Asgard’s Wrath 2 [Meta Quest 3] | REVIEW

It’s a little unusual for us to review a game nearly six months on from its initial release, but I’ve only recently gotten my hands on the Meta Quest 3 to play Asgard’s Wrath 2, and you know what? It’s SO damn good that I simply had to cover it.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Despite being a sequel, you wouldn’t have had to play through its predecessor to enjoy the narrative of Asgard’s Wrath 2 – especially since there’s a neat little prologue to get players up to speed with the tale of the first game. Players take on the role of a Norse god who, after getting tricked by the ever-scheming Loki, finds themselves transported to Egypt. Working alongside the Egyptian gods, you have to find a way to bring Loki down before he’s able to cause destruction across the entire world. It’s an enjoyable endeavour that I found myself completely invested in, and whilst I’ll admit that some aspects of the storytelling went over my head (something I owe to a lack of knowledge of both Norse and Egyptian mythology), Asgard’s Wrath 2 has enough going on in its storytelling and cinematic presentation to keep players driven to bring Loki down.

The core gameplay loop of Asgard’s Wrath 2 revolves around the player’s ability to possess specific characters across the world, with each of these bringing their own unique weapons and gear that change how they feel to play. You’ll be throwing your axe and calling it back to you Kratos-style, strumming a harp to blast out projectiles at enemies, stealthily taking out enemies with a bow (that also has blades attached to it), and unleashing a whip to pull enemies to you, just to give a few examples of the combat mechanics. Those ideas alone are brilliant enough to ensure each battle is thrilling and strategic, but with plenty of other cool tricks up your sleeve with each character (as well as the option to upgrade their capabilities as you progress), there’s no doubt that combat stands out as a highlight of the experience.

“I’ve just found myself blown away by the sheer scale of what’s on offer in Asgard’s Wrath 2, with it easily offering the most sizable and epic adventure that I’ve played in virtual reality.”

What makes combat even more impressive is the scale of the set pieces offered in the game. Not only will you find yourself in creative battles with hordes of enemies where you’ll have to balance out your offensive and defensive manoeuvres in order to survive, but you’ll also face off against giant foreboding bosses that are incredible to witness in virtual reality. Admittedly, the boss encounters could feel a bit predictable in design given that they follow the attack patterns you’d have seen in plenty of other action titles in the past, but the added immersion offered in virtual reality ensures that they are gripping showdowns that stand out as some of the most visually impressive that I’ve seen on the platform.

Asgard’s Wrath 2 doesn’t only shine in its action-orientated sequences though, with plenty of room for exploration in the game that’ll see you carefully scouring your surroundings, running across walls, scaling great heights, and even getting to gallop across the sandy desert on your mount, with each moment expertly executed to keep the player engrossed as they play. I’ve found traversal can often be poorly implemented in virtual reality titles, but each action feels satisfying to perform and ensures you’ll never tire of uncovering the world. It’s a good job too, because it’s absolutely massive – there’s a LOT to do in Asgard’s Wrath 2, with an abundance of side missions and optional exploring to go along with the meaty main campaign. Thankfully, with plenty of fun activities to delve into across the world (I’ve found hunting and fishing pleasantly addictive), it’s always a treat to venture off the beaten path to see what you might discover.

Check out some screenshots down below:

I’ve just found myself blown away by the sheer scale of what’s on offer in Asgard’s Wrath 2, with it easily offering the most sizable and epic adventure that I’ve played in virtual reality. I haven’t even mentioned some of the action-packed set pieces that showcase the visual flair of the game, the satisfyingly creative puzzles that’ll leave you perplexed as you figure out what to do, or the followers that’ll join you on your journey… honestly, there’s SO much going on in the game, with it easily rivalling the AAA RPGs you play on consoles when it comes to its scale. There’s even room for a bit of mixed reality action, with portals opening up for players to battle enemies in their living room. It all adds to the charm of the experience, with little details like this helping Asgard’s Wrath 2 stand out as one of the best virtual reality titles that I’ve ever played.

It also just so happens to look fantastic, though I can’t help but to feel a little disappointed that it hasn’t taken full advantage of the Meta Quest 3’s capabilities at the moment. Visually, it looks the same as it does on the Meta Quest 2, and whilst there has been an update that brings a consistent 90hz presentation, improved level of detail rendering, and a slightly higher resolution, I was hoping to see something that really showed off what the Meta Quest 3 is capable of. It has been confirmed that a patch is in the works that’ll see a big visual upgrade, but it might still be a while off from release. Again, the game is one of the most visually impressive I’ve played in virtual reality so it’s hard to complain too much, but I KNOW it could still look better.

Developer: Sanzaru Games
Publisher: Oculus Studios
Platform(s): Meta Quest 3 (Reviewed), Meta Quest 2
Website: https://www.meta.com/gb/quest/asgards-wrath-2/