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Guild Wars 2: The Asura Experience
MikeB
Community ManagerAdministrator RarePosts: 6,555
We spent some time with the diminutive asura race during the final beta weekend event for Guild Wars 2 and today we're offering our thoughts on the experience!
I’ll be blunt; I’ve never been interested in the asura. In fact, I’ve loved to hate them since ArenaNet announced that they would be a playable race in Guild Wars 2. They’re little alien-esque, mice-like, Raz-from-Psychonauts-looking creatures, and I was going to have none of it. At the same time, I do admit they’re probably one of the more interesting smaller races one can find in a fantasy MMO, especially since they’re basically replacing dwarves and gnomes in Guild Wars 2, and I hate those two even more.
Read more of Michael Bitton's Guild Wars 2: The Asura Experience.
Comments
Asura was my best surprise this last BWE. I had Asura at the last race i would be playing, and now after the BWE i really enjoyed playing it. The animations are very well done and makes it really funny to play.
I loved the Asura, andI wasn't expecting to! Loved them!
Same here, I did not expect to love Asura but came away with a main character (for release) at the end of Beta 2! ^_^
They have technology and magic intervined and they have golems (basically stylish mecha! What is not to love about them?
This was my second race during the beta. The first was human, and I had been finding GW2 a little underwhelming compared to the hype. Then I rolled an Asura Elementalist, and it was fantastic! The animation was top notch - every time she ran forward she almost fell over and everytime she jumped she seemed to be completely manic. The voice acting (featuring Felicia Day) was great and very funny, and the starting area was very pretty and fun to explore. Defo will be playing one on launch!
"When people don't know much about something, they tend to fill in the blanks the way they want them to be filled in. They are almost always disappointed." - Will Wright
I only had one real beef after playing the Asura, all the other races animations seem to pale in comparison. The fine detail Anet went to to ensure the look/feel of the Asura is so good when I attempted to play other races I kinda lost interest. This is especially true with regards to the run animations. The other races at times feel like they are gliding half the time but the Asura animations look totally natural (for them anyway).
Only twice. :P
Partially agree. Also I can't play a Char after playing Asura. Char and Norn run animations (due to size) "feel" really slow. (I know they're the same speed, they just feel like they trudge along).
Was funny to watch WvWvW. Asura reminded me of Stich from Disney cartoon. When i thought about that Char started to look like Scooby-Doo. LOL
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I was pleasantly surprised as well. . especially when you go side to side and they almost fall over. The animations were great
Oh and the dodge of course. I normally don't go for the steam punky magic infused tech etc. but they managed to make it not overwhelming.
Wa min God! Se æx on min heafod is!
I guess I'm a bit different than most. Asura is the race I want to play, so I avoided playing over the weekend. After reading this, I'm looking forward even more so to playing my Asura. Can't hardly wait!
I think the animation and emotes for the asura are awesome, the jump animation and /laugh emote are sick. Really happy with the asura and I'll probably roll one at launch.
the emotes are very funny too.../threaten and /laugh are masterpieces...even /sit is awesome
I played Norn guardian and felt clumsy and slow.
Humans didnt like cos they all look like barbie´s boyfriend. Specially human npcs
Sylvari... meh
Char characters are very well made and I love see them running (kinda worgen in wow...)
Asura are funny and the animations are very good.
I thinkt he think that amazed me the most after playing Asura are their animations. When you are in combat stance and run, the stop animation has so much weigth behind it that the little guy with just fumble a little forward or to sides, standing on just one leg, desperately trying to regian balance. The level of detail in that animation is just mindblowing for something of such relatievley small importance.
Asura is what I had been waiting for myself. I normally play smaller races part of the time but not full time. Asura however were just amazing. Like many said the animations are just top notch.
My wife was waiting for Sylvari but tried a Asura and ended up making a couple of them.
Sylvari being all made of plants and such are very cool as well.
Asura for me all the way though!!
- I have played Everquest, DAOC, Shadowbane, WoW, Aion, Rift, SW Galaxies, Planetside and Guild Wars (all expacs)
I am generally a hater of small classes but i really liked these little guys and their philosophy, golemancy and necromancy are the future! hehehehe
Playing GW2..
HAHA! no lie- was looking forward to Charr from beta weekends- and now after this weekend ....
Asura all the way!-fell in love with thtese guys!...
GREAT JOB Anet - if you can change peoples minds about set races and classes -u guys are doin something right!!!
fyi- i do love ALL the races so far!- but Asura isnt silly cute they are actually intelligent and not child like or cartoony- omg did i just called a cartoon -non cartoon..
haha- i need help!- lol
"Was funny to watch WvWvW. Asura reminded me of Stich from Disney cartoon"
My roommate said the same thing and it's true. Right down to the sharp little teeth.
I always planned on playing Asura as my main. I am a woman who loves cute little things like kittens, teddy bears, and yes, even Ewoks. And after seeing the excellent and humorous animations for the Asura, all I can say is " Awwww".
I'm probably in the minority in this, but the Asura starting area IMO was by far the worst. The quests were slow and some confusing. I leveled way faster in all other races starting areas.
I kind of like the little peeps, but with their horrible starting area, I don't think I can do it.
War and cute dont mix to me.
to each its own i had issues witht he plant people zone- LOVE em , but not my fav.
Asura zone and design was amazing fresh and new! like 'stargate' blew up there! colors and just overall feel made me want to play more and this is from someone who loves warhammer online!
just saying the contrast. they sold me wiht Asura!
pvp with asura was a win /win! they are small and vicious!
Same here big suprise, really enjoyed playing one as a thief, reminded me of Stitch from the Lilo and Stitch from Disney, I wanted to write into the dev's and ask for another two arms to be added to mine,
can't wiat for the game to start up so I can play him again,(yes I know I will have to re-roll him) and my Char warrior.
Yes War and cute do mix!
some quick questions about these little guys. do all the cute animations slow down actual dps and casting or attacking like in so many other games? like in wow, do short people have more problems seeing long distances and over things? can they jump as high and clear obsticles like other races. when it comes to dungeons and evoiding combat and such this is very importantant in most games later on. what are the downsides to playing short aliens in gw2? hehe
i loved the race however , i dont enjoy the gear wirth them
, found a cool looking staff ... with some lighting effect....was barely noticeable 
, A-Net needs to do what WoW did with goblins/gnomes oversized weapons lol.