Asura's Wrath

Ultimately while this theme of epic revenge may ring familiar, CyberConnect2 has done an excellent job with their specific story details and in how they present it. Asura's Wrath is maybe just a little bit too hands off for my tastes, but I had an absolute blast from start to finish.

The presentation style in Wrath suits the storyline and characters almost perfectly.

The action is fast, brutal and completely absurd, the story a blend of Asian mythology and Sci-Fi epic. If you like action in its purest form or are partial to enjoying anime then Asura's Wrath is something you will not want to miss!

Asura's Wrath isn't as brainless as it may want you to believe. The ridiculous moments and likable characters kept me smiling, which was odd, considering it's essentially a story about misery. It's a nice change of pace from other hack-and-slash games, featuring an interesting story that's not blocked off by insurmountable difficulty.

Overall the action feels really great, and while the combat system doesn't have the depth of other top-tier action titles, it does the job of filling the gaps between action-packed sequences.

In terms of story and presentation, the tale of Asura's Wrath is one of the best of this console generation, but a scant six hours of gameplay and lengthy cutscenes holds it back from being perfect.

The way the action slows down to zoom in on a brutal kick is reminiscent of how similar camera tricks worked for Street Fighter IV. This enhances Asura's Wrath greatly and turns a game that might've been a generic brawler into a positively memorable one.

It feels like the kind of guilty pleasure that you and me, serious players of video games, should be embarrassed for enjoying. What satisfaction could there possibly be in a game that largely plays itself? In spite of the one big, obvious caveat, I kind of love this game.

Alongside a rhythmic and uncommonly accessible beat-'em-up, Asura's Wrath is part rollercoaster, part anime blockbuster and part stress-ball. The end result may stretch the definition of a video game, perhaps, but it's also extremely hard to get angry about.

Good or bad, game or no game, you've just got to play Asura's Wrath. And, in truth, that probably says it all.

Admittedly, Asura's Wrath is not a great game. The combat mechanics are uninspired and the title relies heavily on QTEs to drive the action. However, I'm not entirely sure it's trying to be a pure game so much as it wants to be an interactive experience. That may sound a bit like a cop-out, but I truly believe the interactive elements are there merely to drive the story forward, and in that respect, the game delivers beautifully. Asura's Wrath is a strange bird indeed, throwing in so many disparate elements that all manage to somehow come together and create a compelling, fun experience. This game is weird, but it's weird in the right ways.

Asura's Wrath is a definite explosive and engaging experience on the first time through but falls short when it comes to replay.

Whether it's the story that will remind you of your favourite Japanese animation series, the relentless action and fast paced gameplay or even the unusually likeable angry Asura, it's an action game that many fans of the genre should have a go with at least once.

Asura's Wrath sports an entertaining and adrenalinic gameplay, coupled with great visuals and a captivating storytelling style. Nevertheless, its very repetitive gameplay, short duration and too low challenge level contribute to drag down its overall value.

If you like anime and videogames you shouldn't lose this game, as it can be considered an ultimate experience that blendes perfectly both worlds, and manages to engage the players until the very end. The problem is that the game is a bit short, around six hours, and is not a very replayable one. Although the blend of action and cinematics is perfect, those players who are just looking for an action game might be a bit disappointed for the amount of non-playable time.

I really enjoyed Asura's Wrath, but the gameplay is somewhat of a great disappointment. We are supposed to be here to play a game, and the sections that we do get to play are lacklustre at best and don't add much to the experience, which is a shame.

As an anime experience, it's frankly hard to top what Capcom's done here. But as an entry in the pantheon of interactive entertainment, it doesn't do enough to be anything more than marginally "interactive," resulting in a merely average, albeit unique, game.

If you go in with tempered expectations and know there isn't much of a game, you'll have an enjoyable experience.

Asura's Wrath wears its anime influences proudly on its sleeve and it is a better game for it.

This is a game in only the loosest sense of the word, but is an intriguing proposition nonetheless, especially for those with a penchant for action-based manga series. Asura's Wrath is an original, engaging and occasionally ridiculous game and as a result is certainly a novel experience, though whether it's an experience that most gamers will be happy paying top dollar for is another matter.