Tekken 6 Character Countdown Part 6: Marshall Law

Do you smell what Marshall is cooking?

As a way of counting down the time to the release of Tekken 6 for the PS3 and Xbox360, I’ve decided to begin this weekly series of lengthy, character-specific articles, each one featuring one of the 40 or so competing warriors in the latest and greatest King of Iron Fist Tournament. Hopefully, by the time we finish and reach character number 40, we’ll have the console version of Tekken in our hands already.

Part 6 (Wow! We’re about one-sixth the way to Tekken 6 console!!! WOOHOO!!!) brings us to another original Tekken alumni, and the close friend of last week’s entry, Paul Phoenix. He’s known as ‘The Fighting Chef’ and has the dubious honor of being the franchise’s obligatory fighter based on the legendary Bruce Lee. He’s the Master of the Dragon Kick, Bearer of the Universally Annoying High-Pitched Cry and seemingly eternally in debt… he’s Marshall Law.

Marshall Law

Distinguishing Features: Um… he looks like Bruce Lee. For a time sported a Fu Manchu-style moustache. Wardrobe that increasingly (and disturbingly) seems borrowed from male prostitutes.

Strengths: His Jeet-Kun-Do style is one of the fastest and most potent fighting techniques around, and comes with rapid fire punches, flipping kicks and power strikes. Opponents regularly get enraged and/or intimidated/annoyed by his characteristic yells.

Weaknesses: Can get predictable. A bit too hotheaded. Bad luck streak. Has a teenage son.

Affiliation: Along with Paul Phoenix and Steve Fox, Law has formed a special team to maximize their chances of winning in the Tournament and bringing home some much-needed money.

Background: Little is known about the man named Marshall Law, save that in the original tournament he was already known as ‘The Fighting Chef’, a professional learned in both the combative and the culinary arts. His style, Jeet Kun Do, is a legendary technique that is feared and respected the world over. However, Marshall himself isn’t quite the all-powerful fighter. A family man with a wife and young son (Forrest Law), Marshall struggled to make ends meet as well as fulfill his dreams of owning his own restaurant. He entered the Tekken tournament to use his skills to make his dreams reality.

Despite not winning the tournament, exposure in the Tekken battles gained popularity and fame for Marshall, and he was able to establish his own dojo. Prior to Tekken 2 though, his dojo and students were attacked by a mysterious fighter (eventually revealed to be Baek Doo San), forcing Marshall to reenter the new tournament for a measure of vengeance.

Tekken 3 saw Marshall sit at the sidelines while his teenage son Forrest entered in his stead (without his knowledge). For some reason, Marshall wasn’t involved much in the Ogre Rampage, although his rival Baek Doo San was among those attacked. It became apparent from Forrest’s ending that Marshall had let himself go a bit since Tekken 2, as shown by his inability to do a ‘Frogman’ flip move.

Tekken 4 brought a bit more prosperity to Marshall, as he was able to put up his own restaurant, named Marshall China. In spite of his initial success though, competition soon brought Marshall’s restaurant out of business. His failure to win the Tekken 4 tournament as well did little for his fortunes- he lost both his restaurant and his dojo, and was soon working as a dishwasher to make ends meet.

The straw that would break Marshall’s back though came just as Tekken 5 was about to begin- Forrest, while fooling around on Paul Phoenix’s motorcycle, caused a huge accident, resulting in a massive bill for both hospital and damage expenses. Clapping his forehead in frustration, Marshall entered the Tekken tournament… to another dismal failure. Soon after, Marshall was deported back to the US, as penniless as could be and still not knowing how he would pay off his mounting debt.

Finally, as war raged all around the world in Tekken 6, Law is contacted by Paul and asked to join a special team so they could maximize their chances of winning the prize money in the new Tekken tournament. Law agrees, although he thinks that three may have better odds than just two, so he brings in the boxer named Steve Fox on their side. With their eyes on the jackpot, the Three Hungry Wolves prepare for combat…

Character Analysis: What can I say about Marshall Law? Sadly, you probably won’t see me playing Law a lot… Jeet Kun Do just isn’t me. But I admit his story is quite enjoyable to follow. A true underdog, Marshall embodies the working-class hero; a seemingly always-down-on-his-luck Joe who never gives up despite everything bearing down on him. Despite his failings and limitations (a temper and bad luck streak), he’s from all indications a good father and husband who tries his best to provide for his wife and child (unlike some other Tekken fathers around… yeah, I’m looking at YOU, Roger). As per the old saying, Everyone loves an Underdog, and Law’s as low an underdog as you can get in Tekken…

So… what will the future bring for Marshall? This is as scraping the bottom of the barrel as you can in the story, so I’m thinking that maybe we’ll see Law bring home some bacon- at least enough to pay his debt and perhaps enough to get his dreams back on track again. But with doofus Paul in his corner, you just can’t tell. Hopefully three heads are indeed better than one. In any case, success really doesn’t seem to be in the stars for this lovable loser… which his fans will probably not mind at all. Marshall will surely be fighting in any future Tekken… which means we won’t be seeing a rich, set-for-life Law anytime soon.

Next week we’ll delve into another fighter’s story. Stay tuned!

Tekken 6 is slated for release on PS3 and Xbox360 in Fall 2009.