Astral Chain is an action-packed adventure slash video game released in August 2019. The game, which only plays on Nintendo Switch, was developed by Platinum Games and published by Nintendo. It was directed by the game designer for Nier: Automata and supervised by the Devil May Cry creator. 

Nintendo and Platinum Games have worked together on two previous titles, which gives assurance of seamless integration on the platform. Knowing all these, I had a great feeling about the game before I played it, and it did not disappoint.

The game is set in a dystopian future where the earth has been left desolate. The human race had to migrate to a floating shelter called ‘The Ark.’ A special police task force called Neuron has a mission to protect the remainder of the human race from interdimensional creatures called the Chimera. These creatures invade the earth incessantly. The aliens are not the only challenge in this alternate future; you face many other aberrations. 

Weird But Exciting Gameplay

The game follows two new twin recruits in the Neuron task force. As part of the task force, they embark on combat and investigative missions. Using the titular astral chain, they restrain and tether the invading chimera through tethered familiars called Legions. Legions can be swapped during combat, which keeps the battle fresh and effective.

The gameplay employs a combination of hack and slash combat with role-playing elements and investigative missions, which take up about half of the campaign. The non-combat missions serve as a good respite from the highly engaging combat scenes. During the non-combat phase, you question non-playable characters to extract information and examine the evidence. These pieces of evidence, when gathered, become clues and puzzles that you must solve to access the Astral Plane. The Astral Plane is an interdimensional area similar to dungeons; you need to traverse hazardous terrains and enemies to access it.

The game’s controls are so complex that you can lose yourself. You have to use every button on the switch game, and it can be hard to recall what a particular button does in the heat of combat. Aside from the benefits the legions offer, the characters themselves have melee weapons and offensive attacks. The Chimera are impervious to your tactics and very difficult to defeat. Before killing the boss chimera, you would have to defeat other secondary enemies, who serve as protective shields. Sometimes, these secondary aliens can be flying over your head or hidden underground, and they require your K9 Beast Legion to dig them up before finishing them off. Battle boss Chimera mixes the Gameplay and forces you to use multiple Legions and skills combined with your default melee weapons.

Great Array Of Legion To Choose From

Your Legion can be unleashed by tapping the ZL trigger. The Legions are hurled directly at the nearest enemy, automatically attacking them with their special abilities. Legions come in different forms and with different abilities, depending on why they are needed. You get a sword-based Legion with a swift blade attack that can cause a lot of damage or interrupt attacks. There is the archer Legion that targets weak points and distant switches. Another Legion has powerful and deadly punches that inflict damage on the alien creatures or help with moving large objects. You can summon an ax-based Legion who also wields a shield that can be very destructive and damage enemy shields. There is a K9 Legion that can track scents and unearth hidden objects. You can also ride your K9 Legion to evade attacks or for mobility.

Every player begins with the Sword Legion and unlocks the others during gaming. You upgrade them by gathering experience points and unlocking skills. Legions have individual health meters that deplete when summoned in combat or attacked by an enemy. This makes you want to use them less and only when necessary. Unfortunately, they regenerate slowly, so if all your Legions are depleted, you may be unable to complete a mission. This sparse use of Legions ensures that the game is fast-paced and dynamic. It increases your ability to read the battle and decide which Legion best suits the game. You can also synchronize attacks if you battle in the right direction with your Legions.

Classic Manga Graphics

Astral Chain employs an artistic approach that is heavily influenced by cyberpunk manga and anime. The game’s developers are known for stunning visuals, and they did not disappoint with Astral Chain. I enjoyed the cool effect when you evade deadly attacks from the enemy. Here, the gameplay slows down to reveal the potential harm. The non-combat scenes are pedestrian but still incredibly charming because they let you explore the peculiar new world and its characters.

Dynamic Soundtrack That Matches Gameplay

One of the best things about the Astral Chain sound design is that it changes the music depending on the mood and action of the game. The superb sound design suits the world perfectly, from the climactic orchestral music in dramatic scenes to the metal music of active combat and the electronic music of calm investigative scenes. Two different vocalists voice the opening theme song to mirror the game’s twin protagonists.

Superb Gaming Experience

The major utility of this game comes from the fact that the combat engine is superb. Your performance depends on how well you perform in each encounter, which gives you an incentive to strive for something better. It is not too brutal that a novice player cannot pull through the mission; they can also enjoy the experience. With the ‘unchained’ option, you can automate your moves such that you don’t always have to finesse your actions. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would say that Platinum Games lives up to its reputation for making incredibly stylish and weird action games. Astral Chain is highly rewarding, with innovative combat and the ability to intuitively control two main characters. I give the game a 100% on replayability value and fun factor, and I highly recommend it.