Tekken 7

Tekken 7 truly is a hallmark, a fighting game crafted with obvious affection. It strikes a fine balance between accessibility to series newcomers and retaining much of its technical traditions. The soundtrack is an electronic treat, and while the story can at times seem a bit cliche, the fact that it never takes itself too seriously lets it bring in a tremendous amount of flexible character customization. Its dedication to the details helps push it into the position of my favorite fighting game of 2017 so far.

Despite some faults outside of the ring, Tekken 7's diverse cast and time-honored fighting system make it one of the best 3D fighting games around.

Fun fighting marred by an underwhelming package.

A smart, blisteringly fun experience at its core, Tekken 7's limited singleplayer campaign and poor tutorials marr an otherwise resounding win.

Tekken 7 is a sweet reward for anyone who's been following along for more than two decades, but it could do a lot more to onboard new fans — especially considering the uneven story and lack of a strong tutorial. Still, if you want to spend the time (and look for help on YouTube), Tekken 7's unforgettable characters and fluid fights are worth the work.

Despite some narrative missteps, Tekken 7 is still a compelling, exhilarating experience. Find the right sparring partner and it will entertain you indefinitely.

New players may have issues diving into deeper intricacies of the fighting system, but this is still a fun fighter that balances absurd fun and technical mastery

The king of 3D fighters makes a triumphant return.

I was pleasantly surprised with Tekken 7: Fated Retribution, and will be keeping up with the meta and pro scene for the first time in years. While Harada and his crew could have easily given us a little more to do long term other than chase more treasure, it doesn't feel like grinding in the slightest given how fun it is to play.

If you're ready to hit and kick other players until they stop moving, whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newbie just getting your feet wet, Tekken 7 is the real deal.