Asgard's Wrath
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Short description|2019 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = File:Asgard's Wrath cover art.jpg
| developer = Sanzaru Games
| publisher = Oculus Studios
| platforms = Microsoft Windows
| genre = Action role-playing
| released = October 10, 2019
| modes = Single-player
}}
Asgard's Wrath is a 2019 action role-playing game developed by Sanzaru Games and published by Oculus Studios for the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset. In the game, the player assumes control of a Norse god who must guide several mortal heroes to fulfill their destinies. The game received generally positive reviews. Asgard's Wrath 2 was released on the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3 in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Hayden |first=Scott |date=2023-09-27 |title=Quest Exclusive 'Asgard's Wrath 2' Coming December 15th |url=https://www.roadtovr.com/asgards-wrath-2-coming-to-quest-in-winter-2023/ |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=Road to VR |language=en-US}}
Gameplay
Asgard's Wrath is an action role-playing game designed for virtual reality (VR) headsets. Set in the Norse mythology, the game sees the player assuming control of a Norse god who is under the tutelage of Loki. The God must fulfill Loki's request to guide several preordained mortal heroes to fulfill their destinies.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/asgards-wrath-oculus-rift-2019-1203128208/|title=Norse Mythology RPG 'Asgard's Wrath' Heads to Oculus Rift in 2019|first=Emily|last=Grea|work=Variety|date=February 5, 2019|accessdate=February 26, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226014824/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/asgards-wrath-oculus-rift-2019-1203128208/|url-status=live}} The game features five different heroes, each with its own play style and special abilities. Each hero has their own weapon, though weapons can be picked up from defeated enemies. Players swing their sword to defeat enemies and parry to deflect attacks. The weapon can be thrown at enemies and magically summoned back to the player's hand. Some of these weapons have status properties such as lightning and poison. Players need to consume food to restore health. As players explore, they can complete side missions, explore dungeons and find treasure chests and crates that can be used to craft useful materials.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/10/13/asgards-wrath-guide/|title=Asgard's Wrath guide: How to dive into VR's biggest RPG|first=David|last=Jagneux|work=VentureBeat|date=October 13, 2019|accessdate=February 26, 2020|archive-date=October 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014182021/https://venturebeat.com/2019/10/13/asgards-wrath-guide/|url-status=live}} Players can also recruit various animals and transform them into humanoid companions, known as "followers", who can assist the players in solving puzzles and combat. Loki must give the player the ability to do so. {{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/05/21/asgards-wrath-is-an-ambitious-sometimes-overwhelming-action-game-for-vr/|title=Asgard's Wrath is an ambitious, sometimes overwhelming action game for VR|first=Mike|last=Minotti|work=VentureBeat|date=May 21, 2019|accessdate=February 26, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930201020/https://venturebeat.com/2019/05/21/asgards-wrath-is-an-ambitious-sometimes-overwhelming-action-game-for-vr/|url-status=live}}
Development
Development of the game started in Sanzaru Games in 2016 when the company was also working on another VR title, Marvel Powers United VR. A team of 90 developers worked on the title. The game's initial vision was similar to Lemmings, as the player assumes control of the Gods and solve puzzles by commanding various human characters.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/05/21/asgards-wrath-how-sanzaru-is-crafting-a-30-hour-norse-saga-game-in-vr/|title=Asgard's Wrath — How Sanzaru is crafting a 30-hour Norse saga game in VR|first=Dean|last=Takahshi|work=VentureBeat|date=May 21, 2019|accessdate=February 26, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226150051/https://venturebeat.com/2019/05/21/asgards-wrath-how-sanzaru-is-crafting-a-30-hour-norse-saga-game-in-vr/|url-status=live}} Oculus Studios announced the game in February 2019 and released the title for the VR headset Oculus Rift on October 10, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/asgards-wrath-brings-hack-n-slash-dismemberment-to-vr/|title=Asgard's Wrath brings fantasy melee dismemberment to VR|first=Tyler|last=Wilde|work=PC Gamer|date=February 5, 2019|accessdate=February 26, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226015535/https://www.pcgamer.com/asgards-wrath-brings-hack-n-slash-dismemberment-to-vr/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/09/25/oculus-reveals-release-dates-for-stormland-and-asgards-wrath-during-games-showcase/|title=Oculus reveals release dates for Stormland and Asgard's Wrath during games showcase|first=Mike|last=Minotti|work=VentureBeat|date=September 25, 2019|accessdate=February 26, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930200955/https://venturebeat.com/2019/09/25/oculus-reveals-release-dates-for-stormland-and-asgards-wrath-during-games-showcase/|url-status=live}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 88/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/asgards-wrath/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=ASGARD'S WRATH Reviews for PC|website=Metacritic|access-date=March 26, 2021|archive-date=March 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301173322/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/asgards-wrath/critic-reviews|url-status=live}}
| IGN = 9.4/10{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/10/asgards-wrath-review|title=Asgard's Wrath Review|website=IGN|date=10 October 2019|access-date=March 26, 2021|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125041311/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/10/asgards-wrath-review|url-status=live}}
| JXV = 18/20{{cite web|url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1156015/asgard-s-wrath-l-action-rpg-de-reference-pour-la-vr.htm|title=Asgard's Wrath : L'Action-RPG de référence pour la VR|website=Jeuxvideo.com|date=December 5, 2019 |access-date=March 26, 2021|archive-date=May 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501233020/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1156015/asgard-s-wrath-l-action-rpg-de-reference-pour-la-vr.htm|url-status=live}}
}}
The game received generally positive reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/asgards-wrath/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Asgard's Wrath for PC review|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=February 26, 2020|archive-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206130435/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/asgards-wrath|url-status=live}} Critics praised the game's ambition and its status as a full-length title, unlike most other VR games. The game was nominated for Best VR/AR Game during The Game Awards 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/game-awards-tga/2019/12/13/21020351/game-awards-2019-winners-nominees-tga|title=All the winners from The Game Awards 2019|first=Austen|last=Goslin|work=Polygon|date=December 13, 2019|accessdate=February 26, 2020|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331200408/https://www.polygon.com/game-awards-tga/2019/12/13/21020351/game-awards-2019-winners-nominees-tga|url-status=live}} as well as Immersive Reality Game of the Year during the 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards,{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/control-and-death-stranding-get-eight-nominations-each-for-the-2020-dice-awards/|title=Control and Death Stranding get 8 nominations each for the 2020 DICE Awards|first=Andy|last=Chalk|work=PC Gamer|date=January 13, 2020|accessdate=March 19, 2020|archive-date=March 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303212529/https://www.pcgamer.com/control-and-death-stranding-get-eight-nominations-each-for-the-2020-dice-awards/|url-status=live}} but lost to Beat Saber and Pistol Whip, respectively. Following the game's success, Facebook, the parent company of Oculus, announced their acquisition of Sanzaru Games in February 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/26/facebook-buys-asgards-wrath-sanzaru-games/|title=Facebook buys the VR game maker behind 'Asgard's Wrath'|first=Mariella|last=Moon|work=Engadget|date=February 26, 2020|accessdate=February 26, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226234903/https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/26/facebook-buys-asgards-wrath-sanzaru-games/|url-status=live}}
UploadVR praised the puzzles and the way the game incorporated them into the environment, writing, "The excellent puzzles are a great game mechanic to keep you thinking on your toes and offer a respite from the active, melee-heavy combat, but they’re also a great storytelling device".{{Cite web |date=2019-10-09 |title=Asgard's Wrath Review: VR's Most Ambitious And Robust Game Yet |url=https://uploadvr.com/asgards-wrath-review/ |access-date=2022-07-24 |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525015702/https://uploadvr.com/asgards-wrath-review/ |url-status=live }} IGN liked how the game added variety through switching between mortal and god forms, "There’s a remarkable amount of awe to be had when what previously seemed like a towering obstacle suddenly appears small and manageable like a toy piece". Road to VR enjoyed the character animations and the way they contributed to the atmosphere.{{Cite web |last=Hayden |first=Scott |date=2019-10-09 |title='Asgard's Wrath' Review – VR's Epic Norse Saga of Godlike Proportions |url=https://www.roadtovr.com/asgards-wrath-review/ |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=Road to VR |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811115303/https://www.roadtovr.com/asgards-wrath-review/ |url-status=live }}
=Awards=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.oculus.com/asgards-wrath/}}
Category:Action role-playing video games
Category:Video games based on Norse mythology
Category:Video games developed in Canada
Category:Virtual reality games