Tekken 8 Kuma Character Guide, Who is Kuma in Tekken 8?

Who is Kuma in Tekken 8?

In Tekken 8, Kuma plays a dual role as both a former pet of Heihachi Mishima and a loyal member of the Tekken Force. Kuma, like the rest of Heihachi’s family, was trained in Mishima’s fighting style and served as his bodyguard for a long time. Despite his seemingly straight-laced appearance, Kuma has a rich storyline and a clear rivalry with Paul Phoenix in the Tekken Tournament.

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In the latest installment of Tekken 8, Kuma continues to compete in the King of Iron Fist tournament and has revealed a new and unique weapon. This unique addition to his arsenal has become the center of attention, especially when another character, Panda, senses that there is something unusual about it, as seen in Kuma’s trailer.

Tekken 8 Kuma Character Guide

Backstory and Legacy

As Heihachi’s pet, Kuma was trained in Mishima-style martial arts and served as Heihachi’s bodyguard, adding a rich backstory. Known for his long-running rivalry with Paul Phoenix, Kuma continues to be a fan favorite and holds a unique place in the Tekken roster.

Game Elements

Kuma’s playstyle in Tekken 8 is a mix of bear-like attacks, exaggerated antics, and Mishima-style martial arts. Combining Heihachi’s moves with new moves from Tekken 8, Kuma has an extensive move list, giving players the opportunity to mix things up and more options.

Notable Mechanics: Rage Art

Kuma’s Rage Art, titled “38-style Eradication Weapon: Aramaki,” is a visually stunning move that involves transforming a fish into a rocket. This mid-range attack creates a violent explosion, providing a unique and powerful option when in Rage mode.

Positions and changes

Kuma launches with a variety of stances, including “Hunting Bear,” “Sitting Bear,” and “Tumbling Bear,” each of which offers a range of moves and potential for mix-ins. While not as central as some characters’ stances, Kuma’s stances contribute to his varied and entertaining playstyle.

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Tips for playing Kuma

Mastering Kuma’s gameplay requires understanding key techniques, such as the importance of “Bear Hunting Stance”, exploiting attack range differences, and using Kuma’s unique animations to defeat opponents. The guide emphasizes that it takes dedication and practice to master Kuma’s tricks and become proficient in high-ranked matches.

Challenges and Rewards

Despite the somewhat unsafe blocking option, the guide encourages players to stick with Kuma and promises a rewarding experience for those who enjoy the absurd yet delightful nature of this character in Tekken 8.

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Tekken 8

Developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Arika, the fighting game Tekken 8 will be released on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on January 26, 2024. As the eighth canonical work and the tenth work in the Tekken series, the game introduces the story mode “Dark Awakening”, which is set six months after the previous game. The story revolves around the final conflict between father Kazuya Mishima and son Jin Kazama, aiming to end the turmoil in their family.

Tekken 8 features 32 characters, each with their own story that contributes to the main plot, and introduces new mechanics such as the “heat” system and the “tornado” strike. The game was developed with Unreal Engine 5, tested for stability, and released a demo version in December 2023. Tekken 8 was widely praised upon its release, praising its series progression and radical gameplay, with some praising it as the best work since Tekken 3.

Tekken 8 Gameplay

Tekken 8 retains the familiar fighting game style of its predecessor, but has been significantly updated. The game introduces a more aggressive strategy that rewards proactive attacks through a new system called “Heat”. While in “Heat”, characters cause chip damage, unlock additional moves, and change certain move properties to encourage offensive play. The “Rage” system returns and has been changed, turning “Rage Drive” into “Heat Smash”, a powerful super move in the “Heat” system.

Technical improvements include replacing the “Spiral” mechanism with a “Tornado” extender that affects the opponent’s state when they fall. Certain levels have hazards, such as destructible walls, adding a strategic element. Tekken 8 aims to create a cinematic combat experience, emphasizing level destruction and character reactions.

The game has new character models and voice acting, an improved online mode “Arcade Quest”, customizable avatars and “Fight Money” currency. Tekken 8 uses Unreal Engine 5 and is the first large-scale fighting game to use the engine, which is a milestone.

Tekken 8 Trailer

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