The first Tekken game was released in 1994, and it had several characters you could choose from 17 characters, including Kuma. With the upcoming release of the latest title in the franchise, the combat-ready bear, along with Panda, remain as playable characters.
Why Kuma and Panda Were Added
The game is not limited to human fighters. After all, we had Roger Jr. in Tekken 6 and even an animate log called Mokujin, so having two bears, a grizzly, and a panda in the mix is not all that weird anymore. The developers love them so much that they are still around 11 game titles later.
There's a reason why Kuma and Panda were added to the roster. According to the Tekken 8 director, Katsuhiro Harada explained that video games allowed people to do things that were otherwise hard in real life and that fighting a bear was a fun idea, as per Game Rant.
The revelation comes as the trailer for Kuma's character was officially revealed in a gameplay trailer released by Bandai Namco Entertainment. We can see the bear sporting a new look, wearing a torn-up open vest and a red bandana.
The developers also added an adorable story addition where the grizzly decided to propose to Panda by offering her a salmon. After Panda violently declines by slapping the fish away, Kuma decides to respond with violence as he fights the other bear off.
To know more about the lovable, albeit violent bear, Kuma is Heihachi Mishima's pet and a member of Mishima Zaibatsu's special forces because, why not, right? This is also why Kuma fights using the Heihachi-style Advanced Kuma Shin Ken.
Loyal to the Mishima patriarch, Kuma continues to fight to save the Mishima Zaibatsu so that Heihachi will have a corporation to return to. With his furry and playful nature, perhaps we can overlook that he's loyal to an all-powerful tyrant.
As for Panda, she also uses the same fighting style as Kuma, although she remains a loyal companion to another playable character, Xiaoyu. Panda's role is to be both a pet and a bodyguard, and he follows Xiaoyu as she searches for Jin Kazama.
Tekken 8
The upcoming Tekken title continues the saga of the all-powerful family waging war on one another and the world. Mishima Zaibatsu has fallen, and so has Heihachi Mishima. With his defeat, Kazuya Mishima continues his rampage against the world.
Jin, the "good guy" in the story, aims to stop Kazuya from dominating the world using his company, G Corporation. The story also builds on the fact that Jin has been reunited with his mother, Jun Kazama, who happens to be returning as a playable character.
The game will be released on January 26, 2024, with four different editions. All versions come with early purchase bonuses for the PS5. The Deluxe, Ultimate, and Collector's Edition has various perks like character costumes, game passes, an arcade token, a steel book, and even an LED-lit figurine.
