Criticism of Tekken 4 forced game director to leave Bandai Namco for a year

Katsuhiro Harada admitted that the criticism aimed at Tekken 4 was so intense that he had to take a break, because the situation at the time of the game's release was extremely tense.

Today, Tekken 4, which was released in 2002 on the PS2, is praised for its mechanics, ideas, and differences from other games in the series, but Harada says that upon release it was heavily criticized, which affected him deeply.

“I know that people praise it now, but at the time, a barrage of criticism rained down on me, and I had not a single ally. Not one. It's a well-known story within the company.”

“At that time, I was under so much stress that I developed a mysterious condition where all the hair on the right side of my body fell out. Only on the right side. Even the hair on my arms, eyebrows, and eyelashes disappeared.”

“Now all the critics have forgotten their grievances, and only those who praise the game remain. That's why it's treated like a work of art. For me, good or bad, this game is a constant reminder and a lesson.”

Harada said that despite everything, Tekken 4 sold well, even amidst the worst reviews from users and reviewers on Metacritic, which drove him to take a break.

“In fact, there was a period about a year before the start of Tekken 5's development when I left Namco due to stress and shock. That's not a widely known fact.”

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Cover author: Bandai Namco. Cover source: Patolfe