When Astral Chain was first revealed to the world, I immediately was excited to learn more about Platinum Games’ newest project. As a fan of Platinum, I knew we were getting fast-paced action and some truly unique gameplay. The more time went by, the more I started to doubt. Will this game be able to deliver? Aren’t the detective segments too slow? After playing the game for days I can finally tell you why this is one of the best Nintendo Switch exclusives on the market and I had no reason to doubt.
Impressive opening
Astral Chain sets the tone during the first seconds of gameplay. There’s no slow build-up, the game kicks off at a high pace, fighting monsters you never heard of before. It’s a classic Platinum Games approach and I must say, I was deeply impressed by this. It’s clear that a lot of time and love went into this project since everything about it just clicks. The opening reminded me of some of the better animes, including a stellar soundtrack and a fastly unraveling plot, introducing several new characters. This tone is maintained during the entire game. The story isn’t extremely original but the way it is told is truly impressive. I’m not exaggerating if I say the cut scenes in Astral Chain are some of the most impressive ones I’ve seen on a Nintendo Switch. Platinum Games knows how to tell a story and it’s amazing to see they never lost momentum. Right from the start until the very end, you’ll be sucked into the game and its unique story. It’s easy to connect to the characters thanks to this, making you truly invested in the story, feeling the same joy or pain the main characters are feeling. From a story perspective, the game really succeeds in all of its goals and a lot of other games can actually learn a lot from this epic storytelling.
Chimera, the ones that overrun Earth years ago, are the demons you’ll face. Teleported from another dimension, they’re set to wipe out the entire human race. The special Neuron army accompanied by their Legion is Earth’s only hope. You’ll eventually play a crucial role in the story, carrying a lot of weight on your fragile shoulders. As a player, you’ll constantly feel this weight and the importance of your missions. While you’re trying to save the Earth, it’s also important for yourself to keep sane during the madness. One way to overcome your fears is to fight the Chimera in true Platinum Games fashion.
Fight them all
Combat forms a crucial part of Astral Chain and it’s clear from the start that it’s created by Platinum Games. If you played Bayonetta or Vanquish before, you know what to expect. The action is extremely fast-paced and there’s a lot going on at once. The main ‘gimmick’ of the game is your Legion. A Legion is a Chimera that’s captured using a special device. Only a couple of agents are able to control a Legion and only the lucky few can form a connection so strong that both human and Chimera move as one. As a player, you’ll control both your main character and Chimera at once, connected by the Astral Chain. This means that you’ll shoot and melee attack your enemies all while sending your Legion to deliver more damage or give you some support fire. The Chain itself can also be used in strategical ways, for example, you can pin your enemy to the ground if you connect the chain of the player and the Legion at the right time. As you might have guessed, there’s a lot going on and it’s a lot to take in at first. This isn’t like something you’ve played before and yet, it works incredibly well.
The team really managed to create the perfect control scheme for these complicated challenges. By assigning one joystick to one character, things are rather straightforward considering the depth of combat. At first, you’ll struggle a bit with it, but the more you fight, the better you get, gradually learning and mastering new techniques along the way. Although the controls are relatively easy to master, combat never gets easy. This still is a Platinum Games project so you’ll face off with tons of enemies and tons of strong bosses constantly. Luckily enough, you have the Legion on your side.
We are Legion
The Legion forms a huge part of the game since they really affect the combat and puzzle sections. You start with a Sword Legion, but the more you advance, the more Legion you’ll unlock, including long-ranged and incredibly strong creatures. At first, the puzzles and combat you’ll face are rather easy to solve since you have access to one Legion but the more you unlock, the more difficult it will get. Picking the right Legion for the right job becomes crucial for your survival and it’s far from straightforward. The way the puzzles gradually get more difficult is great to see since Platinum Games demonstrates that Astral Chain is far more than just an action game, in fact, it’s a lot of games in one. Using the unique abilities of your Legion to unlock new paths in the mysterious world of Chimera is also a big part of the game, always introducing new problems; always forcing you to be quick on your feet. Messing around with the several Legion is extremely fun and in the end also extremely rewarding when you find out the correct way to use them both in combat and action. But, the fun doesn’t stop there!
Detective work
Since you’re part of the police force, you’re also tasked to investigate a lot of crime scenes. These segments got me worried right from the start. I was afraid they were too easy and that they simply would take out the pacing too much, at first, they did. I must admit that I wasn’t a fan of this Detective Pikachu+ approach of detective missions. Finding clues using my special scanner and Legion skills, just to repeat everything I just discovered to my superior, hoping I could advance… This just didn’t do it for me. Luckily, the more the game advanced, the better these things got. Crime scenes got a lot more complicated and it started to get challenging to find the truth. The way Platinum Games went from kiddy investigations to true mysterious really is admirable and I’m happy they managed to find the right balance between high-paced action and thrilling detective work. I’m glad I pushed forward and continued my journey because, in the end, it offered some truly memorable gaming moments. The combat, different Legion, interesting investigation scenes, all added up to a lot of variety and solid gameplay, unlike anything I’ve seen before.
Conclusion:
Astral Chain got me off guard, even though I’m a Platinum Games fan, I wasn’t prepared for a product this complete. Somehow, they pulled it off: creating a game this complex, combining at least three completely different genres into one game. The result is an extremely addictive game that will get you hooked from start the finish, always offering you something new and unexpected. If you’re looking for a great action-adventure on your Nintendo Switch, this is the closest to perfection you’ll get.
