While your hands sit stationary for most of Asura’s Wrath, they are brought to life in the seconds that are truly vital to the tale. You’re always involved in that last hit, that frantic exchange of fists, that last-second revival, that part where Asura drags a prominent foe along the ground before hurling them off a cliff, hammering away at Circle or dragging an approximation of the movements with flicks of the analogue sticks. Minutes can pass without any input needed, and when it is required it can be as simple as a tiny quick time event: hitting X, wiggling the analogue sticks, hitting Triangle as a circle encloses around an on-screen button prompt. If you’re expecting an all-out God of War-style action game you’re going to be disappointed Asura’s Wrath goes in a completely different direction, mainly consisting of cut scene after cut scene, many of which don't require you to do a single thing.

Asura gains additional arms when his fury increases, matching Buddhist mythology that ties number of limbs to strength. Though there are occasional technical faults, such as slight lag and screen tearing, Asura’s Wrath looks fabulous: its characters resemble clay statues, brush strokes lining their skin, which grow more metallic as they gain power, gold leaf chipping off as they become weaker.

The Buddhist inspiration is very apparent at every turn, from the ridiculous storyline of vengeance and god-destroying glowers to the beautiful art style. Gorgeous manga stills, presented as interludes that expand on the story, are also sandwiched between chapters. There’s even a cringeworthy animé-typical ‘fan service’ episode set, flashbacks aside, entirely in an onsen. It’s a fantastic idea that’s executed very well. The 18 episodes are even split into three ‘seasons’, with a full cliffhanger and credit roll at the end of each. Preview clips that lay out what's going to happen next pop up between stages, showing scenes from throughout the next episode, narrated over with a curious voice and basically spoiling some of the following content, albeit without context. Stylised as a television show, each episode begins with credits overlaying the action and end with the last frame frozen, morphed into a still cel emblazoned with the words “to be continued”.

Reviving millennia later, Asura seeks revenge upon his ex-brethren, now known as the Seven Deities, battling Gohma and gods alike on his own terms as he attempts to save his child. After slaughtering his partner and kidnapping his priestess daughter to aid in their continuing battle against the Gohma, Asura is hurled to his death. Asura fights as one of eight Guardian Generals against the Gohma, a dark entity that threatens to take over Gaia - Earth - until he is betrayed by his fellow warriors.

Asura wrath ps4