Asura’s Wrath Preview (PS3/Xbox 360)
God of roar.Published: 9:00, 30/01/2012 by Dan Lee.
8Up until now, the benchmark for the angriest game character has to be Kratos. With his snarling and growling, you get the feeling he is never more than ten seconds away from removing a limb or two. However, things are set to change with the introduction of Asura. The protagonist in action/fighting game ‘Asura’s Wrath’, Asura is without doubt the angriest individual I’ve ever come across.
Rapid fire will take care of all this.
Tuffcub went hands on with the game in October 2011 and rather liked it, but the code provided this time around was much more in-depth, spanning several chapters.
One of the first things you’ll notice is how interactive the game is. You can never rest, because on-screen prompts have a habit of popping up at any time, including cutscenes. Your ability to complete these prompts, be it a single button press, or moving both thumb-sticks in different directions, has an effect on the grade you receive at the end of the level.
In terms of the fighting, it’s extremely fast paced. Not only does Asura pack one hell of a punch, he is also able to rapid-fire projectiles. Smaller enemies can normally be defeated by a few swift attacks but the larger ones require Asura to activate his Burst Gauge. This can only happen after Asura gets angry enough (e.g, by beating the living daylights out of enough people), and once activated you are thrown into a quick time event.
Succeed in this quick time event and you’ll perform an Earth shattering attack that will, normally, defeat the enemy. Don’t expect the bosses to be that easy, though. When Asura gets really mad he sprouts a second set of arms, naturally boosting his attack power, and when he gets really, really mad he transforms into…well, that would be telling.
Whilst most of the fighting is enjoyable, I’m still not 100% sold on the constant use of quick time events. An example of this would be when fighting an entire room full of enemies. You’ll be busy trying to beat a certain group, when out of nowhere an enemy will come flying across the room and the triangle button will appear. Manage to press it and you’ll counter this newcomer but it appears for such a brief period of time that by the time you realise what’s happening you’ve been put on your backside. The camera also struggles to keep track of the action sometimes.
Such a punchable face!
The boss fights also have the potential to be epic. My favourite so far is a battle on the Moon with Asura’s mentor. Pushed to the limit, the mentor unsheathes his sword and tries to impale Asura, who manages to catch the blade. Then the madness begins, as the blade begins to extend at an alarming rate, with the camera panning back to reveal Asura being pushed from the Moon to the Earth, losing limbs in the process.
When Asura hits the ground he is impaled, but the sword doesn’t stop. The camera once again pulls back to show it piercing through the entire Earth and coming out the other side. Total, utter madness, and I love it. It’s fair to say this will appeal to those who enjoy anime and manga.
With the game’s release in three weeks or so I’m going to end the preview here, as no doubt a full review won’t be too far behind. As it stands the code I played had a few problems, but these were outweighed by the positives. Very interesting indeed.
Asura’s Wrath is set for release in the EU on February 24th for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Most Comments This Week
- Win F1 2011 for Vita (PS Vita) [84]
- Wi-Fi PS Vita for Less Than £200 [66]
- PS Vita Games Hit EU PSN Store Today, Full Details [66]
- Sony Outlines Cross Play Between PS3 and PS Vita [59]
- TSA’s Guide To The PlayStation Vita [55]
- FIFA Football Review (PS Vita) [46]
- PSN Store Update: 22/02/12 [44]
- Game BAFTA Nominees Announced [40]
- GAME Not Selling Ubisoft’s PS Vita Titles [40]
- Borderlands 2 Release Date and Trailer [38]
TSAtv: Original Video Content
Batman book review
Kris Dancing, again
Joe Danger interview
Sonic Generations
30/01/2012 at 09:29
Member since: Dec 2008
Loved playing the preview of this, hope the finished product is just as good.
30/01/2012 at 09:37
Member since: Feb 2009
It all looks a little too much like Bayonetta/Castlevania to me, which are two games I really wanted to like but didn’t.
30/01/2012 at 10:04
Member since: Dec 2008
It’s not.
30/01/2012 at 09:42
Member since: Apr 2010
I was really interested in this then just watched the video and have lost all interest. No idea why though.
30/01/2012 at 09:54
Member since: Nov 2009
The lack of arms is really putting me off… 0_o
30/01/2012 at 10:04
Member since: Jun 2010
He does have arms, sometimes he has four! It’s just in that section they have been ripped off
30/01/2012 at 10:08
Member since: Dec 2008
He is a bit carelless, but in rage mode he gains eight arms so it balances out.
30/01/2012 at 10:21
Member since: Aug 2011
Is Asura meant to look like a camped up Akuma?
30/01/2012 at 10:26
Member since: Sep 2010
Played the demo, thought I was going to hate the quick time events, but the game is strangely enjoyable, I can’t put my finger on it but it is fun. I’d probably need a new controller after completion of the final game though, it’s up there with Daley Thompson’s for button bashing.
30/01/2012 at 10:41
Member since: Feb 2009
i really didn’t like the demo, far too many QTEs for my liking.
and this Asura seems to be an even more one note character than Kratos.
it seems like something i’d enjoy watching somebody else play rather than playing it myself.
god bless youtube. ^_^
30/01/2012 at 11:47
Member since: Jun 2010
It appears that way when playing the demo, but actually he’s not. Some of the levels are actually quite sad
30/01/2012 at 12:03
Member since: Feb 2009
maybe the demo doesn’t really show the character of Asura.
i bet it’s a pretty accurate indication of the gameplay though. ^_^
30/01/2012 at 11:18
Member since: May 2010
He’s more pissed then Kratos is? :O I don’t like QTEs as i just want to watch the goddam cutscene not keep my controller in my hands and worry if there is one coming up.
I think if i were to get this, i would have to replace my current controller. I’m guessing it’s a Japanese developer that’s behind this as that sounds like what they would do. Or a very insane western developer.
30/01/2012 at 11:26
Member since: Apr 2010
That’s my biggest problem with QTEs too. Sometimes I like to just sit back and watch the cutscenes. Countless times I’ve died in games because I had put my controller down and was eating or drinking while watching. Very annoying.
30/01/2012 at 11:31
Member since: Aug 2009
*reads*
!
Submit comment!
What the?! ninja!
X_X Game over.
Honestly QTES are dreadful I just want to do the action rather than to just press the button…
30/01/2012 at 11:51
Member since: Jul 2010
Played the demo was too sure about it, but may still rent it. Not too sure though.
30/01/2012 at 12:14
Member since: Dec 2009
The ridiculously epic size of the enemies and battlles amused me but felt i had enough of the gameplay once i completed the demo.