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To combat the interdimensional menace and protect the remaining humans, special Neuron officers are equipped with a Legatus, a device which tethers them to a particular legion, who are techno-demon familiars tugged around on a glowing chain. All of this carries a hyperactive quality reminiscent of certain anime series, so anyone familiar with that material will feel right at home, and probably call out the big plot turns well ahead of time. Even so, by the end of File 03 you’ll only just be getting a solid foundation of the game’s main qualities, with combat complexity opening up to incorporate different swappable legions and a good mix of enemy types.
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The focus on narrative in Astral Chain cannot be overstated - there’s a whole lot of story to tell, and the first File of the game (each chapter is called a “File” and represents a discreet series of cases for Neuron) is almost burdensome, with keywords and game mechanics piled on hard and fast. Related: Friday The 13th: Ultimate Slasher Edition Review for Nintendo Switch The year is 2078 and humans have been reduced to living on a densely-populated artificial island in a city known as The Ark, now beset by monstrous tech horrors called chimeras, twisted beings regularly invading the area, kidnapping and preying on the people within. Afterward, the other sibling takes part in the narrative alongside you and appears regularly throughout the story (your selected player character serves as your standard-issue silent protagonist), which kicks off with their acceptance into their Neuron police force under their gruff father, Max.
Astral chain skin#
Players choose either a male or female twin sibling, with some minor initial customization available for things like skin color and hairstyle. While it trades in the complex combo arrangements of other so-called “character action” games, its unique approach centers on tethered familiars known as legions, with a strong emphasis on wild visual design and anime-influenced storytelling. Now with, Astral Chain, the fan-favorite studio returns with its first original IP on the Switch, and it’s a knockout exclusive that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best games in their roster. PlatinumGames debuted on the platform with their 2018 port of the resplendent Bayonetta 2, a Nintendo exclusive previously locked in for the Wii U system. The Nintendo Switch is working its way through an outstanding array of releases this year, but one of their most distinguished third-party brand partners has been completely absent thus far. Astral Chain is a superb original release on the Switch, a sophisticated action-adventure worthy of the PlatinumGames brand and absent of compromise, primed to become a new successful franchise.