Veteran fighter Anna Williams is making a comeback in Tekken 8, and her new look has stirred up quite the conversation among fans. While the majority seem to embrace her updated design, a vocal minority have taken to social media to voice their disapproval, with some even likening her new appearance to Santa Claus.
The debate reached a boiling point when a fan requested that game director and chief producer Katsuhiro Harada revert Anna's design to her classic look. Harada responded firmly, stating, "If you prefer the old design, I am not taking those away from you." He emphasized that while 98% of fans are welcoming the changes, there will always be critics. He also pointed out the entitlement in claiming to speak for all Anna fans and criticized the unconstructive nature of such demands, which oscillate between threats to quit and calls for reverting designs they previously criticized as recycling.
In another heated exchange, when a commenter criticized the lack of re-releases of older Tekken games with modern netcode and labeled Harada's response as "a joke," Harada retorted, "Thank you for POINTLESS reply. You yourself are the joke. MUTED."
Despite the controversy, many fans are expressing positive sentiments about Anna's redesign. Redditor AngryBreadRevolution shared their enthusiasm, hoping for an "edgier, angry, violent Anna" and appreciating the new design's alignment with this vision. They noted the new hair style complements the outfit and personality well, although they expressed some reservations about the coat's resemblance to Christmas attire. Other fans, like troonpins, praised most elements of the design but criticized the white feathers, which contributed to the Santa Claus comparison. Cheap_Ad4756 felt Anna appeared younger and less like a "woman" in the new design, missing the previous dominatrix vibe. Meanwhile, spiralqq called the design "horrible" and "overdesigned," suggesting the removal of the coat to mitigate the Santa-like appearance.
What do you think of Anna's the new outfit coming from Tekken 7?
Tekken 8 has achieved remarkable commercial success, selling 3 million copies within a year of its release, outpacing Tekken 7's 10-year journey to 12 million copies. In IGN's Tekken 8 review, the game was praised for its innovative tweaks to the classic fighting systems, engaging offline modes, new characters, robust training tools, and enhanced online experience, earning a stellar 9/10 rating. The review concluded that by respecting its legacy while pushing forward, Tekken 8 distinguishes itself as an exceptional entry in the series.
