Key Highlights:
- Reina completes Tekken 8’s 32-character launch roster as its third newcomer.
- Her fighting style combines acrobatic Taido techniques with attacks associated with Heihachi and Mishima-style karate.
- Bandai Namco is keeping Reina’s background mysterious despite clear connections to the Mishima family.
Bandai Namco has revealed Reina as the final fighter in Tekken 8’s 32-character launch roster, introducing the mysterious newcomer through a new gameplay trailer.
The Tekken 8 fighter, nicknamed Purple Lightning, combines fast Taido movement with powerful techniques associated with Mishima-style karate.
Reina uses the Sentai movement technique to rapidly close distance and pressure opponents, while Unsoku uses agile footwork to create attacking opportunities. Her moveset also includes familiar Mishima techniques such as Wind God Fist and Spinning Demon, alongside the Heaven’s Wrath stance previously used by Heihachi Mishima.
Tekken 8 director Kohei Ikeda explained that Taido was chosen to contrast with the heavier Mishima-style karate and reinforce the duality in Reina’s personality and fighting style. Bandai Namco worked with four-time Taido World Champion Tetsuji Nakano when developing her martial arts animations.
Reina’s connection to Heihachi is deliberately prominent throughout the trailer, but Bandai Namco has not explained their exact relationship. Officially, the only background information currently revealed is that Reina attends the Mishima Polytechnical School and has a particular interest in fighting Jin Kazama.
Her arrival completes a launch roster of 32 fighters and follows the recent reveal of Victor Chevalier as Tekken 8’s second new fighter. Reina, Victor and Peruvian newcomer Azucena are the three completely new characters joining the series at launch.
The completed roster also includes returning fighters such as Jun Kazama and Raven, alongside long-established characters including Jin Kazama, Kazuya Mishima, Paul Phoenix, King and Yoshimitsu.
Tekken 8 launches on 26 January 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with its story continuing the conflict between Jin and Kazuya following Heihachi’s apparent death.
Later update: Tekken 8 ultimately confirms that Reina is Heihachi Mishima’s daughter and reveals that she possesses the Devil Gene. Further details about Reina’s place in the Mishima bloodline and the origin of her Devil Gene were clarified after launch.
