Asuka divided anime critics, receiving an ambivalent response. Negative reviews criticized her arrogant, surly and authoritarian character. While appreciating her for providing "a good dose of comic relief" to "Evangelion", Anime Critic Pete Harcoff described her as "an annoying snot". Raphael See from T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews, who found "Neon Genesis Evangelion"s characterization "a little cliché, or just plain irritating at times", despised Asuka for her arrogant attitude. Anime News Network editor Lynzee Loveridge ranked her seventh among the "worst sore losers" of anime history. Her colleague Kenneth Lee considered Asuka "completely misanthropic" and found her elevator scene with Rei to highlight the direction's "utter incongruity and incohesiveness", as one of multiple ineffective "dramatic pauses". Matthew Perez ("Anime Reign") described her as initially "overly stuck up", but he also appreciated her evolution. IGN critic Ramsey Isler ranked her as the 13th greatest anime character of all time for the realism of her characterization, saying: "She's a tragic character, and a complete train wreck, but that is what makes her so compelling because we just can't help but watch this beautiful disaster unfold." CBR included her among the best anime female pilots, describing her as "the best classic "tsundere" in "shounen" anime" and "one of the most fascinating characters in anime".