The Switch being called just a port machine is no longer true. It’s library of exclusive (and non exclusive) games is growing and it features very high quality games that make the plan to purchase a Switch very appealing. On August 30, another Switch exclusive is coming out and it’s the next big game from Platinum Games called Astral Chain. Don’t know much about it? Here are some things you’ll need to know about the game before you purchase it… Then again, it’s a MUST BUY and most definitely a day 1 purchase for us!
Platinum Games, ’nuff said
Astral Chain is the next Nintendo Switch exclusive and it’s being Developed by Platinum Games, known for fast paced and combat heavy action games like Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Bayonetta, and Nier: Automata. As a matter of fact, the game is under the supervision of Hideki Kamiya, the genius behind Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and Bayonetta, with the Lead Designer of Nier: Automata Takahisa Taura sitting on the director’s chair. Character designs are being handled by manga industry veteran Masakazu Katsura, who penned the manga turned anime DNA² and was also the character designer for the anime series Iria: Zeiram the Animation and Tiger & Bunny. Sounds like a pretty star studded crew if you ask me.
Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and Nier: Automata need no introduction so you can expect Astral Chain to be something special with the minds behind these games working together.
Heavy dose of action AND story
The game is set in the near future where the Earth is polluted and humans are threatened by monsters called the Chimeras. Pushed to near extinction, humans have retreated into an artificial city called the Ark where life somehow gets back to normal. The Ark isn’t completely safe, as Chimeras have occasionally managed to get inside and spread something called red matter, which corrupts humans.
To combat this, a special police force called Neuron is established and the men and women of this force utilize Legions, which are tamed Chimeras and linked to a Neuron officer using a psychic chain. You take the role of a Neuron officer as a male or female that you can customize and name, with the gender that you didn’t choose becoming your twin sibling in the police force. While it may sound simple and straightforward, let’s not underestimate the capabilities of Takahisa Taura, who designed Nier: Automata.
The Ark will be your main setting in the game, and this city gives off a very cyberpunk vibe. From the looks of things, there will be multiple sections in this city so expect a sandbox style of setting where you can go anywhere and explore. While the Ark is a known setting in the game, there is still the polluted world outside, as well as the Astral Plane where the Chimeras come from, so who knows how much more of the world of Astral Chain can be explored.
Tons of action, Platinum Games style
Fast pace and combo heavy action is what Platinum Games is known for, but there’s going to be more that you can do in Astral Chain. As a Neuron police officer, you will have to go around the city keeping the peace and solving crimes. Occasionally, there will be incidents which will have you conduct investigations and question non player characters in the area. It’s a welcome break from all of the intense sequences in between.
You and your Legion will have to work together to pummel your enemies into submission which means that you will need to control both your character and Legion in tandem to pull off combos and team actions. This is why Astral Chain also has a multiplayer feature Where a second player can pick up the Joy Pad to control your Legion! Whether you play alone or with a friend, you will need to get your act together to defeat the different Chimeras you’ll face in the game, and since this is Platinum Games we’re talking about, expect big boss encounters of massive scale!
Combat rewards you with experience and money which you’ll need to upgrade your gear and skills, not to mention that you can equip different Legions with different playstyles to match your taste, whether you prefer close range combat Legions or beast types that you can ride.
Release date
Astral Chain will be available worldwide on August 30, 2019, both in retail and digital formats. For the European and Japanese markets though the game will also come with a Collector’s Edition, including the base game, a Soundtrack CD, and an Artbook.
Check your nearest local retailer for information about price and availability because we’re pretty sure Astral Chain is going to be a day one purchase for a LOT of Switch owners out there, including us!
Videogame Content Editor. A father and gamer. Would gladly trade what’s left of his soul to witness a Final Fantasy 6 and Xenogears remake done during his lifetime.
