Spenser of Dreamcraft, maker of the Asora, shot the Archive over a box of throws. Inside this box were the Asora 01, Asora 02, the Production Asora 03, and two other early prototypes, the FUWA 01 and the FUWA 02. In my mind, this box makes up the Asora family of yo-yos, as the FUWA shares some design features of the Asora line that led up to the production release in October 2024. Each was from Spenser’s collection and showed lots of love and play.
Spencer’s goal for the Asora was to create a modernized version of the AnY Free Rider, most evident in the Asora 01. The addition of Side Effects, and further modernization, can be found in the Asora 02 and the Asora 03. When playing all three so close together, you can feel the progression, though the 02 and 03 both play wonderfully and feel more different than the 03 being “better” than the 02. I wasn’t as much of a fan of the 01. The 02 and the 03 are amazing and are some of my favorite yo-yos I’ve ever thrown. If forced to choose between the two, I’d go with the 03, as it’s the production model, though I’d love to have both in my collection.
The Asora is an organic throw that encourages a laid-back play style. It rejects string beautifully. The ability to modify its weight with Side Effect and Freehand compatible caps is also a huge plus for the throw, giving players a choice in how they set up their Asora for their preferred play style.
As a high-walled organic, the Asora is not meant for performance. It’s not a competitive yo-yo. What the Asora is, however, is a work of art. It’s a great-looking yo-yo that’s comfortable to hold, stable if your throw is clean, and an absolute joy to play. Spin times are better than you might expect, and it certainly was able to handle the intermediate set of tricks at my disposal. The Asora is a passion project from a creative individual; it is meant to be enjoyed. To that end, it excels in its purpose.
Now I can’t talk about the Asora without talking about the Asora goodies. Dreamcraft has some cute stickers, a pin, and even an aluminum case available for purchase, all with the Asora/Dreamcraft vibe. One of the coolest things is the full art card included with the yo-yo. The front features Asora, the character designed by Spenser to go along with the yo-yo, and some specs and stats on the back, including the production number of your specific yo-yo. As a special thanks to the Archive for taking a look at the Asora, I received a custom art piece with a lovely thank-you note on the back.
So we’ve come this far, but I still haven’t mentioned the two FUWA prototypes. The FUWA 01 and FUWA 02 are yo-yos that didn’t make it past the prototype stage yet feel similar to the Asora. They’re a bit larger in diameter and width, though they feel lighter than the Asora. Each uses Side Effects, and there was a definite difference in feel between the 01 and the 02. As with the Asora, the FUWA 01 didn’t do much for me. The FUWA 02 was a lot of fun, but certainly not something I would go out of my way to pick up if a production run saw the light of day. In the end, the Asora is where it’s at.
