Unleashing Fury: A Review of Asura's Wrath
Asura's Wrath is a unique and explosive title that draws inspiration from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, delivering a relentlessly action-packed experience unlike anything else in gaming. While the core game offers around ten hours of gameplay, including downloadable content, it's less an interactive movie like The Walking Dead or Heavy Rain and more a high-octane anime come to life, both in its narrative and its structure.
Anime Structure, Non-Stop Action
Each of Asura's 18 episodes (plus DLC) is structured like an anime episode: opening credits overlaid on the action, mid-episode bumpers where commercials would traditionally go, and cliffhanger "Next time on Asura's Wrath" sequences.
Unlike many interactive narrative games, Asura's Wrath ditches adventure game elements in favor of pure, unadulterated action.
It sounds like a formula that shouldn't work, but surprisingly, it does. Despite some issues with its publishing model, Asura's Wrath is a wild, insane joyride.
The gameplay sequences, integrated within the cutscenes, are incredibly engaging.
Gameplay: A Trifecta of Fury
The gameplay is divided into three main components:
- Quick Time Events (QTEs): Cutscenes are punctuated by QTEs, requiring players to react quickly to on-screen prompts.
Unlike poorly implemented QTEs, Asura's Wrath integrates them organically. Button prompts generally align with the on-screen action. If Asura is about to jump, the jump button appears. This logical approach keeps you engaged during the intense scenes.
- Beat 'Em Up Arenas: Sections and most boss battles adopt a beat 'em up style.
Players navigate an arena and unleash combos.
- On-Rails Shooting: Larger-than-life set pieces often feature on-rails shooting sequences.
Each gameplay style is genuinely fun and well-executed.
A Story of Betrayal and Revenge
The game revolves around Asura, a powerful warrior consumed by wrath.
Set on the planet Gaea, Asura and the Eight Guardian Generals protect humanity from the Gohma, creatures corrupted by impurity. Asura's daughter, Mithra, can channel Mantra (soul energy) to combat the Gohma. Vlitra, a colossal beast at the planet's core, periodically emerges and requires the full force of Mantra to subdue.
The story takes a dark turn when Deus, the leader of the Generals, betrays the emperor, frames Asura, and seizes power.
Asura is killed, and Deus imprisons Mithra to harness her Mantra-channeling abilities for the next twelve thousand years. This sets the stage for Asura's resurrection and his quest for revenge against the Seven Deities (formerly the Eight Generals) and to rescue his daughter.
Each of the Seven Deities possesses a unique, cartoonish personality.
Asura embodies angry machismo, characterized by bulging muscles and an endless supply of limbs. The boss battles are unique. Instead of health bars, you need to reach a specific "burst" level to complete them.
The game's art style, music, and cinematography work exceptionally well.
Asura's Wrath understands cinematic presentation, something many games often miss. The pacing is excellent, and the story, despite being bombastic and ridiculous, feels genuine and cohesive.
The music is equally impressive, ranging from epic choral pieces to Western-inspired tracks, and even cleverly uses Dvorak's New World Symphony in a moon-based duel.
While there are connections to real-world mythologies, they're presented in a way that blends magic and sci-fi, creating a unique world.
The dialogue and character development are over-the-top, fitting a world where petty gods clash. However, the character General Sergei, a flamboyant gay stereotype, feels like an offensive caricature.
The Capcom Controversy: DLC Done Wrong
Despite the game's strengths, Capcom's handling of the DLC is a significant issue.
The main game ends with unresolved plot points, requiring players to replay earlier chapters to unlock the "True Ending," which introduces a major twist and a cliffhanger.
Capcom essentially charged players to see the game's real conclusion. The DLC is well-made but should have been packaged differently.
Ending the game at Episode 18 and selling the extra content as a "What if?" scenario would have been less problematic.
Two additional side episodes feature Ryu and Akuma from Street Fighter. These episodes are a fun and ridiculous diversion, especially for Street Fighter fans, but are ultimately inconsequential to the main story.
Sadly, the Akuma episode also ends on a cliffhanger.
Final Verdict: Wrath Worth Experiencing
A demo is available and showcases the best aspects of the game. If you enjoy over-the-top action and characters yelling at each other before delivering earth-shattering punches, Asura's Wrath is for you.
It's a unique experience that, despite its DLC missteps, is absolutely worth checking out.