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Tekken 8has done justice to the legacy of the 30-year-old series with its high-end visuals and an intense take on 3D fighter combat, allowing its many character options to still feel fresh. The set of stages the player has access to can be equally noteworthy, ranging from magnificent vistas to otherworldly scenes inTekken 8that can each offer unique experiences.
With the continued prevalence ofstage hazards inTekken 8, its stages play a crucial role in the dynamics of each match outside their appearances alone. Factors like different transitions and sizes can alter strategies and add layers of depth to a battle, or sometimes cheapen combat with puzzling design.
S-Tier Stages in Tekken 8
Elegant Palace is the signature stage ofTekken 8’s Lee Chaolan, and it combines an opulent visual theme with multiple engaging hazards which can see it transition into a completely different laboratory environment. Essentially embodying two distinct arenas in one, hopefully this stage sets the tone for future innovation.
Standing out with its dramatic weather effects and overall epic atmosphere, the crashing waves and lightning strikes of Fallen Destiny make it one of the most visually spectacular in the franchise. A smaller size may contrast this grand feeling, but it has still come to represent the game. Through a mesmerizing set of shifting, eerie landscapes that pay homage to pastTekkenentries, Descent into Subconsciousness creates an unpredictable and compelling atmosphere inside and outside of story context.
A-Tier Stages in Tekken 8
Fighting in literal space with Earth visible in the background of Into the Stratosphere makes for one of the boldest concepts for a stage in fighting games. Its wall placements and Floor Blast can make it more frustrating than it appears, but there’s still an undeniable aesthetic grandeur.
A combination of novel visuals in alpacas and aliens makes Ortiz Farm a charming addition alongsideTekken 8’s Azucena. The unique hazards it’s built around can make it a consistently enjoyable stage alongside its unconventional embellishments. A straightforward and thematically appropriate stage, Secluded Training Ground’s dojo-like environment features dynamic hazards for exciting transitions within a relatively traditional visual style. Sanctum’s gloomy atmosphere and excellent soundtrack come together with fun hazards that can bring strategic depth to this stage. It might be relatively small until the Wall Break, but overall it’s worth the required patience.
B-Tier Stages in Tekken 8
As the first stage available throughTekken 8’s DLC season offerings, Seaside Resort follows the classic beach environment archetype for the series. With a strong soundtrack that captures an energetic feeling, it makes up for lacking some of the more unique elements of other stages. Yakushima is a vast stage in beautiful nature that can feel plain compared to others, and its massive size makes it most ideal for practicing long combos.
Celebration on the Seine’s luxurious boat setting has no hazards to disrupt direct combat. Its smaller size can be a drawback, but it technically honors the classic raft stage archetype of the 3D fighter genre. Modern and well-designed, Arena achieves a contemporary sports fighting feel while maintaining a straightforward design for a neutral experience. A solid representation of a New York-based environment, the Urban Square’s pleasant ambiance is essentially the same between its daytime and evening variants.
C-Tier Stages in Tekken 8
Grand in scale but lacking in elements like stage breaks, Coliseum of Fate is less dynamic in terms of gameplay and visuals outside its impressive size. While it features an entertaining soundtrack, Rebel Hangar’s plain, metal-heavy design and basic hazards can make it less memorable. The tighter ruined building setting of Midnight Siege is intriguing, but ultimately frustrating due to the heavy prevalence of Wall Blast here. Arena (Underground) may be visually stark and popular online, but the disruptive Wall Bounds here have led to player fatigue fromTekken 8’s stage hazard comboswhen compared to its plainer variant.
