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00:00Eyachi Mishima is dead.
00:04Those are the wanting words that conclude the most memorable intro in gaming history.
00:12Tekken 5 has this powerful nostalgic quality to it.
00:16Not only was it immense and popular for years, but the graphics, the game mechanics,
00:21and the immense quantity as well as the quality of these game modes
00:26timestamps it in history as one of the best games to ever receive a release.
00:33You'd pop this disc into your PS2 and your testosterone levels would increase 10-fold.
00:38You see, all of those dudes that you guys say have aura on the internet,
00:42they play Tekken, though. Trust me.
00:44Tekken 5 greets its playerbase with the most compelling
00:47fight sequence that we've witnessed in a PS2 game.
00:51You can feel the essence of the entire Tekken series when you watch this intro,
00:56from the ancient eastern building to the brutal high energy fight sequence.
01:01This visual demonstrates how powerful the Mishimas are as they rip through these
01:05machine bodies like paper mache. One of the smartest pieces of storytelling is how
01:11they don't even tell each other or warn each other about the Jackrobots behind them.
01:16Instead, you can just see the subtle nature of them looking in each other's eyes
01:21and glimpsing the reflection of these robots.
01:25Then they turn and crush them based on what they saw in each other's eyes.
01:30It's very smart and easy to miss. Kazuya Mishima predictably turns on his father,
01:35throwing him to the wolves, or in this case rather the Jack 4 robots that are attacking them.
01:41And then we get this.
02:01These are the words I started this video with and they're words that echo through time.
02:06Most people who have played through the Tekken series will remember this iconic moment.
02:11As we are forced to accept Heihachi's apparent demise, we have to analyze the series Tekken
02:17itself. The word Tekken translates as Iron Fist and Heihachi threw the first Iron Fist
02:25tournament. Therefore he is pivotal and instrumental in the structure of the series.
02:31So when we hear he is dead at the start of a game, it is never not a big deal. The intro
02:37wastes no time in introducing another character to us who actually mouths this sequence of words
02:43and that is my boy Wesley Snipes, or as he's known in Tekken, Raven.
02:51The Tekken 5 intro is more than just a visual spectacle, it is a masterclass in storytelling
02:56and a perfect distillation of everything that makes the Tekken series so dope and unforgettable.
03:03From the very first frame it grips you with tension and then it doesn't let you go,
03:08pulling you into the dark, twisted world of the Mishima family where power,
03:12betrayal and legacy collide in explosive fashion. As the second half of the intro unfolds,
03:19the visuals are underscored by a powerful track that feels perfectly tuned to both the action
03:25sequences and also the contemplative character shots that we get in the scenes. Jeff Pescetto's
03:32smooth voice clashes against the pulsing, almost ambient instrumental creating a score that
03:38elevates the visual. Jin Kazama's violent transformation and struggle with the devil gene
03:44encapsulates this and the intensity of the scene hits you like a truck.
03:55And the sound is so powerful because it's just not the same
03:59essence or feeling without the beautiful sound design put into it.
04:09The lyrics in this scene scream at you to believe your own energy as, ironically, Jin
04:15struggles with himself. These screams in the soundtrack strike a resonant chord in men and
04:20boys alike, echoing themes of power, destiny and the eternal struggle between good and evil
04:27that frames this entire Tekken universe. It's not just an opening cinematic, it's a piece of
04:34storytelling that somehow manages to encapsulate the essence of the actual gameplay of the series.
04:41Every frame, every note of music, every line of dialogue is carefully crafted in this to convey
04:47the depth of the characters and the world they inhabit. Small things like Steve Fox, the boxer
04:53vs Waohang, the kicker, Feng Wei crushing his master out of spite. You have Eddie and Christy
04:59bringing some of that South American corporeal flair to them. We have everything in this visual.
05:06All of the characters get the love, the attention and the screen time that is necessary for them to
05:11shine and show their quirks in what is just a three and a half minute visual. We get all of
05:17these battles and character arcs compacted into a very small explosion of energy. This visual
05:24spectacle of an intro is a reminder that the Tekken series is not just about fighting, it's about the
05:31human stories that drive each punch, each kick and each clash of wills. When you jam Tekken or any
05:39fighting game, when you choose that character in the character select, you're choosing someone who
05:44is essentially an extension of some part of you, be it conscious or subconscious. So when all of
05:52these characters are treated with love and attention, it makes the choices that you make
05:57about your characters more impactful on you as a person as well. And that is why Tekken is the
06:04GOAT of 3D fighters. The intro, the weird ass story and even the gameplay do more than your
06:11average 3D fighter. Even now as an adult, I still chat a lot about this intro and this game with my
06:18friends. We often laugh about Eddie and Christie being the spam button characters, Asuka Kazama's
06:23spin kick, Yoshimitsu charging up with the meditation with his dick. These are things
06:29that aren't replaceable obviously because they are quirks unique to this series and they make
06:34it special in its own way. Tekken leaves a mark on its player base that lingers for just about as
06:41long as a scar will. You carry these things, these moments in game long after your screen fades to
06:48black and you stop playing the game. The intro itself is a spectacle because it's just pure
06:55high octane shit bro and you gotta love it for what it is. Action. This is Loi signing off. Peace.