Astral Chain Review

Blast from the Past

Platinum Games, Inc. brought MadWorld to the Nintendo Wii. Without question, Nintendo Switch and Platinum Games, Inc. present Switch owners with the title Astral Chain. Based on MadWorld, the near- monochrome, violent, action title, Platinum Games, Inc.’s offerings always get me to the dinner table.

They served up games like the Wonderful 101, Vanquish, and Transformers: Devastation, over their game careers. I respect a game like Bayonetta, but it is not my favorite title. This is a strange thing. Astral Chain takes heavy inspiration from the Bayonetta series but manages to be more.

City in Crisis

In 2087, humanity is on the brink of extinction. Ark manages to be a prosperous, multi-cultural, city meant to avert the extinction of the human race. Regardless, disaster strikes as gates open all over Ark. Throughout the metropolis, both corruption and the alien threats spread over the land and its people. To counteract these threats, Ark’s police force creates a special task force, Neuron.

Neuron experimented and created Legion, for certain Ark police officers to wrangle in the field. Legion is a group of alien creatures, chained, and controlled by police officers to fight against the alien threat. You control a rookie officer who appears to be much more than Ark’s police force intended.

Ark Directions

Astral Chain allows you to control two characters at once. Control, either a male or female, rookie cop, crouch, and dash with the left analog stick. Attack your enemies with the ZR Button. Evade attacks with the B Button. Switch between various items in your inventory with the X Button. Interact with other characters and the environment with the A Button.

Tap the + Button to access the on-screen dynamic computer system IRIS. This allows players to follow crime patterns, alien activity, and highlight skill sets your legion may carry. The – Button accesses the game’s main menu.

Move the in-game camera, and lock on to enemies, with the right analog stick. Use the up and down directions on the cross pad to switch between your officer’s weapons. The left on the cross pad accesses your police notes to help you solve the current police cases.

The Legion’s Turn

Draw out your legion with the ZL button. The Legion character has an automatic attack pattern. Send the Legion away with the R Button. Recall, and deal out special attacks, with the Legion using the L Button. Quickly send out and draw back the Legion with the ZL button.

Hold the ZL Button and right analog stick to move the Legion. This combined with the chain that connects you to your Legion you can create other devastating combinations.

Players can move between Standard, Casual, Unchained and Ultimate modes to vary the challenge, and game control, in Astral Chain. For example, Casual Mode allows players to follow the story and the world of Astral Chain and the gameplay is less important. In the same way, Unchained Mode lets players move between Casual and Standard play modes. This mode also automates actions for the player.

Two players can use separate Joy-Cons, in the Co-op Mode, to control the Legion and your rookie cop to create dynamic action in the Nintendo Switch’s portable, tabletop, or television modes.

Slow Down

This is not something that happens often in the game but is apparent when it does. Whether there are multiple characters or large, dynamic, characters on screen, the game can slow down.

For example, there is a massive boss, in the game, that moves between three buildings. The game requires you to move between the same buildings to avoid those bosses’ attacks and damage the boss. This level works, but the game does slow down. As you attempt to access the menu to get upgrades to health, character abilities, or move away from the boss’ attacks, the game will not respond.

Conclusion

Astral Chain is a fun game. The controls are tight in most gameplay situations. It is massive, thorough, and addictive. The basic gameplay mixes with mini-games, and other gameplay styles to improve control over your Legion and vary your game experience.

Masakazu Katsura, the famous Manga artist responsible for series ZETMAN and Video Girl Ai, was Astral Chain’s game designer. Platinum Games’ Takahisa Taura, designer of the game NieR: Automata, makes his video game directorial debut with Astral Chain. Director of Bayonetta, and the writer and supervisor of Bayonetta 2, Hideki Kamiya, oversaw the creation of this title.

Astral Chain dips into the community responsibility of an Ark police officer to give players varied game dynamics. For example, alien attacks bring great damage to the Ark community. You fight the threat.

Players use their Legion to assist Ark citizens and officers in the daily challenges of the job and improve their community. These tasks all work together to improve your skills in the game. Astral Chain does not have the combination mechanics of Bayonetta.

The game is not a community- only dedicated action game like the Wonderful 101. Astral Chain combines the spirit of action in Bayonetta, the community service in the Wonderful 101, and the innovation Platinum Games, Inc. brings to all their titles.

In my opinion, Astral Chain is for any Nintendo Switch owner because Platinum Games, Inc. is behind it. Besides, just that should be enough to spark anyone’s curiosity.

Top Links

1. Anit Nahmami http://www.slickstermagazine.com/amit-nahmami/

2. Pawarumi Nintendo Switch Review http://www.slickstermagazine.com/pawarumi-nintendo-switch-review/

3. Homeworld 3 Has Been Announced http://www.slickstermagazine.com/homeworld-3-has-been-announced/