Asgard’s Wrath 2 review – all of my fantasy RPG hopes brought to life in VR
Asgard’s Wrath 2 is a complete-feeling package that demonstrates what games can achieve in VR given the necessary freedom, time, and budget.
Playing through even just the opening hours of Asgard's Wrath 2, it's clear that this was meant to be the Meta Quest 3 headset's true coming-out moment. Because sure, while Sanzaru Games’ wildly ambitious (and technically impressive) sequel is also available on Meta Quest 2, a meaty VR game such as this would have worked wonders to launch Meta’s newly upgraded hardware. Thankfully, a couple of months after release, its showpiece title is now here and crucially doesn't disappoint. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the bar for fantasy RPGs on the platform has been raised.
The first thing to mention is that, despite that "2" in the title, Asgard’s Wrath 2 is perfectly newcomer-friendly. This was exactly my experience, and really the one Sanzaru Games is likely expecting most people to have, seeing as the first game was left stranded on the oh-so-pricey Oculus Rift. Moving to a VR headset with a mobile chipset has likely seen the graphics downgraded, but it’s worth it for the benefit of being more accessible.
Asgard’s Wrath 2 picks up immediately after the first game’s events, with you playing as a lowly Norse god on a quest to track down Loki after the legendary trickster left you betrayed. Whereas the original Asgard’s Wrath set you mostly within the realms of Norse mythology, this sequel transports you to all things Ancient Egypt – a setting you don’t see portrayed too often in a lot of modern games.
The game does an excellent job grounding you in this world where mythology very much meets fantasy; exploring the first main region – The Great Sand Sea – is the perfect encapsulation of this, seeing you stumble across everything from grand ancient temples, and dangerous monster dens, to dusty but dangerous sanctums. It’s here where this sequel’s incredible sense of freedom (especially for a VR title) is first instilled into you. Following the incredibly cinematic prologue, you can pretty much go anywhere, which is in stark contrast to the recently released Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR, which was a much looser translation of the open-world concept.
PSVR 2 is already losing to the Meta Quest 2 in the VR headset battle
We can be heroes
On this note, believe me when I say that Asgard’s Wrath 2 is big. Like, really big. Not just in terms of the size of its five main regions, but also when looking at what’s available to do. From simple side objectives that see you hunting and gathering resources for potion-crafting, to fun mini-games like the horde-based Arenas of Neith combat challenges, and the obligatory fishing. Aspects like this help Asgard’s Wrath 2 nail the ‘fantasy RPG, but in virtual reality' concept – to the point that it’s sometimes a tad overwhelming with its systems and opportunities.
All this would mean nothing, of course, were the gameplay not up to scratch. Fortunately, combat in Asgard’s Warth 2 is extremely rewarding, with ranged and melee attacks always carrying a sense of weight thanks to the TruTouch haptic feedback of the Meta Quest 3 controllers. The ability to launch and then recall Abraxas’ axe, as the first hero you’re able to embody, is the perfect example of this. Whenever used in combat to take down flying enemies or as part of the game’s many puzzles, summoning this weapon back to you always feels god-like. And as you'd hope, this translates to the way the other heroes feel to control as well.
Asgard’s Wrath 2’s scope can sometimes be slightly to its detriment, in that it can take a little while before your true potential in combat, traversal and exploration opens up to you. There are four heroes to play as in total, but it’s only in the game’s third chapter that the second protagonist – the harp-loving ranged specialist Cyrene – becomes available, with the rest unlocking over the course of the other four. It’s great in the sense that there’s always something new waiting for you in this 60+ hour-long adventure, yet in a VR game where most players like myself will have to play it in short bursts? It asks for a lot of patience.
Battling giant creatures in Asgard's Wrath 2 is a fairly common occurrence you need to be ready for. (Sanzaru Games)This is an issue that bleeds ever so slightly into Asgard’s Wrath 2’s Uncharted Rifts – the in-game roguelike mode that sits separately from the main story campaign. You gain access to it relatively early on, but you only can play as heroes you've unlocked at the time. Because of this, I didn’t really touch it (outside of the tutorial) until I at least had Cyrene unlocked, but I found that it quickly opened up when the bow-wielding Alvilda and crowd-controlling Djehuty were at my fingertips.
What’s actually expected of you within the Uncharted Rifts isn’t all that different to what you’ll find in a cave or Monster Den out in Asgard’s Wrath 2’s open world, but it’s still a good excuse to test out your combat skills, be it perfecting parries or the subtle nuances of each hero’s unique loadout. Plus, even if score-chasing in a game of this ilk does nothing for you, a nice bonus is how rewards earned in the rifts can be used when playing the story.
Game, set, match
I’ve somehow managed to reach the final stretch of this review without even touching upon the well-rounded characters, excellent voice cast, optional Loki anomalies that sometimes see creatures enter your real-life home, and brilliant companion system. The latter of which sees your hero assisted by a fellow mate who also functions as a mode of travel. And let me tell you, riding across the sand dunes on the back of a panther is never not cool. In case it wasn’t obvious, a lot is going on under the hood of Asgard’s Wrath 2; far beyond what I’d expect from many other RPGs not played in VR.
It isn’t lost on me, though, that Asgard’s Wrath 2 is very much the exception to the rule as opposed to the norm. VR games with this much budget and creativity behind them almost barely ever come around; hence why – despite an overwhelming amount of stuff to do and the relatively complex menus and control scheme needed to back it up – the game’s scope ends up working for it rather than against it. If you’re seeking a Skyrim-level RPG primed to keep you busy in VR, look no further than Asgard’s Wrath 2.
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