Tekken 5

Tekken 5
US PlayStation 2 cover art featuring Raven (left), Jin Kazama (center), and Asuka Kazama (right)
DeveloperNamco
PublisherNamco
DirectorsMasahiro Kimoto
Katsuhiro Harada
ProducerHajime Nakatani
DesignersYuichi Yonemori
Takahiro Noda
Kazuo Takahashi
ProgrammerMasanori Yamada
ArtistsYoshinari Mizushima
Kazuaki Fujimoto
ComposersAkitaka Tohyama
Satoru Kōsaki
Yuu Miyake
Yoshihito Yano
Rio Hamamoto
SeriesTekken
PlatformsArcade, PlayStation 2
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: November 16, 2004
  • WW: December 2004
PlayStation 2
  • NA: February 25, 2005
  • JP: March 31, 2005
  • EU: June 24, 2005
GenresFighting, beat 'em up
ModesSingle player, multiplayer
Arcade systemNamco System 256

Tekken 5 (鉄拳5) is a 2004 fighting game developed and published by Namco for arcades, before being ported to the PlayStation 2 in 2005. It is the fifth main game in the Tekken series, marking the tenth anniversary of the series. The game is set shortly after the events of Tekken 4 featuring a new antagonist named Jinpachi Mishima taking over the Mishima Zaibatsu while a sidestory focuses on the protagonist Jin Kazama as he faces several enemies from the G Corporation. The home version also contains a collector's edition of sorts, as it includes the arcade versions of Tekken, Tekken 2, Tekken 3, and StarBlade.

The game reverts several major gameplay changes introduced in Tekken 4, such as uneven stage terrain, in favor of a more fluid gameplay akin to the older games in the series. It is also the first game in the series to feature the ability to customize characters with accessories, clothing, and other aesthetic items purchased with in-game currency. There are 32 fighters to choose from, including five new fighters as well as Jin's alter-ego Devil Jin.

The arcade version of the game was upgraded to Tekken 5.1 exclusively for the NAMCO 256 system on July 14, 2005, which had mostly balance changes to the gameplay including removing the infamous Double Stinger infinite combo of Steve Fox. It was then followed up with the final update Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection which was released in 2005 and later ported to the PlayStation Portable (as Tekken: Dark Resurrection) and the PlayStation 3. Tekken 5 was a critical and commercial success, selling over 9.43 million copies including the Dark Resurrection expansion. Critics praised the return of classic gameplay features and the large amount of replay value provided by the PlayStation 2 port though the final boss Jinpachi Mishima was criticized for being too powerful, while Jin's mini-game story mode Devil Within was perceived as "boring" in comparison to the fighting game main Story mode which was open to every character. The sequel entitled Tekken 6 was released in 2007.