One thing I've always loved is when you get so proficient at an action game that you are practically unstoppable. When the controls work well you feel invincible, almost god-like, as you cut a swath of destruction through the enemies you face. Heavenly Sword and the Ninja Gaiden series spring to mind. Of course, then there are the games where you play as a god, and are given powers beyond your wildest dreams to smite your foes. Devil May Cry and God of War redefined the action game experience for me, and I've enjoyed every one of them. However, greatness always inspires a slew of imitators, but usually these clones never quite live up to the ideal. With Asura's Wrath, I feared this trend would continue... from the trailers it looked like more of the same. But in the end I came away scratching my head, wondering what I had just experienced.
I can see what they were trying to do with Asura's Wrath... make it into a new, immersive, interactive medium, transcending other story driven experiences. I can see how this would be a great game for die hard anime fans (again, I'd like to consider myself as such), but I don't know if Asura's Wrath would appeal to a larger audience. It's stunning to look at most of the time, but that can only carry the game so far... because after all, it's still a game. The nonsensical plot I can live with, as long as the gameplay makes up for it. And that's where Asura's Wrath really fell apart for me. I honestly feel that if they had focused on any one component completely I wouldn't have been so disappointed with the overall product... and even then the ridiculously short play time is offensive. If you're looking for something different, then Asura's Wrath is unique enough that it's worth a rental. But I can't justify spending full price for a game that's literally as long as the movie it's so desperately trying to be.
If you want to read more of my specific thoughts about the game, follow the link to read the full length review at Game Over Online!
Cheers,
Si
Score = 6.6 / 10
No comments:
Post a Comment