover, lending to different tactics and situations. The sidestep move has been expanded and will now allow you to move much more freely, letting you gain positional advantage and dodge attacks more effectively. You'll even be able to exchange places with an opponent if you're trapped in a corner, if your timing is precise enough.

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"Tekken 4" will hit arcades later this summer. The PlayStation 2 release is still yet to be announced.

Here is the official back-story of "Tekken 4," directly from Namco arcade:

Two years ago, Heihachi failed to capture Ogre. Not willing to give up, Heihachi ordered his researchers to collect blood samples, skin tissue, and hoof fragments left behind by Ogre (or known as True Ogre in its true manifestation) in order to conduct genetic experiments. Heihachi's goal was to create a new life form by splicing Ogre's genome with his own. However, the research was unsuccessful.

After extensive experimentation, Heihachi's bioengineers came to the conclusion that an additional gene -- the Devil Gene -- was necessary in order to successfully splice Ogre's genetic code into another living organism. Heihachi learned that his own genome lacked the Devil Gene, but he knew someone who did...Jin Kazama. Jin, who vanquished Ogre in The King of Iron Fist Tournament 3, was shot and mortally wounded by Heihachi. As his life slipped away, Jin transformed into a Devil. Upon his transformation, he struck down Heihachi and took flight. Jin's whereabouts were unknown after the Tournament. Heihachi searched for Jin to no avail.

However, Heihachi discovered a photograph during his investigation that stirred his curiosity. The 20-year-old photograph was an image of a burnt corpse covered with laceration wounds. Heihachi paid particular attention to the corpse's back, which had what looked like deformed, protruding wing-like limbs. Convinced that the picture was of Kazuya, his own son whom he threw into a volcano 20 years ago, Heihachi diverted all his resources into a search for the body. This search eventually led Heihachi to G Corporation, a leading-edge biotech firm making unprecedented advances in the field of biogenetics research. Heihachi discovered that G Corporation found the corpse and extracted and analyzed its genetic data. In fact, Heihachi learned that the company was in the midst of creating a new life form by using the data. Heihachi also determined that Kazuya's remains and research data were secured at G Corporation's Nebraska and Nepal research laboratories, respectively.

Friday, 25 December: The Tekken Force raided G Corporation's maximum-security research laboratory in Nepal. The bottom floors of the building were obliterated, and the remaining data storage facility containing file servers was airlifted by a group of heavy-duty helicopters. At the same time, a separate unit led by Heihachi infiltrated the underground research facility in Nebraska, where Kazuya's remains were preserved. As Heihachi observed from his helicopter, he soon realized that unlike the Nepal facility, the operations in Nebraska were not going according to plan. The tactical status monitor screens showed the first wave of the Tekken Force troops being blown out from the storage room where Kazuya's remains were supposedly kept. A silhouette of a large figure slowly emerged from the room. When Heihachi could see clearly enough, he instantly recognized the large figure as Kazuya. Kazuya was resurrected in G Corporation's research facility. After his resurrection, Kazuya offered his body as research material to determine the true nature of the Devil that resided within him.

Kazuya's goal was to unify his two selves into one. Kazuya theorized that if he unified his body with the Devil, he would be able to truly harness its powers. He could then finally take revenge against Heihachi and the Mishima Zaibatsu (Financial Empire). Enraged that Heihachi thwarted his plans, Kazuya obliterated the heavily armed Tekken Force and vanished into the flames of the lab's wreckage. Heihachi was infuriated by Kazuya's escape and took out his anger on his hapless subordinates who reported the escape. Abel, Heihachi's lead scientific advisor, urged the enraged Heihachi to quickly find a way to capture Kazuya. Once his anger subsided, Heihachi focused his mind and decided on a plan. An evil smile crept upon his lips.

Two years had passed since The King of Iron Fist Tournament 3. The Mishima Zaibatsu announced The King of Iron Fist Tournament 4 and placed the massive financial empire as the top prize. The champion who manages to defeat Heihachi at the end of the Tournament would inherit the Mishima Zaibatsu. Well aware that the tournament is just a trap designed to lure him out, Kazuya nevertheless enters -- it is his chance to defeat Heihachi.