The eagerly anticipated Asgard’s Wrath 2 – one of this year’s most ambitious Quest 2/3 titles, promises an epic VR adventure that spans over 100 hours, which by any measure is a massive RPG experience – especially on the Meta Quest platform for which it’s an exclusive. Developed by Sanzaru Games and published by Oculus Studios, this sequel follows the Cosmic Guardian’s quest to thwart the trickster god Loki across the realms of Ancient Egypt and the Nine Realms. While the game inherits the awe-inspiring scale and mythology of its predecessor, this one isn’t PC-based, so we were curious to see how well it would hold up on a wireless headset.
The game’s narrative begins with a cutscene that recaps the events of the first installment – which is good as Quest-based VR players may never have had the opportunity to play it. We did and we loved it, but for us it was a nice refresher as well. Trapped by Loki in the prison the player helped him escape, the Cosmic Guardian embarks on a journey guided by the Weavers of Fate. This journey unfolds across large open worlds, featuring immersive landscapes and environments that are a great showcase for what the Meta Quest 2 and 3 can do. Despite inevitable visual downgrades compared to its PC counterpart (one of the best-looking VR games you’ll find), Asgard’s Wrath 2 manages to deliver impressive visuals when you consider the limitations of a standalone VR headset.
The true strength of the game lies in its diverse cast of mortal heroes though, each one offering a unique playstyle and set of abilities. From a typical warrior archetype armed with a sword, shield, and throwing axe, you can go for more exotic choices as well. There’s even a water nymph that uses living beings as weapons, so if you wanted to invest another 100 hours you might have quite a different experience doing so. Whatever your choice, the combat system takes a physics-based approach, allowing for realistic swordplay, precise aiming with ranged weapons, and interactive elements that contribute to a satisfying and immersive experience that makes good use of VR.
Beyond combat, the RPG elements of Asgard’s Wrath 2 can be seen through skill trees, weapon upgrades, and a broad roster of companions. The game encourages exploration through its large free-roaming world filled with dungeons, puzzles, and challenges. The inclusion of a multitude of weapons, shields, and magic items also adds depth to the gameplay, and the clear incentives to collect gold during missions to unlock these items enhances the appeal of exploration.
Despite the game’s impressive scale and depth, it’s not without its challenges. The combat-intensive nature of the game can be physically demanding, especially when you consider the length of the game. This is a game for those with pretty seasoned VR legs.
In terms of replayability, Asgard’s Wrath 2 offers an extensive campaign and a diverse roster of characters, but it also introduces the Chaotic Rift endless dungeon system, adding procedural generation and promising additional content in the future though post-launch updates. Multiplayer elements, such as helpful or harmful avatars in Chaotic Rifts, contribute to asynchronous multiplayer engagement, and we look forward to diving into that more now that the game’s public launch is here.
In conclusion, Asgard’s Wrath 2 stands as a testament to the potential of standalone VR, offering an expansive and immersive adventure for players on the Meta Quest 3. The game’s vast open world, diverse characters, and physics-based combat system contribute to its appeal, providing an experience that stretches the limits of the platform. While possible motion fatigue and visual constraints should be mentioned, the overall package positions Asgard’s Wrath 2 as a must-play for VR enthusiasts seeking a rich and engaging RPG experience – though it’s also a reminder that standalone VR still isn’t where PC-based VR was a few years ago. It doesn’t get much better than this on the Quest though.
Score: 8.8/10
Press Play Media 