Tekken 5 is in the GOAT category but its portable update should be in contention as well.
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection is getting a rerelease on PlayStation Plus this week and we think it’s a good time to reminisce on what made this game special.
Originally released 20 years ago, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection was a standalone update to the already excellent Tekken 5. Fan favorites Lili and Dragunov debuted in this version and the existing cast got new moves and some rebalancing. Character customization was expanded further along with its single player modes.
However, the game was more than just some balance tweaks and new content. It built on the back of one of the best Tekken entries in history and opened the series to a wider audience. And it achieved that by going portable.
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection first came to Japanese arcades in 2005 before it was ported over to the PlayStation Portable. This was in the era where Sony’s handheld gaming console was rivaling Nintendo’s own DS. It was only natural then for Sony to leverage the power of their flagship fighting game IP and put it exclusively on the PSP, at least for a time. It would later be available for download on the PlayStation Network in 2007 but by then the effects of launching on the PSP had already taken hold.
Bring the Fight Anywhere
It can’t be understated how powerful the portability of Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection was. You didn’t need a console hooked up to a TV or keep spending money in an arcade. All you needed was your PSP, a copy of the game, and you were good to play anywhere. Whether you were in school, at work, or waiting in a restaurant – whatever the situation, you could always play a few rounds of Tekken.
The game also featured game sharing, meaning you only needed one copy of the game to play with other players. This was essential for forming communities, especially in naturally social spaces like school. This was before the era of easy and reliable online features for fighting games so being able to play anytime you meet up with friends was a big deal. Fighting games live or die with their communities but Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection had no problems in that department.
Of course, the game wasn’t perfect. It had to cut and downgrade quite a few things to run smoothly on the PSP’s weaker hardware. But honestly, those were worthy sacrifices for the convenience of playing Tekken anywhere. Its later console ports were feature complete, but the primary memory people have of Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection is the one they played for hours on the tiny screen of their PSP’s.
Dark Resurrection enhanced one the best Tekken entries in the series’ history and brought in even more fans into fold. This game is an all-time classic and it’s great that both new and old fans can experience it once again.
Banner image from TEKKEN on X.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection is a standalone update to Tekken 5, originally released 20 years ago. It debuted in Japanese arcades in 2005 before being ported to the PlayStation Portable.
Dark Resurrection introduced fan-favorite characters Lili and Dragunov, added new moves and rebalancing for the existing cast, expanded character customization, and was the first Tekken title to have all characters unlocked immediately.
The PSP release made Tekken portable for the first time, allowing players to compete anywhere without needing a console or arcade cabinet. It also featured game sharing, letting multiple players compete using a single game copy.
The PSP version had to cut and downgrade certain features to run on the handheld’s weaker hardware, though later console ports of the game were feature complete.
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection is getting a rerelease on PlayStation Plus this week, giving both new and returning players a chance to experience the game again.
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