Machine Guides

Game History

Tekken Tag Tournament is a 1999 fighting game developed and published by Namco for arcades. It is a spin-off of the main Tekken series that introduced a unique two-on-two tag team battle mechanic, allowing players to switch between characters during combat. The game featured nearly all characters from previous Tekken games up to that point, totaling 34 fighters, making it a "dream match" style game that was not considered canon to the main storyline.

The arcade version ran on the Namco System 12 board with a 32-bit engine similar to Tekken 3, utilizing graphics based on PlayStation hardware. This made it a technically impressive title for its time, with smooth character animations and detailed stages. The game was particularly influential in the competitive fighting game scene, popularizing tag team mechanics and becoming a staple in tournaments throughout the early-to-mid 2000s, including several early EVO events.

Following its arcade success, Tekken Tag Tournament was released as a launch title for the PlayStation 2 in 2000, featuring enhanced graphics and additional modes not present in the arcade version, including the popular "Tekken Bowl" minigame.

How to Play

Objective

The main goal of Tekken Tag Tournament is to defeat your opponent's team of two fighters in a tag team battle. You must win two out of three rounds to claim victory in a match. The ultimate objective is to progress through the tournament by defeating all opponent teams and become the Tekken Tag champion. The game emphasizes strategic tag team combat with character switching mechanics.

Controls

• Joystick: Use the joystick to move your character forward, backward, and sidestep left or right
• Left Punch: Press for left-hand punch attacks
• Right Punch: Press for right-hand punch attacks
• Left Kick: Press for left-foot kick attacks
• Right Kick: Press for right-foot kick attacks
• Tag Button: Press to switch between your two characters during combat

Gameplay

• Starting the Game: Press the Start Button to begin your tournament run.

• Team Selection: Choose your team of two fighters from the available roster of 34 unique characters, each with different fighting styles and moves.

• Tag Team Mechanics: Control one character at a time while your partner rests and recovers health. Switch between characters strategically during combat.

• Combat System: Engage in combat using a combination of punches, kicks, and special moves. Each character has unique abilities that can be performed with specific joystick and button combinations.

• Character Switching: Press the Tag Button to switch your active character with your partner. The tagged-out character slowly recovers health while resting.

• Tag Throws: Execute special tag throws by inputting specific commands when near your opponent, which involve both characters attacking in sequence.

• Round Victory: Win a round by defeating both of your opponent's characters by depleting their health bars.

• Match Victory: Win two out of three rounds to defeat your opponent's team and advance to the next challenger team.

• Game Over: The game ends when you are defeated in a match. Your final score is displayed based on your performance.