Tekken 3 (1997). Play online

Summary

Tekken 3 blew the arcades wide open with its slick System 12 graphics and motion‑capture animation, raising the visual bar for fighting games. The roster swelled to 22 fighters — only seven veterans survived — and every character gained a true sidestep, turning fights into three‑dimensional tag‑team melees. Jump heights felt realistic, reversals and quicker knock‑down recoveries kept the action relentless, and new juggling combos and throw‑chains let seasoned players string together dizzying punishers. The cabinet also hid two hidden modes: the side‑scrolling beat‑em‑up "Tekken Force" and the beach‑volley‑style "Tekken Ball," surprising even veteran fans. I still recall crowds forming after the March 1997 North‑American launch; the machine sold 35 000 units worldwide, topped Japan’s arcade charts in 1997, and remained the top‑grossing PCB game through 1998, earning praise from AllGame, Game Informer and Next Gen alike.

Storyline

After the events of King of Iron Fist Tournament 2, Heihachi Mishima reclaimed the Mishima Zaibatsu and formed the Tekken Force, a paramilitary arm to protect his interests. A squad of Tekken Force soldiers investigates an ancient Mexican temple and is nearly annihilated by the mysterious creature known as Ogre, prompting Heihachi to focus on his grandson Jin Kazama as a possible solution.

Jin lives with his mother Jun Kazama, unaware of his Mishima heritage. When Ogre attacks on Jin’s 15th birthday, Jun disappears and Jin is left with a Devil‑marked arm. He seeks out Heihachi, receives training in Mishima karate, and befriends classmates Ling Xiaoyu and Hwoarang during his years at Mishima High School.

Four years later, on Jin’s 19th birthday, Heihachi announces the King of Iron Fist Tournament 3, hoping the competition will draw out Ogre. Nina Williams awakens from cold‑sleep, is briefly controlled by Ogre, and attempts to assassinate Jin before he defeats her.

During the tournament Paul Phoenix defeats Ogre’s first form, then faces True Ogre. Jin is reinstated, defeats True Ogre, avenges his mother, and wins the tournament. Heihachi’s forces fire on him, but the Devil resurrects Jin, who slays the soldiers, shatters Heihachi’s hopes, and sprouts black wings as he flies away.