For the better part of nine years CyberConnect2 has been creating games for a niche; Naruto fans number in the millions so it's a lucrative niche, but given their reverence for the source material it's a crowd that rarely encourages the dev to stretch its legs creatively.
In many ways Asura's Wrath is a passion project for the studio; a rare opportunity to break out of the confines of working with licensed material to create something original. It's all the more surprising then to find that it doesn't actually stray too far from its wheelhouse with this new found freedom.
But that doesn't mean others should dismiss it, Asura's Wrath is a game that relishes in its own ridiculousness, it seizes every opportunity to jump to next illogical extreme and does it with such gusto that you just have to respect it. While you might not be able to appreciate the oddball characters and melodramatic story you'll find it hard to tear yourself away from the visual spectacle, and on those grounds nothing comes close to what it offers.
RAGE OF THE GODS
The game follows the rage-driven quest of betrayed demi-god Asura, who falls victim to the twisted ambitions of 'The Seven Deities', a group scheming to rid the world of the impure Gohma by harvesting souls from their human followers and powering a giant laser beam firing space Buddah. Yes, you read that right.
The only problem is that Asura's daughter, a powerful priestess named Mithra, is the key to the plan, which doesn't sit well with him. His protests earn him a murdered wife, kidnapped daughter and a trip to the underworld all courtesy of the maniacal General Deus. Centuries later the sheer intensity of Asura's anger brings him back to life, and he returns to a decayed world where people pray to cruel gods and blindly offer themselves up as sacrifices.
Someone inclined to could make a case that there's an underpinning message about religion and god, that despite his frightening power Asura is relatable as a father that will let nothing stop him from rescuing his daughter, but ostensibly it's all set up to let Asura hunt down his wrongdoers and wantonly destroy anything and everything in his path. Which is exactly what he does. During the six or so hours it takes to see the campaign through you'll partake in some of the most ludicrously awesome set-pieces ever put into a video game.
Comments
18 comments so far...
jdkoke on 23 Feb '12 said:
Have read a few reviews of this 'game' and getting more and more intrigued. Short campaign doesn't justify a buy but will defo be on Lovefilm list or picked up afetr inevitable price drop
*Best way I heard it described was as an interactive anime boxset. Sounds good to me
Tamoor on 23 Feb '12 said:
It's definitely worth a rental, but you've got to go in knowing you'll be watching more than playing.
I'm a big fan of Japanese anime like Naruto, Bleach, DBZ and a bunch of other stuff, so I liked Asura's Wrath a lot more than most probably would. If you're into that kind of thing it's worth taking a punt.
disgustingtramp on 23 Feb '12 said:
Was playing this game last night..
I think the review doesn't do it much justice, I think its a lot of fun, short maybe, don't know havent finished it yet, but its so ridiculously over the top all of it, that it makes me laugh. I mean he is really p**sed off, like, really really p**sed off.
jdkoke on 23 Feb '12 said:
Sold
Love me some anime, especially DBZ
WHERESMYMONKEY on 23 Feb '12 said:
A decent anime boxset can cost you £40 notes anyway so on that basis its not a bad sell really. I think i'll wait for the inevitable price drop as luckily that'll come just as i finish mass effect 3.
thelazyone on 23 Feb '12 said:
putting on lovefilm as we speak.
love the look and feel of it, to be honest, i dont wanna spend ages playing a game like this anyway.
jdkoke on 23 Feb '12 said:
Lol I just did the same. Could only reserve it though
Tamoor on 23 Feb '12 said:
You'll enjoy it then. Think the OTT action of DBZ with the character design of Naruto. There's some moments where scenes are lifted straight out of Naruto too.
Megatrons_Fury on 23 Feb '12 said:
Loved it the first second i saw it, the demo was stunning.
I hate anime and i mean HATE anime i just love jap games and weirdness, i also like the old school panzer dragoon type stuff so this spoke to me instantly.
Definate purchase as soon as it hits 19.99 or less
Xenohort on 24 Feb '12 said:
This seems good, but DBZ 4 life!
slint on 25 Feb '12 said:
This. Game. Is. Weird.
3dkill on 25 Feb '12 said:
Was playing this game last night.. no a good game, i think.
MrPirtniw on 25 Feb '12 said:
I'm so conflicted.
I'm interested and put off at the same time. Anime. QTE's. Watching more than playing. Short. = Rubbish.
Not a FPS. Has an interesting story and a very angry protagonist. OTT fighting. Original IP. = Good.
Mattoto on 26 Feb '12 said:
I'll give a try to this game later on, when price will be under 20$ , i'm not convinced by this mix of genres . Heavy Rain was ok with cinematics but here it maybe not.
godyd87 on 27 Feb '12 said:
what..... what is this?
lcole2593 on 27 Feb '12 said:
Had fun on the demo, was interesting....may wait till price is reduced though.
Gatix on 27 Feb '12 said:
Wierd game, but still on my to play list
ApollosKeeper30 on 27 Feb '12 said:
The Demo i thought was fantastic lot of action and looked like crazy story