Tekken Tag Tournament was the most competitive, alongside Street Fighter, and was also the most played fighting game in the arcade scenes from its inception in 1999 until now (yes until now, there are still a lot of people playing this game).
Back when I was still in college, I got addicted in playing this arcade game. Back then, there was still no Ragnarok Online to play with. Before and after classes, my friend Mark F. (aka Jwoarang in Tekken Zaibatsu forums) and I would go to University Mall beside McDonald’s near La Salle and would battle the “seniors” there. We would usually get owned and get beaten, but it was a starting point for us to improve. Like in any sport or any game, better competition will make one a better player. A senior student named Hector became our good friend and sparring mate and he was the best among U.M. players. The master was a measuring point for everyone who would want to improve their game.
I would often use Kazuya and Hwoarang as these were my main characters that time. Mark would use Jin and Hwoarang. Sooner and after I’d give Jin and Kazuya a try because Hwoarang was quit complicated to use and improve, and I’d become what they call a “Mishima Whore”. Soon we would find a lot of friends in that place, including Roel, a 3rd year student.
Months passed I and Roel joined Synergy’s TTT tournament at SM Megamall. In that tournament, all of the best from all arcades (or should I say, all dojos) in Metro Manila met. Too bad Mark and Hector weren’t available during those times. There was an entrance fee of P100 as far as I can remember. I made a few friends while competing there. All of my matches were, ummm, humiliating defeats. But in any case it propelled and inspired me to become a better player.
After getting badly beaten and humiliated in that tournament, I decided to concentrate on playing the Changs, Julia and Michelle. This team’s offensive and turtling game suits my fighting style. Going back to our dojo (or our arcade at U.M.), I was a better player and everyone was surprised. Despite the fact that U.M. players have the reputation of rarely traveling to other malls/arcades to challenge other dojos, I visit other arcades like the ones in Robinson’s Galleria and SM North EDSA and challenge players there. And I’m proud to say that I got most of the wins. I joined other tournaments afterwards and performed well despite not reaching the finals. Thus, I gained the reputation of being one of the best Changs players in the country.