How to Get The Sound of Tekken 8
“A fight is about who is left standing. Nothing else.”
Or so said the patriarch of the bloodthirsty Mishima Bloodline at the center of the Tekken fighting game series. The developers of this soapy Japanese series of father-son grudge matches might feel differently, however, since style is key to the game’s appeal.
The franchise’s latest installment, Tekken 8, is being touted as the most technically advanced, built from the ground up on a new game engine. The larger-than-life saga may pride itself on gritty realism in its graphics, but to keep up interest in a fighting game for this long, you need spectacle and flair.
Fans have seen this violent family’s tale unfurl over thirty years with evolving music and trends. While previous soundtracks were more diverse, Tekken 7 introduced electronic music as a driving aesthetic of the game’s action. Tekken 8’s score takes the dubstep influence even further.
Universal Production Music’s library of tracks is perfect for creators who want to replicate the kinetic feeling of a video game through music. If you already have a rich idea of your vision, Universal Production Music’s smart similarity search can help you find the sound you’re looking for.
Before you sign up to start your next project, check out these insights on the new direction of the Tekken series’ sound and how to use electronic music to emphasize action.
Battle On The Dancefloor
The biggest gameplay selling point of the newest Tekken game is its update to Tekken 7’s Rage System, which turns aggression into a tangible weapon. After gathering momentum in battle, proactive players trigger the new Heat System’s pink aura, allowing them to use special moves unique to their character.
The music builds as characters charge up with rage and unleash their worst. Like a transcendent dubstep buildup on the dancefloor, a Heat System attack drops the bass at just the right time.
To get the same auditory feel as Tekken 8’s climactic combos, check out energetic EDM tracks to intensify a fight among UPM’s track offerings.
Urban Energy
The series that once pioneered 3D animation for fighting games is now making a concerted effort to give Tekken players a more cinematic fighting environment. Tekken games are known for lifelike character animation and distinct characterization. The cast is key to the narrative, but so are the settings of their battles.
Tekken 8 begins with a city-shattering showdown between father and son, Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama. Their angst-ridden family feud is tearing down an entire metropolis, but the digital city must feel expansive and animated for the fight to have the desired emotional impact.
Music and sound design fill in the blanks of a setting, enriching its atmosphere. To create an enthralling urban backdrop for your action-adventure project, explore our dark punchy beats for cityscapes.
Invigorating Liminal Music
The Tekken franchise debuted as an arcade game, inspiring gamers to gather and connect with each other after bursts of violent performance. The at-home version of the game recreates this cooldown vibe with its lo-fi lobby music.
If your narrative calls for lulls in the action, UPM offers ambient synth melodies for in between rounds. Keep the energy up without overstimulating your audience.