Asgard’s Wrath 2 Review
Sanzaru Games’ follow-up to their 2019 hit for VR is a massive, open-world RPG that claims up to 134 hours of content for completionists.
Players possess mortal heroes and transform them into Cosmic Guardian godly forms to solve mind-bending, god-scale puzzles. Combat is physics-based and visceral, and the game’s immense scale is a joy to behold.
The Story
This sequel to one of the earliest VR game hits, from developer Sanzaru Games and Meta’s hardware, pushes that mobile chip to its limits. But that’s not the only thing it has to worry about, as it brings a hefty campaign that covers Egyptian and Norse mythology across multiple open worlds.
This is an action RPG, of course, and there are plenty of enemies to fight along the way. These battles can sometimes be pretty intense as you go head-to-head against the trickster god Loki’s hordes of demonic warriors.
Combat is well-rounded and varied, thanks to a deep skill tree, an array of attacks, and the ability to possess unique mortal heroes who become your warrior followers as you progress through the story. But the bespoke moments shine, such as battles against massive Norse gods and creatures or embodying yourself as mortal to solve mind-bending god-scale puzzles.
The Gameplay
With a massive open world, side quests, puzzle-ridden dungeons, and a campaign that can be played several times over, Asgard’s Wrath 2 has all the classic RPG trimmings. You can explore and engage in everything from treasure hunting, food gathering, inventory management, and crafting to expansive lore and the optional dialogue paths that come with it.
However, the moment-to-moment gameplay was primarily designed with VR in mind. Combat encounters, in particular, use a user-led approach rather than the traditional button-mashing style. That doesn’t take away from the action but highlights the still-unsolved issue of force feedback with VR motion controllers.
The game offers an ambitious experience and claims to be the most giant VR game in terms of content. The scope is impressive, taking you across the dunes of Egypt, the banks of the Nile, and into Norse mythology. But some issues with traversal and combat can break the immersion, mainly if you play it in short bursts.
The Presentation
The world of Asgard’s Wrath 2 is visually stunning. There’s plenty of detail, fluid character animations (way more than I’ve seen in many VR games), excellent lighting, and an impressively flexible combat system that allows you to use your weapons like a whip or yank your enemies to the ground.
While many traditional RPG systems are present – inventory, skill trees, food, item crafting, treasures, lore, optional dialogue paths, and a hub area – they don’t distract from the core experience. I could play most of the campaign without needing any of them.
Unlike Asgard’s Wrath 1, which had a lot of linear mission environments, Asgard’s Wrath 2 allows you to explore its expansive map and take in its soaring scenery. It’s also got a fantastic embodied melee combat system, god-scale puzzles, and an epic story that leans on Norse and Egyptian mythology for its narrative framework.
The Final Words
After an initial showing of a trailer that screamed “super-high-definition graphics,” Asgard’s Wrath 2 demonstrates that it isn’t concerned with out-distancing its competition regarding visual fidelity. Instead, it delivers sequences and vistas that play out on a godly scale.
Sanzaru, which Meta snapped up in 2020, has crafted an open-world RPG that it estimates will take 60 hours to complete, with additional content available for those willing to put in the time. The game has all the traditional RPG trimmings, including inventory, questing, item crafting, food, and a hub area with merchants.
Players will roam interesting, open-world areas from vast deserts to spooky planes of the afterlife and delve into treacherous dungeons. They’ll level up and learn new skills, collect and craft weapons, explore lore as expansive as a modern Skyrim, and socialize with the NPCs they befriend in their hideouts. Precision quirks in combat and the lower graphical fidelity are minor gripes, but they don’t detract from a captivating adventure that’s a surefire system seller for Meta’s new VR headset.