Most Broken Video Game Characters: Akuma
The Search for the Most Broken Video Game Character
Akuma in Tekken 7 is in the unique position of being both broken and overpowered. The problem with Akuma is that he's not a Tekken character, he's a Street Fighter character. He may be in Tekken, but certainly does not play by the rules of Tekken.
Invasion
Akuma's inclusion in Tekken 7 as a guest character from the Street Fighter series initially stirred excitement among fans, but it quickly became evident that his presence was nothing short of catastrophically game-altering. Akuma was nearly a carbon copy of his Street Fighter 4 counterpart, and this adaptation brought with it a set of moves and mechanics that proved to be excessively powerful in the Tekken universe. His devastating damage output and ability to string together combos with relative ease was unmatched, often leading to 'ToD' (Touch of Death) combos where opponents could be defeated in a single sequence of attacks. This left opponents with very little room for error, as a single mistake could lead to their entire health bar being decimated.
Tricks of the Trade
However, what made him truly broken were the tricks and tools he brought with him from Street Fighter. His teleport, his Demon Flip (sometimes referred to as a 2D jump), the Focus Attack, and by extension the FADC (Focus Attack Dash Cancel), and the all-powerful EX Meter. Akuma's reliance on this unique meter system allowed him to frequently access his EX moves, which not only further amplified his combo potential and damage output, but also provided him with significant advantages, such as invincibility frames and unblockable attacks. And his ability to easily transition between 2D and 3D fighting styles made him incredibly versatile.
These factors tilted the balance of Tekken 7 and left many players feeling that Akuma was an overpowered and broken character that challenged the core gameplay dynamics of the series.
As dominant as he was, Akuma's inclusion on this list isn't because he was powerful, it's because he broke the rules. His unique 2D fighting mechanics brought a style of play to Tekken that it had never seen before and was simply not prepared for.
