Tekken series producer Katsuhiro Harada has addressed the controversial topic of input lag within the venerable fighting game franchise.
Speaking during an interview with GameSpot, Harada-san was asked to share his thoughts on the matter, specifically in relation to the upcoming Tekken 7, which hits PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One in early 2017.
"Since when did everyone become so knowledgeable about input lag? If everyone is so sensitive to this, of course you know exactly how many frames of input lag there were in past titles? I have a feeling many people are just prone to being swayed by popular catchwords. I have a question for everyone. In the 90s, how many frames of input lag did Virtua Fighter have? How about Tekken?"
"People have never complained about input lag in Tekken before, have they? Tag 2 was highly regarded, wasn’t it? Do you think input lag frames is a certain number? Do you understand how it works? The actual mechanism is different depending on the game. If Tekken’s gameplay feels good, is there really a point in asking this question?
"It’s quite frustrating to keep hearing this question, when it is hardly relevant. Don’t try to sum up the whole of a game’s mechanics with one catchphrase. Tekken 7 is the first arcade fighting game to have online play between arcades around the country. It costs roughly $1 per play. Do you really think it would be this successful and well received if everyone was complaining about input lag?
"Abroad, many top players have had many chances to play TK7 and TK7FR at Wizard World, Evo, and other events. I haven’t heard any complaints about input lag from them either. Same with the hardcore players and media that played the game at E3. I think that is your answer. By the way, what is the monitor you use at home to play games? I would be more concerned about the possibility of lag on that, instead."
Tekken 7 hitting PS4 in early 2017, DLC plans remain under wraps at present
Elsewhere, Harada-san also touched on the possibility of new characters dropping down the line, saying that the roster shown at E3 was “not the full one at this time.” However, he added, “I can’t say if there is DLC or not at this time.”
Tekken 7 is the first numbered entry in the series since 2009’s Tekken 6, and introduces Street Fighter’s Akuma into the mix as part of a major storyline that will resolve the long-running Mishima family feud.
The game designers have made an effort to reduce the lengthy air combos seen in Tekken 6 and Tekken Tag Tournament 2, although a variation of the bound system still exists in the form of the Tailspin.
In addition, Tekken 7 also introduces the all-new powerful Rage Arts attack, plus a series of new characters including the series’ first ever Saudi Arabian character, Shaheen, and the first appearance of Kazumi Mishima, father of Kazuya and wife to Heihachi.