Asgard’s Wrath 2 Preview – God of Phwoar
06.12.2023 - 19:25
/ thesixthaxis.com
The release of the Meta Quest 3 has seen an explosion of new software arriving for the new VR headset, and prime amongst them is Asgard’s Wrath 2. Oculus Studios have once again taken on publishing duties for Sanzaru Games’s Asgardian sequel, and early adopters for the Quest 3 are getting a copy of the game alongside the unit, with Meta clearly feeling that this is the best showcase for their latest technological marvel. On first impressions alone, it seems that they’ve made a good choice.
It’s not quite Macbeth, but Asgard’s Wrath 2 starts with three witches – or Weavers as they have it – who need a guardian to protect the realm. You’re first on the list, even though you, as a fledgling god, were taken in by Loki’s tricks in the first game, and managed to release him from his spiritual prison. You’re initially still stuck in this prison – which in fairness is a tavern with magically refilling tankards so it’s not all bad – listening to the spirits of other gods having a good old moan about you.
Your incarceration doesn’t last though, with a huge raven-headed griffin dropping through the ceiling and expediting your escape, before then deciding it would rather attack you. This leads to your first taste of Asgard’s Wrath 2’s powerful combat, with a lightning-imbued sword grasped in your hand – enjoyably, you raise it in the air like you’re He-Man to charge it up – deflecting away projectiles, swinging and stabbing away at the creature’s head, and dodging out of the way of its attacks.
As the Weavers call on you to follow the threads of fate, you’re dropped into the body of different warriors as you seek out Loki and his influence throughout time. Your first possession is Abraxas, a muscular, shaven-headed brawler with a ponytail, whose saga takes you to ancient Egypt, cleverly opening up the possibilities for Asgard’s Wrath 2 for a myriad array of settings, periods and mythologies.
Does it matter if you haven’t played the first Asgard’s Wrath? No, not one bit, not least because Sanzaru have included a primer for the first game’s tale in the opening of the sequel, though if you’re a returning fan you can give it a miss. That’d be a shame though, as the vibrant visuals and excellent voiceover work make this introduction something to revel in, and, perhaps most importantly who doesn’t want to told a story while you ride on a giant crow?
Abraxas adventure begins by collecting his main armaments – his father’s sword, and his axe. The axe here is his primary ranged weapon and there’s more than a hint of Kratos about the way you can fling it at enemies or parts of the level before calling it back with a tug. This will not fail to bring a smile to your face each and every time you use it, and it’s only the start of