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Asura’s Wrath
* Format: PS3 (version reviewed), 360 * Unleashed: March 9, 2012 * Publisher: Capcom * Developer: CyberConnect2 * Players: 1
* Site:
http://www.capcom-europe.com/games/Asuras- Wrath-Sony-PS3
Asura’s Wrath is rather unique; a heady mix of action game and anime that is short on gameplay but unmatched in spectacle. The tale unfolds through quick time event-laden cutscenes, where player involvement often feels like an afterthought and an interruption to a story that is well told and en- grossing. Think Heavy Rain, only in space and featuring muscle- bound, shouty demi-gods. Thrust into the role of demi-god space rocks, the opening level quickly introduces the gameplay mechanics you’ll be repeating for the next six to eight hours: QTEs, linear button mashing combat and shooting sections. The stunning art direction instantly jumps out and suddenly takes your mind off the fact that you aren’t really do- ing much of anything. Elements spiritualism make for a vibrant and memorable mix, resulting in unique moments that you won’t soon through the air, brandishing a gun the size of a house. Unfortunately, what little gameplay is on offer falls well short of what we
have come to expect from third- person action games. With few a succession of enemies or a boss arena, or are moving at speed moving targets. These clashes all require you to do enough damage to activate your Burst, a special at- tack that will either end or progress QTEs are interspersed throughout these showdowns and, played on ing. Even gamers with the slowest plenty of time to key in the simple commands. The other-worldly bosses are im- pressive but they still follow the exact same format as the lesser ponent towers over the Earth and attempts to crush Asura with a chubby digit – but their bark is far worse than their bite. On the whole this is a relatively easy game when to the end before realising that you can actually die. What Asura’s Wrath may lack in substance, it makes up for in sheer spectacle. There is a lot of enjoyment to be found in this over the top adventure and a great deal of satisfaction in besting your fel- low demi-gods. Our hero spouts
extra arms, perishes and is reborn numerous times, even defeating one particularly nasty beast while missing his arms. Asura’s Wrath never lets up and moments like these succeed in keeping you in- vested, even when you are doing little more than simply watching events unfold. The cutscenes are excellent and populated by a larger than life cast, many of whom have a propensity for shouting every line of dialogue as loud as they can. Unfortunately, the cutscenes are plagued by ter- rible lip-syncing, which becomes longer you play. In a game where you spend the vast majority of the time either watching or interacting with cutscenes, you would have thought CyberConnect2 would have ensured that the character’s Widely labelled an “interactive anime”, Asura’s Wrath succeeds in telling an engrossing story whilst demanding very little of the player. It falls well short as an action game with its sparse, shallow and repeti- tive gameplay, but a compelling narrative and unique style make it worth a look for those of you searching for something a little bit different.
written by Critical Gamer’s Matthew Masters
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