Multiplayer: And | Release year: 2019
I was undecided about <a target="_blank" data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1;sec:large-product;subsec:commlist;pkgt:square-editorial;pos:3;cpos:18" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsInN0b3JlSWQiOiI2NmVhNTY3YS1jOTg3LTRjMmUtYTJmZi0wMjkwNGVmZGU2ZWEiLCJsYW5kaW5nVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9Bc3RyYWwtQ2hhaW4tTmludGVuZG8tU3dpdGNoL2RwL0IwN05RRjc0TTM_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy1wLW8tZHAtMjAiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjRjOWVhNzc3LTI0YzItNDRiZS05MzZkLWJkNWE1NDQzNWNjZiJ9&signature=AQAAAR3jcHvEHVPju10gNjSLwIo_zbdlzxjIKKSe76NJpQvv&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FAstral-Chain-Nintendo-Switch%2Fdp%2FB07NQF74M3″ rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:Astral Chain;cpos:1;pos:1;sec:large-product;subsec:commlist;pkgt:square-editorial;pos:3;cpos:18;elm:context_link;itc:0″ class=”link rapid-noclick-resp”>Astral Chain from the day the first trailer came out to a few hours after playing. It all seemed too generic, almost a paint-by-numbers interpretation of an action game. I shouldn't have worried so much, as it's one of the most original titles from PlatinumGames, the developer behind the Bayonetta series, in recent years.
In a future where the world is under constant attack from creatures that exist on another plane of existence, you play as an officer of a special force dealing with this threat. The trick of the game is that you can tame these creatures to turn them into Legions that you will use in combat. Encounters take place where you control your character and the Legion simultaneously to take on waves of larger, more challenging mobs and enemies. In addition to combat, you'll use your Legion(s) to solve crimes and traverse environments.
Astral Chain It sticks closely to a cycle of detective work, platforming puzzles, and combat (too closely, if I'm being critical) with the game divided into cases that serve as chapters. The story starts off well enough, but quickly becomes a mash-up of several anime tropes, including twists and arcs lifted directly from some very famous shows and movies. However, the minute-by-minute gameplay is enough to keep you engaged throughout the roughly 20-hour main campaign and the fairly significant endgame content.
Does Astral Chain reach the heights of Nier: Automata? Not at all, but its combat and environments can often surpass that game, which overall is probably my favorite of this generation. Often available for less than $50 these days, it's well worth your time.
