Try to think of yourself as around 6-7 years old playing this hot new fighting game that came out on the PlayStation after you had played the demo over and over again on the sampler disc that came with your console, you decide you're gonna finally brave through the arcade mode against the CPU that you're terrible at dealing with.

You do fine against the first several opponents, maybe struggle at some points, but you're moving along. You eventually fight the sub-boss, which could either be a bear, a muay thai kickboxer, or an infinite kicks spamming jerkward named "Lee" depending on who you picked. Your conflict is exhausting, but you eventually persevere against your unlockable rival. The loading screen suddenly becomes the piercing eyes of the final boss who awaits you, they are an asshole in a purple suit known as "Kazuya". He absolutely manhandles you, your world constantly getting rocked with sudden blows to the stomach that make you reel, and the sight of your body going flying from a dragon uppercut becomes commonplace. Your frustration grows, but the amazing music keeps you in the game. Through sheer force of will and youthful stubbornness, you finally defeat him. Whether it was through skill or luck, it doesn't matter. You Win!

...but the loading screen returns....with demonic red eyes staring a hole straight through you....

One last opponent awaits, they simply go by "DEVIL". The sight of a purple winged demon takes the place of Kazuya, whom slowly stands up from a kneeling position to glare at you while ominous sorrowful music fills the empty void that makes up the stage. A stage of pitch black darkness, with only a screen in the background playing back your fight in real time as it stretches into itself for infinity, all while his infernal sounding voice filter and lasers install fear into your heart.

Chills, every single time.

Reviewed on Jan 18, 2024


5 Comments


3 months ago

Wow, after playing the first tekken tag game last night it put tekken 2 back on my mind and what a surprise to see this when checking the page this morning! great writing piece and game, t2 rocks

3 months ago

@Reddish I was one of the millions of people asking for Kazuya back, so you better believe I was rocking the Kaz/Devil team where he freely transformed between the two.

3 months ago

@Vee Kazama family reunion with Jun and Jin team... awesome

3 months ago

haters were praying to be anywhere but the arcade when 9 year old me rolled in with the kazuya/bryan edgelord team

3 months ago

Damn, now I gotta play Tag 1 tonight. I hope to god my save file's still existent. I miss going to my boardwalk arcade....