Tekken 8 fans are buzzing with the return of veteran character Anna Williams, whose redesign has sparked a mix of reactions. While the majority of the community seems to embrace her new look, a vocal minority has drawn comparisons to Santa Claus, igniting a fiery debate.
In response to a fan's plea to revert to Anna's older design, Tekken's game director and chief producer, Katsuhiro Harada, didn't mince words. He defended the new design, stating, "If you prefer the old design, I am not taking those away from you." Harada pointed out that while "98% of the fans are welcoming this," there will always be critics. He emphasized the existence of past games for those who prefer the classic look and criticized the complainant for claiming to speak for all Anna fans.
Harada's frustration was palpable when he addressed another commenter's critique about the lack of rereleases with modern netcode, calling the reply "POINTLESS" and the commenter "a joke" before muting them.
Despite the controversy, the general sentiment towards Anna's redesign remains positive. Redditor AngryBreadRevolution expressed satisfaction with the new direction, appreciating the edgier and vengeful persona it conveys. They noted that while the new hair might not suit all outfits, the original bob remains an option, and praised elements like the leotard, tights, boots, and gloves, though the coat's resemblance to Christmas attire was a downside.
Other fans like troonpins and Cheap_Ad4756 had mixed feelings. Troonpins loved everything except the white feathers, which they felt gave off a Santa Claus vibe, while Cheap_Ad4756 felt the new design made Anna appear younger and less like the dominant character she used to be. Spiralqq was more critical, describing the outfit as overdesigned and lacking focus, likening it to Santa cosplay due to the red coat with white fur trims and black belt.
The conversation around Anna's new look continues to generate buzz on platforms like Reddit, where fans discuss their preferences and hopes for the character.
In other news, Tekken 8 has achieved remarkable sales success, reaching 3 million copies sold within a year of its release—a faster pace than Tekken 7, which took a decade to reach 12 million copies worldwide.
IGN's review of Tekken 8 lauded the game, giving it a 9/10 and highlighting its innovative tweaks to the classic fighting system, engaging offline modes, compelling new characters, robust training tools, and significantly enhanced online experience. The review concluded that by respecting its legacy while pushing forward, Tekken 8 distinguishes itself as an exceptional addition to the series.
