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Devil Gene
From Tekkenpedia
The Devil Gene is a genetical abnormality isolated in the people of the Mishima bloodline. While the exact specifications of this gene are never truly explained, it is generally assumed that the gene allows for a person to have a symbiosis or a parasite/host type relationship with a malignant spirit refered to as a "devil" as well as having it (the gene) control the transformations of one to the other. The exact requirements for these transformations are never fully revealed. The spirits can possess the person at any given time during the persons lifespan, even while still in their mother's womb or (apparently) just after death.
The people that currently possess the Devil Gene are, in the order in which it was "revealed", Kazuya Mishima, Jin Kazama, and Jinpachi Mishima. Heihachi Mishima doesn't seem to possess the Devil Gene, or at least has not shown it to the same degree as the other members of his family.
It is however important to understand that the concept of the Devil Gene was not thought of until Tekken 4, which then somewhat retconned the previous three canonical games. Prior to this, the concepts of Devil was entirely spiritual. The original concept, before the coming of a "Devil Gene", was not entirely scrapped though, and has in some cases been incorperated into the new continuity.
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[edit] The Devil "Possession" Timeline
While it was long presumed that Kazuya was the first Mishima to possess the Devil Gene, due to Heihachi's apparent lack of it, this all changed with the introduction of Heihachi's father, Jinpachi Mishima. Due to the presense of the Devil Gene in Jinpachi, it has been left ambiguous how far back the Devil Gene truly spans, and why it is seemingly not actively present in Heihachi.
According to Jinpachi himself, as heard in Lei Wulong's interlude with him, Jinpachi was held captive under Hon-Maru 40 years prior to the events of Tekken 5. He had amazingly survived several years before finally dying, but was soon after revived by a malignant spirit he simply referes to as "monster" ("thing" in the NA version). Whether the being had already possessed him prior to death or immediatly after is not known, all Jinpachi reveals about it is that it has immense control over him, and commands him to destroy the world so that it may reap the souls of the world's population.
Kazuya had his encounter with the devil later to be known as Devil by name when he was about 5 years old, making it roughly the same time as Jinpachi came in contact with the devil that possessed him, or just a few years earlier. Heihachi, sickened by his weak and emotionally soft son, threw him over a cliff so that he could climb back up. However, the injuries nearly killed Kazuya, and while he was lying near-death, he was approached by Devil, promising him the strength to overthrow his father and get revenge in exchange for Kazuya's soul to which Kazuya agreed.
After the events of Tekken 2, Heihachi throws Kazuya's body into a volcano. This inadvertantly caused Devil's soul to be split into two parts, one that stayed with Kazuya and another that went in search of Kazuya's yet unborn son, Jin Kazama. When it finally found the unborn Jin, it was warded off by Jun and was unsuccesfull in possessing Jin. However, 15 years later, it returned, branded Jin's left arm with a mark and possessing him (as seen in the Tekken 3 opening).
[edit] The Common Denominator
Interestingly enough, while Heihachi does not seem to possess the Devil Gene, he has been the catalyst whose actions have resulted in the devil possession of the other Mishimas. Heihachi staged a coup d'etat against Jinpachi, and locked him away under Hon-Maru, which resulted in Jinpachi being possessed by the "monster". Heihachi threw Kazuya over the cliff when Kazuya was a child, almost killing him. This resulted in the deal Kazuya struck with Devil. Several years later, after the events of the second tournament, Heihachi threw Kazuya into a volcano, thus releasing part of Devil, which then searched for and eventually did manage to possess Jin Kazama, though initially unsuccessful.
[edit] Activation of the Devil Gene
It is not explained how the Devil Gene is activated, but evidence within the games seem to suggest that it can be activated consciously, subconsciously, or based on external stimuli. Regardless of which, the effects seem rather clear; the devil side of the person becomes more dominant, to the point of changing the physical appearence of their host, who in turn become more powerful.
- Conscious activation: The only real conscious activation of the Devil Gene is seen when Jinpachi transforms into his devil self in the many interludes in Tekken 5 and Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection. One can argue that prior to Tekken 3, Kazuya was able to transform into Devil and back at will, but since this was before the concept of the actual Devil Gene, it might not apply, since he seemingly lost this ability with his return in Tekken 4. According to the storyline, he does regain it between the events of Tekken 4 and Tekken 5, though this is never actually seen.
- Subconscious activation: Jin's first transformation into Devil Jin at the end of the events of the third tournament was arguably a subconscious activation of his Devil Gene, likely in part of the anger he felt for Heihachi's betrayal and the fear of dying.
- Activation by external stimuli: Jin partially transforms at the end of the events of the fourth tournament due to Devil trying to force him to transform, as seen in Jin's Tekken 4 ending. Perhaps no more than half an hour later, when Jinpachi is freed from under the Hon-Maru does Jin completely transform because of his reaction to Jinpachi's devil.
[edit] Powers / Abilities
While the powers of each of the "Devils" are different, the "Devils" all fight using a form of Mishima Style Fighting Karate. This can however simply be attributed to the fact that they use the martial art known by the possessed person.
[edit] Devil
Devil's fighting style was initially the exact same as Kazuya Mishima's fighting style, since Devil was merely a pallette swap for Kazuya. In Tekken 2, Devil gained wings and with them, the power of flight (though this is sparringly used in his moveset). In the same game, Devil also gained a third eye on his forehead, from which he could fire a laser beam. These moves were the first to seperate Devil and Kazuya in terms of gameplay. In Tekken Tag Tournament, Devil had several moves that that Kazuya did not have (such as "Devil Fist" (f,F+2), a move where Devil punches his opponent and goes right through them so that he is behind his opponent) and even the moves they did share would sometimes have different properties or ranges. Devil can also use telekinesis (this is not one of his moves, and it was only seen in Kazuya's Tekken 4 epilogue).
[edit] Devil Jin
Devil Jin, like Devil, can also fly and fire lasers from the third eye on his forehead, however, their fighting style are rather different. Devil Jin's fighting style is the mixture of Mishima Fighting Style Karate and Kazama Style Self Defense that Jin used in Tekken 3 and Tekken Tag Tournament. Devil Jin also uses some of the unique moves used by Devil and Angel (such as "Heaven's Door" (f,N,d,d/f+1,u/f), a move that involves performing a strong uppercut, followed by flying high into the air with the opponent, and finally, slamming the opponent's body into the ground). Devil Jin can also use telekinesis, which was first demonstrated in Hwoarang's Tekken 5 epilogue, where Devil Jin uses telekinesis to make Hwoarang's motorcycle explode. This ability is also seen in one of Devil Jin's Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection win animations, where Devil Jin holds the opponent up in the air while forcing the opponent to choke himself / herself / itself.
[edit] Jinpachi Mishima
Jinpachi Mishima in his devil form is quite different from Devil and Devil Jin. Jinpachi has the ability to slide backwards and forwards while being intangible, and the ability to fire fireballs from the mouth in his abdomen. The fireballs are unblockable, and they can't be avoided by regular jumping or ducking. They can only be avoided by sidestepping them, jumping over them with a move that has great jumping height, e.g. Xiaoyu's f,f+3+4, being "grounded", or even parrying. Furthermore, Jinpachi has a move that can stun his opponent (even when they are in the air), a move that "leeches" the health of an opponent and transfers it to him (a grab), as well as other moves from the Mishima Style Fighting Karate art of fighting, such as "Dragon Uppercut".
