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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Tekken 3

Universal acclaim
Based on 15 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 26 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre(s): Fighting, Action
Players: 2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: February 28, 1998
Summary
...Four years later, on Jin Kazama's 19th birthday, the curtains rise for the King of Iron Fist Tournament 3. [Namco]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Death by Degrees Tekken 2 Tekken 4 Tekken 5 Tekken Tag Tournament
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Electric Playground
I'd come off as a huge hypocrite if I didn't put Tekken 3 at the top of the list. "Tekken 2" was a 10, and Tekken 3 is a better game in most respects.
Read Full Review >GMR Magazine
An amazing conversion, given the difference between the arcade and PlayStation hardware at the time. Set the standard for bonuses. [Feb 2003, p.97]
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
If you want to pick a fight, why not battle with the best of 'em? [Mar 02, p.34]
GamePro
In order to outshine Tekken 3, a game will need to have a ton of moves (T3 has over 100 per character), multi-hit combos (all T3 fighters can pull off 10-hitters), outstanding graphics (T3 has no breakup on the fighters, no "blind spots" where clipping occurs, and no slowdown), and seamless gameplay that includes juggles, counters, and linking moves.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
The gameplay is identical to the arcade. Every move, combo, and character has been transferred over, and a couple of new characters have been added in as well.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
The spectacular sequel that confirmed the hatred gamers felt for Paul. [Jan 2004, p.189]
TotalGames.net
A thoroughbred that out-strikes the opposition as if it were high on steroids. Put bluntly, we're not gonna get a better beat-'em-up. Tekken 3 is a killer app that is close to perfection.
Read Full Review >Absolute Playstation
A "better than arcade" overall game translation here that will truly stand the test of time and perhaps be the best fighter we will ever see released on the Playstation.
Read Full Review >Gamezilla!
After the first fight you will see how much time was spent on the details of making the characters look and react as realistic as possible.
Read Full Review >IGN
The only gripe that we'd have with it is that Namco's set the bar so high that we shudder with anticipation and dread over what the designers'll have to do to top this.
Read Full Review >PSX Nation
The sound effects are horrible because they replaced a lot of Arcade sound effects with lower sampled and wimpy sounding effects. This is really the only downfall of this game, aside from the frame dropping.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
With everything that the arcade version has and more, this is one of the few times that a console game outshines its arcade counterpart.
Read Full Review >Adrenaline Vault
The best fighter for any console system. What else needs to be said?
Read Full Review >All Game Guide
While the backgrounds are 2D, they are rich and diverse and those spot explosions, though pixilated, feature high quality light sourcing.
Read Full Review >Games Domain
There is a downside to the improved graphics. In some of the stages there is some slowdown and degradation of frame rate.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Wyte gave it a10:
Godlke, a game like this has not surfaced again, and i doubt it ever can due to desire for perfect graphics. T3 didn't need that! it just needed gameplay that was so addictive.
LaCharles G. gave it a10:
The best Tekken in the series.
Dan B. gave it a10:
I have a PS One, but I don't play it much anymore (now that I have the Wii) But from time to time, I plug in my Tekken game and play it. It's so addicting, and pretty good graphics for the PS One. Despite being old, I would still play it for a long time.
Niveche gave it a10:
A bencmark in the genre - no scratch that - this game REDEFINED the genre - the big daddy of em all. Brilliant game - no need to explain - play it with your head in 1996 and you'll know why.
AB gave it a10:
Tekken 3 is one of the best fighting games ever. That's all you need to know.
Alberto M. gave it a 10:
Brilliant graphics, brilliant music and of course brilliant gameplay. Enough reason to buy a PSX, still with today's standars.
King-Kong Kutch gave it a 10:
I love this game. This is a must have game especially for those gamers than likes arcade types of games.
