WATCH: Akuma kicks ass in new Tekken 7 PS4 gameplay video
Still as badass as ever. And we're not just talking about his hair.
With Tekken X Street Fighter firmly in development hell, we won't be seeing Ryu trading blows with Jin anytime soon. But at least we'll be able to play as Akuma in the upcoming Tekken 7: Fated Retribution as a sort of consolation prize. Check out this new PS4 gameplay video, showing Akuma kicking ass against Katarina and Lili.
Surprisingly, Akuma looks like he belongs in the Tekken franchise, with his moves appearing natural and in line with Tekken fighters. Well, except for his trademark fireball attack, which seems out of place. But hey, if Devil Jin can shoot lasers off his face, why not fireballs coming out of someone's hands?
Akuma won't be just a guest character in the game, though. According to series producer Katsuhiro Harada in an interview with PlayStation Lifestyle last year, Akuma has a part in the Mishima storyline "in some way." So don't expect him to simply be a bystander in the game, inserted as an apology to fans who had and still have high hopes for Tekken X Street Fighter.
Aside from Akuma, two more guest characters from other video game franchises will also be included in Tekken 7, although Bandai Namco has yet to reveal their identities. The first guest character will arrive in Winter 2017, while the second guest character drops in Spring 2018. Both will arrive via DLC packs, which you need to purchase individually unless you own a Season Pass.
The ninth installment in the long-running series, Tekken 7: Fated Retribution arrives on June 2 and will be available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The game is based on the updated arcade version of the same name, launched last July 2016. The original Tekken 7 was released in Japan back in March 2015. Yes, fans have been waiting that long for the game to arrive in a non-arcade gaming platform. Sadly, it won't feature cross-platform online multiplayer like Street Fighter V due to security concerns. But at least we got Akuma, right?