Wallflower Power
Bandai Namco has released its newest update for its excellent 3D scrapper Tekken 7 — Update 5.00 not only brings with it a fresh round of balance tweaks for the entire roster but also welcomes brand new “Wall Crush” tech, increasing a fighter’s combo options once they have cornered their hapless opponent.
Every character on Tekken 7‘s mammoth roster now has maneuvers designated as “Wall Crush Inducing Hit” or “Wall Crush Inducing Guard” moves. When a fighter is able to push their opposition against a solid surface, applying the former will cause a wall splat, which increases the opponent’s recovery time and opens them up for further assault. This new mechanic is different from Tekken’s standard wall-splat mechanic and is intended as a “bridge” of sorts between combos.
If you find yourself on the receiving end of a wall crush, all is not lost. You don’t have to necessarily become your enemy’s punching bag — wall crush does allow the defending party to block the incoming damage, but the recovery on the animation is long, and the player will likely find themselves stuck in a new blockstring. As such, the new mechanic will force players to be better aware of their surroundings, and utilize side-step maneuvers to prevent themselves from being cornered.
As for the balance changes, there have been tweaks to a whole host of Tekken superstars, including heavy-hitters Lidia Sobieska, Fahkumram, and the endlessly troublesome Leroy Smith. For full details, check out the Tekken 7 Update 5.0 patch notes right here. And Get Ready for Tha Next Battle.
Tekken 7 is available now on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.
