Asura's Wrath Review

Asura has a no-holds-barred attitude that's exhilarating

One of the quotes on the packaging of Asura's Wrath is from IGN and reads "in sixteen years of playing games, I've never seen anything like Asura's wrath." I took this statement with trepidation as one that may be used incorrectly if taken out of context.  This statement could be that the game is the worst thing ever played, or a true original gem.  Nothing could be more true than the latter.  In all my many years of gaming, more than sixteen to be sure, I have never encountered something as viscerally appealing and mind-nummigly replete with sensory overload than Asura's Wrath.  It's been a great many years since I have been so rivitted by a game that I could not stop playing until completion, but last night a started the game at 9:30 and at 3:30, half asleep, watched the final credits roll.  This game is completely satisfying from start to finish and I will attempt to break down the reasons why.

Yes, it gets this epic

Graphics & Presentation:  This game has one of the greatest presentations I have ever seen.  From crisp graphics that look like a living painting, a la Street Fighter IV, to a TV show stile presentation complete with commercial breaks to give a pause in the action this game's look and feel is unique.  Each chapter is divided into an episode complete with one commercial break (sans commercials) at the middle point and a preview of the episode to get you excited about the action you are about to partake in.  This break up of the action actually keeps you "tuned in" as it keeps the segments brief and keeps you pushing to see what is going to happen next.  The whole package feels like a gorgeously illustrated, over the top anime with action that makes Dragon Ball Z look like a kitten fight and is just shy of seizure inducing .  And boss fights so epic, they make God of War's look puny.

Asura and the Seven Deities are some
of the baddest mofos in gaming

Story & Gameplay: While neither of these aspects are unique or original, the way they are handled is very fresh.  The story is an old betrayal and revenge story set in a unique world of Eastern Mythology and high technology.  Demigods pilot spaceships and seem to be more machine than man with cybernetic appendages and strange markings and tubing.  This strange blend actually translates well and never feels out of place in Asura's universe.  The gameplay is strictly linear, with no exploration and constant fighting broken up by timed events cutscenes.  There are also a few rail shooting stages thrown into the mix to break up the brawling action.  The fighting is simple, with your usual weak/strong attack, dodges and counters with a burst meter you can fill to deliver a devastating attack which is usually required to advance.  While the combat is not the deepest ever, the challenge is still there when attempting to attain an S rank in the stages to unlock everything the game has to offer, including new gauges that affect gameplay.  Lastly, I have to say, the cast of Asura's Wrath is comprised of some of the coolest heroes and villains that have ever graced the gaming space.  Once you are finished with the game, you will be wanting to go back.

Click the image for the US release trailer

Overall, Asura packs a massive punch and provides a great overall package with beautiful art, lots of unlockables and an amazing level of challenge for those who are completists.  It also offers an easy mode for those who just want to take in the breathtaking visuals and jaw dropping action.  The action never stops, your eyes will grow dry because you feel that you can't blink, and your thumbs will grow tired from mashing buttons and timing presses, but you will love every second of it.  I highly recommend this title, especially if you are into Japanese story telling and Capcom's unique brand of stylish, insane action, and with new DLC on the way which includes Street Fighter characters, this may be one to hang on to for a long while.