The Tekken 8 Season 2 update hasn’t exactly been well received by players considering the Steam reviews tanked to “Overwhelmingly Negative” after the patch, and that goes for the top competitors as well.
Three-time Evo Champion DRX|Knee recently wrote and showed a lot about what he doesn’t like about Tekken 8 Season 2 in particular including a detailed list of his current problems with the game.
The longtime Tekken star shared some of his match footage of Jin (and Panda) absolutely stomping on the opponents with some added context.
Knee claims it’s not about being aggressive in Season 2, but rather Tekken is now “just a selfish game” with heavily plus on block moves that can’t be reacted to that leads to 50/50 setups and nothing to really do on defense.
I think It’s not aggressive. It’s just a selfish game.
block +7,+9,+12…They don’t care about defense.
we can’t react. It’s just 50/50. no sidestep, Because there’s safe mid homing. It makes defense more difficult.
combo is so long and ridiculous damage.And spike combo..… pic.twitter.com/MQPz9U2L3d
— DRX｜KNEE (@holyknee) April 10, 2025
He also posted some Lars match footage of him constantly on the offense stating he doesn’t “want to play this way, but this is the best” thing to be doing.
Following that, Knee wrote up a long list of his specific issues in the game now coming out to nine different areas in particular.
Combos are too long, mind games are simplified, removed legacy knowledge, chip damage and heat moves are among his gripes with the current state of things.
I don’t want to play this way, but this is the best. pic.twitter.com/EyG88QeA7W
— DRX｜KNEE (@holyknee) April 10, 2025
Bandai Namco has acknowledged the player feedback and are looking over what they can do about this apparent disconnect between the developers and the playerbase.
How much Tekken 8 can and will be changed in the coming moths remains to be seen as well as how many players are going to stick around casually and competitively.
We’ve included Knee’s full list of issues with Tekken 8 now below to check out.
This is my opinion about S2
I would be happy if this helpful to them.
Honestly, I think the developer’s idea should be different from the player. However, I think it would be nice to accept some feedback.
but I don’t care if they don’t listen. Tekken8 is already a negative review.
1. Combo too long and high damage
In the past, the combo was simple and short, but it wasn’t fun? no it was easy to teach beginners. But now, I have to teach them the tailspin, but it’s also difficult. And the tailspin is so strong that it goes in twice, and it makes the combo long. How about tailspin only once?
2. Simple Mind Games
For example Kazuya, he’s main moves was weak to left ss, so high level skill is holding the axis and catch left ss, but now you don’t care left ss, They added mid safe homing. Simple concepts in this way seem simple to look at, and they’re less fun. Fighting games are boring
If they’re easy. They get bored of it early
Too many mid safe homing has been added.
It would be nice if the player had a sidestep option.
3. Heat move
Now the heat is unbalanced. Someone recover the heat bar, someone too much heat bar, someone have too much strong move in the heat. There are a lot of moves with less risk, but the rewards are big.
Just because it’s a heat move
I hope it’s consistent. heat recovery is unfair.
4. Removed legacy
The legacy knowledge has been removed. air moves can’t be low parry or hold move can’t parry.
There are more besides this.
So we have no way to tactic with certain situations.
Did it have to be removed?
5. Too much connect stance and stance heat burst
It’s making the game complicated and ridiculous.
It’s looks unnatural.
Dev team think players would like it?
Rather, it looks unnatural. It’s an excessive change.
I think it brings a limitation of style because I only use it.
6. Too long range and too much plus frame
Characters with weapons have a very long range.
It needs to be adjusted.
Plus frame is too much when block. +7 +9 There are a lot of things like this. These things only produce selfish play. People got a lot of stress.
7. too many 50/50 situation
There are a lot of 50/50 situations after the heat engager or block +7 or +9 frame
Heat engager is damage to opponent and recovery health bar. I think this is a big reward. But is there a reason to give it +17? I think it’s an excessive reward. It’s too forced
Mid between low start frame of 50/50 is often the same. or 1~2 frame difference
It is too difficult to block this in a forced situation.
8. Chip Damage
Many players said they don’t like it. but it’s unlikely to change. To be honest, if T8 don’t have a chip damage, we can hold out even if it’s forced.
So hopefully they would reduce the chip damage even a little bit. Honestly, the chip damage is worse than 2D games.
9. The direction in which a beginner or rookie beats a veteran
I don’t know why they make it with this direction, but I don’t think it’s gamely good.
Veterans have invested a lot of time and put a lot of effort into it. So it’s a fun game to play when you increase your knowledge and learn your skills.
Actually I don’t know why a veteran should have a high probability of losing to Beginner or Rookie. Isn’t that contradictory?
This is my opinion about S2
I would be happy if this helpful to them.
Honestly, I think the developer’s idea should be different from the player. However, I think it would be nice to accept some feedback.
but I don’t care if they don’t listen. Tekken8 is already a negative…— DRX｜KNEE (@holyknee) April 10, 2025
Source: Event Hubs
