Video Game Saga *

Title: Asura's Wrath
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: CyberConnect2
Release Date: 02/21/2012
Plateform: PS3, Xbox 360

Intro: Announced at the 2010 Tokyo Game Show, Asura’s Wrath was quickly put on the radar for its unique style combining gameplay and cinematics together that both anime and video game fans alike will enjoy. Published by Capcom and developed by CyberConnect2, the same developers behind the .hack// series, the Naruto Ultimate Ninja series and the PlayStation One gem, Tail Concerto. Asura’s Wrath was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. 

Story: Story time. Asura, a once respected Guardian General who helped defend Heaven and Earth from the powerful Gohma, has been betrayed by the gods! Asura has been set up for the murder of the Emperor which has left him stripped of all his powers for a crime he didn’t commit. Knowing he is innocent, Asura escapes from imperial forces and is on the run to ensure his family’s safety. To his shock, Asura finds his wife Durga murdered and his daughter Mithra kidnapped.

Filled with rage, seeking answers and wanting revenge, Asura comes to find that his fellow deity Guardian Generals and the God Deus have his daughter captive. In his attempt to rescue Mithra, Deus strips Asura of his powers and reveals to him that he is the one responsible for the death of the Emperor. In his losing battle, Asura falls to earth vowing his vengeance.  

Twelve Millennia later, Asura finds that those who betrayed him have been using Mithra’s powers to intensify their army to be as powerful as gods. Asura may have been stripped of all his powers but his new found anger is so intense that it awakens a new set of powers within him. Now the time has come and he is using his anger to take down those who wronged him.

Gameplay: The first thing you’ll notice about Asura’s wrath single player only experience is that it blends together gameplay and cut scenes seamlessly, meaning do not put down your controller for some popcorn because you are in control of the action the entire game. While the game has its button mashing beat’em up and shoot’em up moments, the focus is around Quick Time Events, so you will be timing your button presses to the required action on screen.

Rather than upgrading your abilities and leveling up, the rhythm of the game will determine which moves you’ll use. For example if Asura is enraged enough, six arms will generate from his body to defeat your enemies but you’ll find that later in the game if you take enough damage, his arms can be ripped off.  You have a Burst meter at the top of the screen which when filled, triggers your attacks to progress the story.

The levels unfold through episodes which feel like an anime combining asian mythology with sci-fi. In these levels you encounter several ginourmous boss battles on par with the bosses seen in the God of War series. The Gohma force is back ready to destroy you and you’ll also take your battles to the sky against battleships. Later in the game you’ll encounter Asura’s rival, Yasha, who is ready to help Asura after seeing the wrong doing of the Guardian Generals.

Multi-Player: Single Player experience.

Conclusion: If you like your games cinematic and enjoy games like God of War then Asura’s Wrath is a must play! The game combines story and gameplay in an elegant fashion that is not only dazzling on the eyes but fun as hell to play! Until next time this is Jim Combs saying who would win in a fight Goro or Asura? See you next time on Video Game Saga’s Spotlight segment be there or be square!