Tekken 5 Critic Reviews

The huge, diverse cast and excellent fighting engine guarantee lots of fun fights for a long time into the future, and its pick-up-and-playability make it the best game to pull out for more casual company.

Namco has achieved perfection on all fronts’ gameplay, graphics, sound, and longevity.

If you're looking for a superb fighting game for the PS2 with awesome characters, arenas, a good story and outstanding, addictive gameplay then look no further, as Namco have outdone themselves here; welcome the King of Iron Fist Tournament back to glory!

The stages are downright breath-taking.

Tekken 5's visuals are simply incredible. It's hard to look at a PS2 game these days without rolling your eyes. You can try to roll your eyes at this game, but first you'll have to put them back in their sockets.

Comes as close to being the perfect fighter as any game has in the past. It is easily the best game of the series.

Graphically, Tekken 5 is one of the smoothest games I have ever played. Almost every movement looks believable and the stages, the lighting, the character models, it all looks amazing.

This is the best Tekken game you’ll play this side of the PS3, easily surpassing "Tekken 4" and "Tekken Tag Tournament" to claim the title. It’s fast, it’s furious, it’s a pleasure to play and a joy to watch.

Even though the Playstation 2 may be drawing on its last breath, Namco have managed to squeeze every last ounce of gaming power out of the hardware. Tekken 5 is oozing playability and gameplay and is certainly a fitting continuation of the saga.

Best looking, best sounding, best playing fighting game on the PlayStation 2. Excusing the fact there’s no online functionality, if fighting is your genre of choice this is your game of choice.

A brilliantly crafted fighter that any fighting game fan must go out and buy right away, no questions asked.

Better balancing, a ton of gameplay modes, smarter AI, and high-quality presentational elements are tough things to beat -- but Tekken 5 has all of them.

It’s clear that Tekken 5 is a great game, but the lack of online play is a significant disappointment. There is quite a bit of replay value in the offline package, but the ability to take the aggression online would have made for an astronomical value and elevated the series beyond the contention of its peers.

The graphics, sound and gameplay combine to form the best Tekken game yet.

While some of the extra modes aren't as strong as they could have been, the core fighting is nearly perfect, whether you're playing against other humans or computer-controlled opposition.

Tekken 5's soundtrack is not groundbreaking by any means, but the music tends to fit the atmosphere just right.

Restores any luster to the series that may have been lost with the mediocre reception of "Tekken 4." Its full complement of fighters, sweet visuals, various modes of play, and hidden goodies will keep players coming back for months.

If Tekken 5 would have had tag battles, I have no doubt this one would have gone down as the most perfect Tekken to date.

Almost the complete fighting package. I say “almost” because it offers no online gameplay, and is limited to the PlayStation 2. This is one of those games that would’ve been amazing online.

Every aspect of Tekken 5's production is of the highest quality save one area - the game's Devil Within mode - the latest take in the Tekken Force series. Visually bland and repetitive in a way only the very worst scrolling beat-'em-ups can be. It's a crime then that completing it is the only way unlock Devil Jin.