Asura's Wrath

a game by | CyberConnect2 Co., Ltd. |
Platform: | XBox 360 (2012) |
Editor Rating: | 8.3/10, based on 2 reviews, 3 reviews are shown |
User Rating: | 7.3/10 - 6 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Action Games, Action Adventure Games |
We have seen games over the last decade blur the lines between gaming and cinema. We have seen interactive TV shows pop up on Netflix and we have equally seen games produced by the likes of Ubisoft or Naughty Dog that have had all the cinematic tropes as a Hollywood blockbuster. Hell, we have even seen Atlus produce games that have moved into the realm of anime. However, all these games still kept their identity as ‘games’ first and foremost. Asura’s Wrath decided to take a new path. To create an interactive anime TV show, a chapter-based showcase that would stand out on its own as one of the most unique gaming concepts of its time.
This game doesn’t really have a lot of other titles which offer a similar experience, simply because this title is so out of the box. However, if we were to try to compare this to some existing IP’s. We would list titles such as Persona, God Hand, Dante’s Inferno, Bayonetta and God of War to name a few. This title aims to marry gaming with various other forms of media to create a truly epic spectacle complete with gods, demons and violence in excess. So the question remains, how did they do? We find out in our review of Asura’s Wrath.
Neatly Packaged Chaos
To describe this game with mere adjectives on a page is a bit of a disservice to the title. Mostly because most of the beauty of Asura’s Wrath is tied to its presentation. The game is packed full of over-the-top scenes of violence, anime style, world ending moments and simply impossible feats of strength and skill. You know, all the typical, day to day stuff that comes with being an Anime protagonist. In this title you will play as Azura, a demigod who returns to a broken world fuelled by rage and has only one goal. To seek revenge on those that betrayed them.
This story is packaged nearly into eighteen playable chapters which play out like episodes of an anime show. Each level represents a new challenge that will employ new gameplay mechanics, be presented in a new style and each level is completely standalone, making the game perfect to play in short burst as well as binging through all the content at once. The art style, animation and quirky storytelling is unparalleled and is true to its Japanese, anime roots. The whole experience is like playing through an incredibly detailed comic book which is full of onomatopoeias like ‘Wham’ ‘Zip’ and ‘Pow’ only these are replaced with you the player acting out these impulses and dealing major damage to the strange creatures that belong to this game.
However, we do have to mention, that while this game is an interactive experience that you shouldn’t pass up on. Its not exactly heavy on actual gaming content. There are a variety of action scenes and a handful of QTE’s but that’s about it. This game is mostly progressed through watching cut scenes and while we wouldn’t change this for the world. This won’t be what a lot of people look for when booting up their console.
The Verdict
Overall, Asura’s Wrath is a game that is made for fans of cinematic experiences, Japanese culture and pure, unbridled action. The game tells a wonderful story, does so with some of the most captivating art styles you’ll find in the gaming sphere. Plus, when the game let’s you take the wheel, its up there with some of the best action games on the market.
Sadly though, it doesn’t allow the player to do this very often, so if you don’t want to be a spectator for long periods, this game won’t be for you.
Pros:
- One of the most presentationally stunning games of its time
- Brilliant action heavy gameplay
- Short and snappy chapters that don’t require extended gameplay sessions
Cons:
- The game is dominated by cut scenes with not a lot of genuine gameplay
- The game is also very out there and appeals to a niche audience
Download Asura's Wrath

System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Game Reviews
Best described as an interactive anime, Asura's Wrath is an action game with some of the craziest cutscenes and combat you've ever seen. This wild adventure puts you in control of Asura, a powerful god who is betrayed by his seven comrades, who murder his wife and frame him for a terrible crime. Thousands of years later, Asura returns to bring justice to the seven Guardians who betrayed him in the past, who now use their power for evil. With a mixture of intense cinematic moments, varied action gameplay, and outrageously fun storytelling, Asura's Wrath is an epic game that you won't forget.
Main Game Features
- Fight through four anime-style chapters
- Third-person beat 'em up and on-rails shooter gameplay
- Interactive cutscenes with quick-time events
Story
Asura's Wrath is a story that is primarily about a man who starts off angry, only to get more and more furious as the game progresses, leading to crazier encounters every step of the way. Like God of War, just much more insane and heavy on the cinematics, Asura's Wrath is a tale infused with testosterone and fury. You play as the title character, Asura, who is one of the Eight Guardian Generals, who are tasked with looking over the planet Gaea and protecting its human inhabitants. However, when seven of the other Guardians go rogue and kidnap Asura's daughter, they also frame him for the murder of their emperor and kill his wife. Left defeated, Asura is eventually brought back to life 12,000 years later, with nothing but vengeance on his plate.
The story in Asura's Wrath is presented like a season of a television show, broken up into a series of episodes across four chapters. Just like in your favorite show, Asura's Wrath contains closing credits at the end of each episode and a recap to get you up to speed, further pushing the feeling of watching an interactive anime. Storytelling is a big factor in this game, as there are tons of cinematics, with more cutscenes than gameplay segments. However, thanks to the crazy stakes and intensifying sci-fi action, Asura's Wrath never becomes boring.
Gameplay
Across the game's multiple episodes, you'll spend a lot of time watching the cutscenes, but these sections aren't entirely passive. Any time a cutscene plays, you'll likely need to complete quick-time events, pressing the correct button as it pops up on-screen. Doing so will help boost your burst meter, which must be filled up by the end of the section, further increasing Asura's rage. In many episodes, you engage in third-person hack and slash combat, similar to other wild action games like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta. In these sections, you have light and heavy attacks, which change depending on the fight and your environment. The combat feels intense and spectacular, although enemies are very easy to defeat and you'll rarely run out of health.
What makes Asura's Wrath so special is how often it switches gameplay, keeping the player guessing with every new episode. In some sections, you'll play an on-rails shooter, blasting asteroids out of the sky or shooting down spaceships. In others, you will fight in one-on-one battles or take out tons of enemies as they enter the arena. There are a few standalone episodes with special gameplay elements to keep the experience feeling varied, but the normal gameplay is more than enough fun. The only big complaint with this game is its constant cutscenes, which can make it feel more like an interactive movie than a full video game.
Conclusion
If you love exciting anime and don't mind watching a bunch of cutscenes, Asura's Wrath is one of the most interesting action games you'll ever play. The gameplay changes up constantly, there's lots of fun to be had in the story, and the visuals are truly next level.
You can beat the game in just a few sittings, but after you're done, Asura's Wrath is an action title that won't leave your brain for quite a long time.
Pros
- Exciting visuals and music
- Combat is intense, fast, and powerful
- Good mash-up of gameplay genres
Cons
- Quick time events grow stale
- Easy difficulty with no real challenge
- Cutscenes sometimes outweigh the gameplay
Asura's Wrath is an action game that tells the story of the fall of a god and his revenge on the pantheon that condemned him to an ignominious existence. Asura is the god of the Japanese pantheon and always will be. However, the other gods were frightened by Asura's lasting influence among mortals and framed him, stripping him of all titles and banishing him to the human world. Having learned new techniques the god returns to take brutal revenge on his enemies.
Game Pros:
- Animated anime-style cut-scenes voiced by professional actors
- Advanced and dynamic combat system
- Explicit, but not vulgar scenes