For those who’ve been playing Tekken since the early days, you might recall a certain yellow dinosaur. Yes, we’re talking about Gon – the one you’d whirl around with, breathing fire and unleashing toxic farts on your poor opponents. Now, with the release of Tekken 8, fans are curious to know if Gon has finally made a return to the Tekken series. Well, let’s find out!
Can You Play Gon In Tekken 8?
Unfortunately, Gon is not part of the roster in Tekken 8. In fact, this fiery little dinosaur will not be making a return in any future Tekken games, as confirmed by the game’s producer Katsuhiro Harada.
A unique character from a popular manga, Gon made his only appearance in Tekken 3 as a special guest. Players could unlock this dinosaur-like character by either beating him in the Tekken Ball mode or by achieving a high score in Survival Mode and entering “GON” as their name.
But why, one might ask, was Gon participating in the third King of Iron Fist Tournament? And who exactly is this fiery, yet adorable, character? Let’s have a look at the fascinating backstory of Gon’s origins.
What Is Gon’s Backstory?
The world was first introduced to this fiery little dinosaur through the Japanese manga series, Gon, created by Masashi Tanaka in 1991. This silent epic traces the journey of Gon, a small yet formidable dinosaur who miraculously survived the extinction of his species.
In the manga, which doesn’t follow a strict storyline, Gon pops up in various countries across the world and engages with their wildlife. Despite his quick temper, Gon is shown to have a heart of gold.
His popularity in Japan led him to be the protagonist of his eponymous video game in 1994. The game, developed by Tose and launched by Bandai, is a side-scrolling platform game that showcases Gon battling for survival in a vibrant 2-D world.
The rest of the world mostly got to know about this fascinating character due to its appearance in Tekken 3. Gon’s presence in this game was likely a result of a partnership with the Gon manga creators.
Interestingly, Katsuhiro Harada stated that the absence of Gon in subsequent Tekken games was not due to copyright issues, as commonly believed. Rather, it’s simply a matter of the development team not having enough time to include him.
However, Gon’s video game journey extends beyond Tekken 3. He made a comeback in the gaming world with Gon: Baku Baku Baku Baku Adventure, a game designed for Nintendo 3DS by Bandai Namco. Initially released in Japan in 2012, it later found its way to South Korean audiences as well.
Final Thoughts
With his distinctive, and fun, fighting style in Tekken 3, Gon has left a void in the Tekken series that fans keenly feel. Could Bandai Namco ever consider reviving this beloved character? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Share your opinions in the comments section below!