The Legacy of PlayStation’s Iconic Franchises
As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original PlayStation, it’s remarkable to witness the collaboration between two of its most iconic franchises: Tekken and Final Fantasy. These two series have become almost synonymous with the PlayStation brand, and their intertwined history dates back several decades, revealing a fascinating development journey that many fans may not be aware of.
A Historical Connection Revealed
In an exclusive interview with IGN, Tekken’s executive producer, Katsuhiro Harada, shared insights into the deep-rooted connection between the two franchises. “I guess we can talk about [it] now since so much time has passed. Back around Tekken 3, a lot of our staff left the team and actually went to Square,” Harada explained. This transition occurred during the development of Tekken 3, which began in 1995 and was released a year later. Many former Tekken developers contributed their 3D expertise to the groundbreaking Final Fantasy 7, the first major PlayStation RPG.
Collaborating Across Generations
Harada reflects on the camaraderie between the teams, noting, “We’re both titles that were synonymous with PlayStation and also the kind of high-level 3D graphics at the time were similar.” Although they were working on different games, the friendships and collaboration spirit remained intact. Harada mused about the potential for future collaborations, although he didn’t anticipate it would take so long to materialize.
Fast forward to today, and the worlds of Tekken and Final Fantasy are coming together once again. Clive Rosfield, the hero of Final Fantasy 16, is joining the Tekken roster as a guest character—marking only the second time a Final Fantasy character has been introduced in the series, following Noctis from Final Fantasy 15 in Tekken 7.
The Birth of a New Crossover
What may surprise fans is that the collaboration between Final Fantasy 16 and Tekken 8 began much earlier than expected. During the development phase of Final Fantasy 16, Harada reached out to producer Naoki Yoshida about a possible crossover. Yoshida welcomed Harada and Tekken 8 director Kohei Ikeda to Square Enix to play an in-development build of the game, laying the groundwork for this exciting collaboration.
Clive Rosfield: A New Challenger
Final Fantasy 16 represents a significant shift in the series, moving away from turn-based combat to real-time action, allowing Clive to showcase his swordsmanship and combo abilities. This gameplay style aligns perfectly with Tekken’s mechanics, making Clive a fitting addition to the fighting franchise. His unique ability to channel the powers of various “Eikons,” such as Ifrit and Phoenix, promises a diverse skill set for players to explore in Tekken 8.
“We wanted to make sure that all of the Eikons were available in some way while playing [as Clive in Tekken 8],” Ikeda stated, hinting at a range of elemental powers like wind, lightning, and fire that Clive will wield in combat.
Character Adjustments for Tekken
While Clive retains many of his abilities from Final Fantasy 16, some adjustments were necessary for his Tekken incarnation. “The director of the Final Fantasy team told us that he would like us to adjust Clive’s frame a bit because our characters are quite beefy,” Ikeda explained. This modification helped align Clive’s appearance with the more muscular fighters in Tekken.
Interestingly, Clive’s sword also underwent a transformation. Harada humorously noted, “Although he’s gotten more muscular, his sword has shrunk in size because in a fighting game, it would give him way too much of an advantage if the sword was as big as it is in the original game.”
Future Collaborations on the Horizon?
Could there be more Final Fantasy characters joining the Tekken universe? Harada remarked that the Tekken team is not restricted to just one character, stating, “It might be cool if we had two,” though there are currently no concrete plans for additional characters.
Reflecting on the Journey
The evolution of both Tekken and Final Fantasy is a testament to their enduring legacy, and the upcoming crossover is a celebration of that shared history. Although neither franchise is exclusive to PlayStation anymore, their storied relationship ensures that they remain prominent figures in the gaming world, often finding themselves on lists of the top PlayStation games of all time.
Dev Team Favorites: A Personal Touch
Naturally, we had to ask the Tekken developers about their favorite Final Fantasy games. Producer Michael Murray fondly recalled, “I actually learned Japanese by playing through the Japanese version of Final Fantasy 7,” highlighting the personal impact the game had on him. He also reminisced about how the team would gather online to play Final Fantasy 11 during the development of Tekken 4.
Director Kohei Ikeda expressed his admiration for Final Fantasy 4, noting its narrative depth and character evolution, particularly the journey of Cecil. Harada, too, holds Final Fantasy 4 dear but emphasizes the unforgettable experience of Final Fantasy 7, stating, “There are so many scenes in the game I can still remember to this day.” It’s clear that these shared memories have fostered a profound connection, culminating in the exciting collaboration we see today.
The journey of these beloved franchises continues, and fans can look forward to experiencing this unique crossover in Tekken 8.
