Character Evolution
King is the name given to a series of characters from Namco’s Tekken series, all of whom wear a distinctive Jaguar mask.
Tekken
King, a well known wrestler from Mexico, was also a vicious street fighter who lived for combat. During one fight King was brutally wounded and left for dead, delirious he stumbled to the nearest building which happened to be a monastery. The priests who lived there took him under their wing and looked after him until he recovered. It was through the kindness that these men showed him that he saw the error of his ways, King set about making amends and from that point forward joined the priests to aid them with their work. King also had a mission, he wanted to build a home for all the children living on the streets as he once did, hoping that they wouldn’t have to become the kind of man that he had once been.
King hears rumours of the King of Iron Fist Tournament, and the huge cash prize that awaited the winner, with which he could make his orphanage dream a reality. Against the monastery’s wishes he enters the tournament, his punishment being his excommunication from the group.
King’s ending
From his efforts in the tournament King is able to achieve 3rd place, the prize money being more than enough to pay for the creation of an orphanage. Along the way he also meets a rival wrestler by the name of Armor King for the first time.
In King’s ending cinematic, an orphanage is shown from which a group of children run out to meet King who is standing outside, King raises his hands in joy.
Tekken 2
King built his orphanage and for a while he was happy looking after the children, but one day a freak accident caused a child in his care to die. King left the orphanage, too distraught and ashamed to return, he turned to alcohol and once again lived rough on the streets. When Armor King found him he was a wreck, both physically and mentally. To try and keep him from destroying himself Armor King convinced him that he should enter the King of Iron Fist Tournament 2. King trains hard and enters the King of Iron Fist Tournament and does well until he eventually loses to Armor King. This spurs King on to enter more tournaments and win more money to support the children in his care. He also trained with some of the more athletic of the children in the orphanage.
King’s ending
It is Christmas time and King is standing outside his orphanage watching through the window and the children celebrating. Ashamed at having lost in the tournament King leaves some presents at the door and begins to walk away. The door opens and the happy children run to join him.
Tekken 3
Some time between Tekken 2 and 3 King is murdered by the God of Fighting, Ogre, following his awakening by Heihachi Mishima. The sad news reached the orphanage where a young man aged 24, who had trained hard as a pupil of King’s until his death, decided to take the mask and name in honour of his former mentor. One day a man showed up to see if the rumours of King’s death were true, this man introduced himself as Armor King. Upon meeting King’s successor and witnessing his determination, Armor King offered to take over as his teacher. For 4 years King worked hard, knowing that one day he might get the chance to avenge the fallen King by defeating Ogre. He enters the King of Iron Fist Tournament 3, taking this chance to put into practice everything that he has learned.
King’s ending
In his ending cinematic, King is in the ring against another wrestler with Armor King watching from the side, he wins the match easily and is given the belt. He notices Armor King is gone and runs to the dressing room where he finds Armor King with his head down, maskless.
Tekken 4
King discovered that Armor King had been killed during a bar fight. Insensed by outrage and grief at losing another mentor he vows to find the man responsible, a man who goes by the name Craig Marduk. Craig was arrested for his crime and sent to prison in Arizona. King proceeds to bribe the prison officials to ensure Marduk’s early release and then sends him a challenge, to enter the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4.
King’s ending
In his ending cutscene, King is seen entering a hospital with a bouquet of flowers. He opens a door and sees Marduk with an oxygen mask on his face. King raises his fist to deliver the final blow but changes his mind when he sees the picture of Marduk’s parents on the bedside table.
Tekken 5
King is outraged to learn that Craig Marduk has been fighting using a black jaguar mask which belonged to Armor King, King’s former mentor. Seeing Marduk disgrace his master leads King to issue a public statement challenging Marduk to enter the King of Iron Fist Tournament 5, the most prestigious fighting tournament in the world, to settle the score. King and Marduk meet in the tournament and King bests his opponent for the second time. This time Marduk takes his defeat humbly and admits that King is the better fighter.
King’s ending
King is once again in a wrestling ring. This time he appears to be losing to 2 opponents. King’s tag partner is revealed to be Craig Marduk and together they take out their opponents. The final shot is of Marduk and King each lifting a belt
Tekken 6
King and Marduk realized that they had more in common than they thought and their friendship grows after the conclusion of the King of Iron Fist Tournament 5. Marduk rushes to tell King one day that he was attacked by a mysterious figure, a figure who appeared to be Armor King, the man he once murdered. Eager to learn more King enters the King of Iron Fist Tournament 6, knowing that there is no way the real Armor King would miss the tournament.
King’s ending
King is in a room . He is holding a picture of his mentor Armor King. When he tries to put it back, it falls instead and accidentally breaks with another picture behind it. He slowly looks at the other picture. King concerned asks “What’s this?” It was revealed that there was another person with the Armor King mask alongside the original Armor King thus revealing that there are two Armor Kings.
Video game appearances
- Tekken
- Tekken 2
- Tekken 3
- Tekken Tag Tournament
- Tekken 4
- Tekken 5
- Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection
- Tekken 6
- Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion
- Tekken Tag Tournament 2
- Tekken Advance
- Street Fighter X Tekken