The last fighter for the first season pass of Tekken 8 is here in the form of Clive Rosfield of Final Fantasy XVI. The first guest fighter to come to the game, Clive looks to make a splash by bringing his elementally charged combat to bear against his foes. And it looks like the developers at Bandai Namco have done a thorough job ensuring he has the skills to succeed.
The first thing players will notice about Clive is that he hits like a truck. His combos do excellent damage that can leave opponents on the back foot if they aren’t careful. He has a strong neutral game thanks to the reach of his sword, which will punish players who approach without due caution.
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Clive can also keep foes guessing about when attacks will come, thanks to the aid of his faithful companion, Torgal. Inexperienced players who don’t know when the pup is about to jump out may drop their guard too early, thinking Clive is safely out of range. However, Torgal isn’t the only surprise element Clive Rosfield brings to Tekken 8, as his kit is varied and deep.
Everything Clive Rosfield delivers in Tekken 8
The first element of note in his toolbox is his Phoenix Shift. Like in his home game, Clive can travel a short distance towards his foe with a fiery teleport. As he comes out, he has several different attacks he can perform, a low kick among them. This can keep foes guessing as to how to block the coming assault.
Several of his combo options coming out of Phoenix Shift will also charge a special gauge that allows Clive to unleash a special attack that, at max power, can eat roughly half a health bar. It takes a lot of hits to get it to full, so this eventuality isn’t likely to happen too often. Excited fighters also need to be careful with how earnestly they pursue this line of attacks with Clive Rosfield. The Phoenix Shift can be punished if a foe is ready, so overuse will come with a price.
Clive can also sprout wings in Tekken 8, further increasing his options in battle. In this form, both a light and heavy fireball are available, as well as a somersault to punish foes who try to jump in on the airborne fighter. The light fireball is particularly interesting, as the player can fire it, then quickly follow up with Phoenix Shift, bringing a quick second attack to opponents that can be tricky to stop.
Clive Rosfield also has a fantastic precision dodge. If successful, he teleports out of his opponent’s attack and can deliver an easy punishment for solid damage. This adds an additional layer to his defensive kit that is great when executed properly.
Clive is the total package
All of the above elements are accompanied by gorgeous visuals that bring the elemental might of Final Fantasy XVI‘s main protagonist home. His Heat Activation sees him transform into a fiery version of himself, and his Heat Smash pushes the look a step further, seeing him sprout Phoenix wings and pummel his opponent with burning feathers. Torgal also gets a visual upgrade during Heat activation as well, becoming a lighting hound as he aids Clive in taking down his foes.
All the visual grandeur reaches its apex with Clive’s Rage art. After a brutal, fire-filled combo, Elemental Clive summons Ifrit, who snatches the opponent out of the air, slamming them into the ground, causing a blazing inferno to engulf them. The monstrous Eikon looks incredible as he towers over the battlefield, making Clive Rosfield feel like he stands at a whole other level of power than his opponents.
And a fun little easter egg: If Clive finishes his battle with the Rage Art, a choir version of the classic Final Fantasy victory theme plays instead of the usual music.
Clive Rosfield is the total package. Great damage, a variety of combat options, and a level of visual splendor that makes players the character as much fun as possible. While Clive brings all the elements that make Tekken 8 one of the best of the year, players may find Bandai Namco has tuned this character a bit too tightly, leading him to need a nerf or two in the future. We’ll have to wait and see what the community can do with him as his time in the King of Iron Fist Tournament unfolds.
