Tekken 3

Tekken 3 is a 3D fighting game developed and published by Namco. It is the third main entry in the Tekken series, first released in arcades in 1997 on Namco System 12 hardware and brought to PlayStation in 1998. The PlayStation release became one of the system's best-selling games.

Set nineteen years after Tekken 2, the game revolves around the King of Iron Fist Tournament and the return of Ogre, a powerful being linked to the disappearance of martial artists around the world. Jin Kazama enters the tournament seeking answers and revenge after an attack on his home, while Heihachi Mishima intends to use the event to draw Ogre into the open.

Fights are built around a four-button control scheme that maps to a character's limbs, letting players combine punches, kicks, throws, counters, and juggling attacks. Tekken 3 places greater emphasis on moving around opponents, giving every fighter the ability to sidestep and making positioning an important part of both offense and defense.

The roster introduces several characters who became series regulars, including Jin Kazama, Ling Xiaoyu, Hwoarang, Eddy Gordo, Bryan Fury, and Julia Chang. It also brings back familiar fighters such as Heihachi, Nina Williams, Paul Phoenix, Lei Wulong, Yoshimitsu, and King in a cast with many unlockable characters and alternate forms.

The PlayStation version expands on the arcade game with additional characters and modes. Tekken Force turns the fighting mechanics into a side-scrolling beat 'em up, while Tekken Ball uses attacks to send a ball into an opponent's court. Practice, survival, time attack, and tournament options provide more ways to learn each fighter's move set.

Its fast response, broad character selection, and flexible movement helped establish Tekken 3 as a landmark PlayStation fighting game. Whether played competitively or casually, it rewards learning character-specific techniques while remaining immediately approachable for local matches.