Why Final Fantasy XVI Proves Asura's Wrath Needs a Sequel

Final Fantasy XVI features a focus on action and story, and it tried to seamlessly blend them together. It proves that Asura's Wrath needs a sequel.

It is safe to say that Final Fantasy XVI pushes the series in a new direction by putting a heavier emphasis on action. While many modern Final Fantasy games have tried to make the game more action-heavy, Final Fantasy XVI is basically a character action game with a level-up system—but that isn't a bad thing. Final Fantasy XVI is an amazing game that has a deep story, amazing action, and incredible gameplay, and it all feels at home in the Final Fantasy franchise. Beyond that, it also makes enormous strides in the character action genre and implements action into cutscenes in an incredibly fluid way that has rarely been seen in gaming.

The way FFXVI combines action set-pieces into the cutscenes is extremely similar to Asura's Wrath which was released during the Xbox 360 and PS3 era. It was a fairly niche game that flew under a lot of fans' radars, but it developed a cult following. Like Final Fantasy XVI, it tried to combine cinematic stories with intense, epic, and over-the-top action. It featured levels that could introduce radically different gameplay styles, cutscenes that blended seamlessly into battles, and truly staggering boss battles. While it wasn't perfect, it tried to push character action games into a new direction, and Final Fantasy proves that it deserves a sequel.

Asura's Wrath Created a Unique and Epic Gaming Experience

Describing Asura's Wrath as an action game doesn't do it justice. While it certainly had a focus on action, it attempted to become a new gaming experience. The game followed a format similar to a television show. After each level, there would be credits as if it was the end of a TV show, and the next "episode" of Asura's Wrath would be teased. During boss battles, cutscenes would play, but they would turn into quick-time events and action segments before transitioning back to cutscenes. Levels would also be broken up into different segments. Some sections would have Asura fighting enemies, and the next section would swap to an on-rail shooter. It kept the gameplay fresh and exciting, and it created a nice flow from gameplay to story.

Assuming that this gameplay style could be overwhelming or make the game feel directionless would be easy, but the opposite is true. The rapid switch of gameplay styles helps make the game more engaging. It prevents the gameplay from getting monotonous and the player from getting bored by constantly giving the player something new to do. When the player needs a break from the changing gameplay, the game will reach a cutscene. The cutscenes also keep the players on their toes by including tons of quick-time events. They also tell a great story aided by a fantastic art style that makes the player feel like they are experiencing their favorite anime rather than playing a game. It is this brilliant pacing and story that not only makes Asura's Wrath hard to put down, but also creates an incredibly unique gaming experience.

Final Fantasy XVI Perfected What Asura's Wrath Started

Like Asura's Wrath, Final Fantasy XVI has incredible pacing and puts an emphasis on action and story. XVI has some of the best action combat in any game, and it also has one of the best stories in the Final Fantasy series. While it isn't as experimental as Asura's Wrath, it does blend the combat and story extremely well, and it has some of the best boss fights in gaming. Final Fantasy XVI's boss fights combine epic kaiju battles with the fast-paced combat of the rest of the game. It makes players feel constantly engaged, and it forces players to think strategically with every move. On top of that, it tells an amazing story that frequently allows players to take action.

It is not a one-to-one translation, but it feels like Final Fantasy XVI took the gameplay concept that Asura's Wrath started and perfected it. Final Fantasy expanded on the combat systems, and thanks to the increased power of modern consoles, the transition from action sequence to cutscene is even more seamless. It is also much longer than Asura's Wrath, so characters and plot lines can be fully fleshed out, and it allows for even more variety in gameplay. Asura's Wrath was not a perfect game. It provided an amazing experience, but certain aspects of the combat weren't implemented well. There should have been a more in-depth combat system, and the episodic format was hit or miss with many fans. However, it seems that Final Fantasy has borrowed many ideas from Asura's Wrath, and this proves that bending ideas together can create a unique and wonderful game.

Asura's Wrath Was Ahead Of Its Time

Asura's Wrath didn't do exceptionally well when it was released. It got favorable reviews, but it didn't sell well. At the time, character action games weren't as popular as they are now. Plus, the game's fluid nature and focus on a unique gaming experience made it hard to market Asura's Wrath. Asura's Wrath also featured some egregious DLC that upset many fans, which didn't help bolster sales. At the time, it was never able to find its niche of gamers, but it had a lot of potential. Since then, many gamers have discovered the game and appreciated the unique style of gameplay it tried to create. While not massive, it has developed a bit of a cult following in recent years.

Final Fantasy XVI's recent success proves that Asura's Wrath was just a little ahead of its time. XVI largely creates the same unique gaming experience that Asura's Wrath, albeit with deeper combat and a longer story. Obviously, Final Fantasy XVI takes advantage of the boost in power of modern consoles, so the game can run smoother and combat can be more fluid. XIV is also the next main entry in a long-running and beloved series instead of a wholly new IP. Despite all this, it proves that, at its core, Final Fantasy XVI has a lot in common with Asura's Wrath. Fans who are looking for something epic and action-packed to play after Final Fantasy XVI should strongly consider Asura's Wrath. It's certainly shorter than XVI, but it definitely makes the most of every moment. If nothing else, XVI's success proves that Asura's Wrath would have fared much better in today's gaming market. While a sequel is incredibly unlikely, it would definitely find its fans in today's varied gaming landscape.