Steve Fox
A British boxing champion who was asked to throw a fight by the mafia and, realizing that refusing such an order almost always sees the boxer in question catapulted into a life of whirlwind adventure, elected to just keep on winning. Catapulted into a life of whirlwind adventure, his paths cross with Nina Williams, who's been assigned to assassinate him despite being (are you sitting down?) Steve's long-lost mother.
Choose this character if: You always choose the character who comes to a mixed-discipline fighting game with nothing but a boxing pedigree. And if that's you, please tell us how you ever win a watch ever.
Tiger Jackson
Tiger Jackson loves all things '70s: Disco, big hair, garish colors, gritty social-realist cinema and cocaine. We're presuming on a couple of those. Anyway, beginning life as a potential alternative character design for Eddy Gordo, Tiger appeared in T3 as a palette-swap for the Capoeira fighter. While his moveset remains similar, he's since been granted his own character slot.
Choose this character if: You want to play as Eddy Gordo, but can't bear the stigma of choosing such a notoriously entry-level character and you somehow think a dude with rainbow suspenders and light-up trousers is more dignified.
Unknown
Will it surprise you immensely to learn that not much is known about Unknown? Originally intended as a sister to Jun Kazama, the character lost this association when it was decided that Tekken Tag Tournament would take place outside the series' canonical continuity. In the first game, Unknown fought with a glowing werewolf-like familiar, but now uses spectral attacks and moves similar to those of her one-time sibling.
Choose this character if: You've fought her in the arcade version and looked forward to the console game, in which Unknown is playable with her own moveset for the first time (previously, she copied other fighters' moves a la Mokujin and Combot).
[EDIT]: This character hasn't been confirmed as playable.
Wang Jinrei
Wang Jinrei has been a lifelong family friend of the Mishimas, which must be a bit like having grown up borrowing the odd cup of sugar from those nice Hitlers next door. Once BFFs with Jinpachi Mishima, Wang continued to watch over Heihachi after the latter's disappearance; sitting out Tekkens 3 and 4, he returned when Jinpachi requested his help in defeating the Devil Gene.
Choose this character if: You want to know where Ling Xiaoyu's moves originated. Wang is Xiaoyu's grandfather and tutor, and was replaced by her in Tekken 3.
Yoshimitsu
Having appeared in every Tekken game and never actually shown his face, it's about time someone got to casting some wild unfounded speculations as to Yoshimitsu's true identity. In the meantime, though, the character's a fan favorite for his ninjutsu-based fighting style, samurai-influenced swordplay, and increasingly outlandishly fight garb.
Choose this character if: You're willing to learn, employ, and justify notoriously tricksy tactics such as his teleportation and Flea Stance.
Zafina
Trained as an assassin (in the true, those-guys-from-Assassin's-Creed sense of the word) and charged with protecting an ancient tomb, Zafina lives in the Middle East as an astrologist until an ancient prophecy signals she may have to employ her talents elsewhere. Elsewhere, obviously, being another way of saying beating up people whose last name is Mishima.
Choose this character if: You always check your horoscope in the paper, but would trust it more if you knew the author won fights by crawling on her belly like a snake or scorpion. That's still pretty gullible of you.
Ready to play?
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 releases next week: the US version will hit stores on the 11th of September, with European players joining the fray three days later. Now you've met all 55 characters, do you feel ready to start playing? While you wait for the title, try your hand at our quiz: How's your Tekken knowledge? Test your skills with these trivia questions. Told you there'd be a test.
