Astral Chain

 Switch
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3468 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,079 out of 3468
  2. Mixed: 143 out of 3468
  3. Negative: 246 out of 3468
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  1. CDizzness
    Apr 12, 2020
    10
    This game is so flipping cool, awesome storyline, gorgeous graphics, flippin' sweet action, thumping mesmerizing soundtrack. Platinum games makes THE best games, and I am so glad they have a good reputation with Nintendo.
  2. donmopa
    Apr 9, 2020
    6
    I could not find the awesomeness that everybody found in this game. Thematic is interesting and also the legions gave new mechanics. However, the camera is a total disaster and fights at some points feels like smashing buttons with no contemplation,
  3. DigaHole
    Apr 8, 2020
    9
    I have no words for this masterpiece. It was the first Platinum title I have ever played, but the studio is already in my top 5. Epic story, brilliant combat, touching scenes, big monsters and perfect music. Best new IP of 2019.
  4. Cougargames
    Apr 8, 2020
    9
    Imagine another game from platinum games with the amazing combat that you would expect but improved with an even more fun combat that forces you to pay even more attention to the game so that your mind never is bored.

    This is a must buy for any platinum games fan and switch owner considering what they are offering and the (little spoiler warning ahead) the long and fun endgame    Imagine another game from platinum games with the amazing combat that you would expect but improved with an even more fun combat that forces you to pay even more attention to the game so that your mind never is bored.

    This is a must buy for any platinum games fan and switch owner considering what they are offering and the (little spoiler warning ahead)

    the long and fun endgame content they are offering.    … Expand
  5. Tafi
    Apr 6, 2020
    10
    Dudava si comprar-me lo o no ya que no havia oido a hablar mucho del juego però lo veia muy chulo. Decidí comprar-lo y estoy contento de haver-lo comprado creo que es un juego muy bueno y muy infravalorado. Si estais dudando si comprar-lo os animo a que si!
  6. IvanEscoto
    Apr 5, 2020
    10
    This game made me put a lot of attention on the controls, that made the combat system immersive and I loved it, as for the investigations pre missions, well it was repetitive but I loved to see the Ark and its people.
    If u want a great experience and great visuals for the switch u have to play this game.
  7. Camer6
    Mar 31, 2020
    9
    El juego mas original de platinum games hasta la fecha, complicado de dominar, una historia que cumple y personajes que te llegan. Graficamente es de lo mejor visto en switch a dia de hoy, el único pecado que comete? ser exclusivo de switch y por lo tanto tener la nota que tiene en esta pagina, es una pena que la gente no sea capaz de valorar si un videojuego es bueno o no según para laEl juego mas original de platinum games hasta la fecha, complicado de dominar, una historia que cumple y personajes que te llegan. Graficamente es de lo mejor visto en switch a dia de hoy, el único pecado que comete? ser exclusivo de switch y por lo tanto tener la nota que tiene en esta pagina, es una pena que la gente no sea capaz de valorar si un videojuego es bueno o no según para la compañía que salga.… Expand
  8. OwtDaft
    Mar 29, 2020
    7
    + Legions make the game combat and exploration very unique.
    + The game has a great sound track.
    + Graphics are very good, for the Switch. + The game play has variety to it. +- The story is alright, it's a great idea but they didn't do much with it. +- Investigations are a good idea but they're too basic. - Controls are a bit clunky and take some getting used to. - Large amounts of    + Legions make the game combat and exploration very unique.
    + The game has a great sound track.
    + Graphics are very good, for the Switch.
    + The game play has variety to it.
    +- The story is alright, it's a great idea but they didn't do much with it.
    +- Investigations are a good idea but they're too basic.
    - Controls are a bit clunky and take some getting used to.
    - Large amounts of the game are set in environments that look the same and look rushed.
    - Boring side quests. It's like watered down juice when the side quests are so low effort.
    - Camera is awkward at times while using a Legion.
    - Using Legions to leap gaps is buggy.
    - Got sick of collecting red shards very quickly.
    = The game feels fresh enough to be worth playing but the game is a bit rushed in places.    … Expand
  9. LaloNS
    Mar 28, 2020
    8
    This game makes a lot of references to some anime classics, like Evangelion, as a story of 2 brothers working for an investigation robopolice department, it sound interesting to play.
    The city, and all the places in this world, are surrender with fights between "kimeras", soundtrack kick ass, you have to solve some puzzles and more stuff in all files. I really enjoy it for a christmas    This game makes a lot of references to some anime classics, like Evangelion, as a story of 2 brothers working for an investigation robopolice department, it sound interesting to play.
    The city, and all the places in this world, are surrender with fights between "kimeras", soundtrack kick ass, you have to solve some puzzles and more stuff in all files. I really enjoy it for a christmas present, the difficulty its a little bit heavier than you think, I recommend it to star at the beginig with easy mode, and later if you love the game, you can then later change it for getting an s ranking.
    Platinum games have made some interesting fighting games and Astral Chain really makes a thrilling battle using the sword,arm,axe,beast, and sword legions trough te whole game.
    Really worths it, but the story later its so predictable and kinda disapoints at the end. But anyway its an A- game for the Nintendo Switch system.    … Expand
  10. Garchomp64
    Mar 27, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The graphics, UI, animations, mechanics, character & legion customization, soundtrack, and gameplay are all phenomenal. The bosses of this game are fun and provide just the right amount of challenge (if you’re playing on Pt Standard) and it’s very satisfying once you beat them. As far as story goes, I think it’s a bit mediocre and cliche, but it’s far from the worst thing ever. Some characters are cool in my opinion, like a couple of the neuron officers, Hal, and the Hermits, but the rest of the characters would benefit more from better writing like Yoseph and Jenna. Aside from a few character and story issues, this this a pretty high quality game, is very fun to play, and I could tell that a lot of time and dedication was put into this game.… Expand
  11. The_Final_Boss
    Mar 26, 2020
    10
    Character customization's (Including their name, your twin will always be Akira though). Fun and interactive combat style. Visually nice graphics. Soundtrack is great too with an Anime like opening and ending. In the interview the game's director mentioned they were going for an Anime vibe.
  12. PokeProX
    Mar 22, 2020
    10
    A few weeks before this game was released, this game suddenly intrigued me with its gameplay and visuals. When I got to play this game, it was a great experience and quite challenging too.

    Story: 9/10 “The story almost motivated me to play more.” Gameplay: 9/10 “Yeah, I guess it's somewhat repetitive. But the graphics and the gameplay itself might still motivate you to play some more.    A few weeks before this game was released, this game suddenly intrigued me with its gameplay and visuals. When I got to play this game, it was a great experience and quite challenging too.

    Story: 9/10 “The story almost motivated me to play more.”
    Gameplay: 9/10 “Yeah, I guess it's somewhat repetitive. But the graphics and the gameplay itself might still motivate you to play some more.
    Graphics/Visuals: 10/10 “Stunning and beautiful, just how I expected it to be.”
    Music: 9/10 “The music is worth listening to and it’s very “anime”!”
    Difficulty: 8.5/10 “It’s quite challenging, that’s it. And a few bosses are complex.”
    Characters: 9/10 “Hm... The cast of characters is respectable and probably memorable.”

    This game was quite phenomenal for a “Nintendo Switch” game! And one of the quite memorable ones, too. Though it’s repetitive at times, that doesn’t stop me from playing more! Now, the score is, 9.4! [10]    … Expand
  13. weskergamer
    Mar 22, 2020
    10
    I am very surprised that i haven't review this game yet when i just beat it 1 month ago, but what can i say about this game. Well, this game is perfection in every detail: music, story, gameplay, graphics... The people in Platinum Games are really masterminds, i'm so ready for what's next from them.
  14. Aerrihn
    Mar 20, 2020
    8
    Firstly, I have only completed the game once, in a 15 hour runthrough. Astral Chain is a game with a very high mechanical ceiling, however it does offer an "Unchained Mode" which basically fights the fights for the player should they choose so.

    The combat has got the be the strongest point of this game. It is action combat where the player is connected by an astral chain to a Legion.    Firstly, I have only completed the game once, in a 15 hour runthrough. Astral Chain is a game with a very high mechanical ceiling, however it does offer an "Unchained Mode" which basically fights the fights for the player should they choose so.

    The combat has got the be the strongest point of this game. It is action combat where the player is connected by an astral chain to a Legion. The player avatar is capable of using three different weapons, a baton, a pistol and a sort of greatsword. These weapons can be upgraded at the headquarters of the player. The player is also capable of using potions, grenades and a few other consumable weapons. When chainining multiple basic attacks, a prompt will appear for a split second which allows players to pull of sync attacks with their legion.

    The player has access to five different types of Legions that they will unlock as part of the story throughout the game, this includes one with two blades, one with a bow and arrow, one with two large fists, one in the shape of a very large wolf and finally one that uses a very large axe. The Legion will automatically attack an enemy if it is near one, but the player can also choose to assign two different skills for the Legion to use. The player can also unlock skill trees for each legion as well as attach passives to each legion. These passives can be picked up as drops from enemies or rewards from missions. The Legion can be commanded to attack different enemies or commanded to interact with the player. Each Legion has a unique interaciton with the player as well as with the environment. The astral chain itself can also be used as a weapon to bind enemies or slingshot charging enemies.

    Both the player and the Legion can be customised in terms of colour. The player can also be customised with a small selection of outfit choices. The colour variations need to be unlocked through mission rewards.

    The graphics are very stylised. The atmosphere is somewhat dark and gritty feeling. A little reminiscent of the Batman Arkham series but with a more scifi and modern feel. The animation work is definitely my favourite part of the game. When sync attacks are pulled off it looks awesome, running around looks cool, and the way enemies move is intriguing as well.

    The game is instanced hub, a little like Monster Hunter. The player gets a mission, which is always the main story, and the player leave the base to go on the mission. Inside each segment of the main story, the player will run through a cityscape or the "astral plane" within which the player can accept sidequest and complete them within the main story segment that they were accepted in. There is only a small amount of sidequests so completionists would have no problems going through them.

    The Legions also have an environmental use. The biggest one that can be used through by every Legion, is the chain jump. The player can move the Legion to another platform and the Legion can then yank the chain to pull the player towards them, effectively crossing a gap. The sword Legion can cut through strings, or laser connections, the arrow Legion can shoot switches, or places of interests that are far away, the arm Legion can carry the player over puddles of poison, the beast Legion can be ridden on allowing the player to run faster as well as jump over small obstacles, finally the axe Legion can cast a shield and protect the player from a gaseous environment.

    The story is not the strongest, and it has many loopholes regarding the greater enemy. The pacing is also not the best but as an action game as the primary focus, it does the job.

    The music is very fitting for the scifi hard action that the game is all about, but not very memorable. It does the job of enhancing the experience in combat or in key story moments, but that's about it.

    Sadly, I feel that there is sometimes a lack of direction from the game. Many of the sidequests I had to rely on googling to find out where I was supposed to go. However, outside of the that the game was a very strong action game for me.

    Overall, the game is great for players who love high skill ceiling action games as there is a lot of management when it comes to the controls but when played by players who are used to the mechanics and controls of the game, the game looks like a montage of amazing plays.    … Expand
  15. MrsPandora
    Mar 16, 2020
    9
    Fun action packed gamePlay with a ton of characters that you learn too like, but the overall story is a tiny bit of a mess but sounds like it could be a very cool anime show
  16. zaphir
    Mar 7, 2020
    9
    A surprisingly good game. It has great RPG mechanics. Though the gameplay is a bit hard to adapt to at the very beginning, it feels rewarding when you master it and manage to land combos
  17. nirik_prinz
    Mar 6, 2020
    10
    Excellent game-play, very dynamic combat system, Graphics and setting on top. But dialogues ... like in cheap drama!
  18. Alberto_Rahl
    Mar 4, 2020
    7
    Un buen inicio para una franquicia nueva aunque una llegué a adaptarme del todo a los controles.
    También lo encontré un tanto corto. Creo que lo terminé en unas 35 horas. Me hubiera gustado que hubieran explorado más la parte de investigación del juego, que al final se quedó bastante corta.
  19. NegativeFifteen
    Mar 2, 2020
    1
    There's a **** ton of reasons why this game is terrible, but the main issue is that the dodging and camera systems are absolute **** Targeting happens automatically, whether or not I want it to, even if I turn off the target marker. Switching between multiple targets makes me want to put my head through a **** wall with how absolutely terrible the function is.The hitboxes and dodging feelThere's a **** ton of reasons why this game is terrible, but the main issue is that the dodging and camera systems are absolute **** Targeting happens automatically, whether or not I want it to, even if I turn off the target marker. Switching between multiple targets makes me want to put my head through a **** wall with how absolutely terrible the function is.The hitboxes and dodging feel like they asked a toddler to draw a bunch of circles in crayon around the character and then they set the hitboxes to be identical to it. It feels like they TRIED to make the hitboxes bad. On top of all this, even if you manage to acclimate to a terrible camera and a god awful dodging system, even if you manage to get "good" at the game, it still gives you that sweet, sweet C ranking because you didn't use moves and abilities that they haven't even given to you yet. It's like ranking a 2nd grader based on their college algebra skills. So now if you want to make it so that your game file isn't riddled with Cs and Ds, you get to go back and play through each individual mission with your new abilities so that it's actually possible to get a better score. Why can't I just get a good score the first time through with what I have? It's like I progress through the game just so I can go backwards. All in all, ****ty combat, uninteresting dialogue and story, and unremarkable characters that I forget almost instantly, 1/10. Also the female character model looks like someone slapped the face of a crab onto a Hershey's Kiss.… Expand
  20. SirSoil
    Feb 28, 2020
    9
    Astral Chain is a bad ass action game with wild and unique levels and gameplay with amazing music that deserves more prays. The gameplay and the action is so satisfying and stylish, you have diffident ways of attacking and its all well made. The levels are all good in there own way, they always end off with an incredible boss which is awesome. The look of the game can get weird but it’sAstral Chain is a bad ass action game with wild and unique levels and gameplay with amazing music that deserves more prays. The gameplay and the action is so satisfying and stylish, you have diffident ways of attacking and its all well made. The levels are all good in there own way, they always end off with an incredible boss which is awesome. The look of the game can get weird but it’s the style that you must appreciate, the story is also good nothing huge or anything it’s good. The soundtrack though, it’s a masterpiece with tracks that are so epic that every boss feels like the final boss. The open nature of the levels and game make it great to explore and such, however I wish if the extra levels weren’t so hard after you beat the game, the things you get customization wise is cool though. Astral Chain is a must have for action lovers, it’s enjoyable all the way through and the satisfaction you get from beating bosses and completing levels is amazing. (Amazing 4/5) Your Missing Out!… Expand
  21. Redzzz
    Feb 27, 2020
    10
    One of my Favourite switch games, and maybe even one of my Favourite nintendo games in the last ten years. The Combat is increadible and the story is extreamly good as well. Sadly people gave this game bad reviews because its a Switch exclusive
  22. Craigjeffery
    Feb 25, 2020
    7
    Astral chain was not for me. While playing i found myself mindlessly mashing right trigger (right trigger is your combat button) while my legion did whatever he wanted. You auto lock into an enemy, and just spam right trigger. that’s about it. My total play time after beating the game was 20 hours, and what a drag those 20 hours were. I couldn’t wait to beat every level just so i could getAstral chain was not for me. While playing i found myself mindlessly mashing right trigger (right trigger is your combat button) while my legion did whatever he wanted. You auto lock into an enemy, and just spam right trigger. that’s about it. My total play time after beating the game was 20 hours, and what a drag those 20 hours were. I couldn’t wait to beat every level just so i could get it over with. There are lots of collectible items located in the few sections of the game, some which require a bit of back tracking. while easter egg hunting can be fun, in astral chain it gets old and tedious. There are many different styles to play and attributes to give your legion, but i just couldn’t get into it. The game in my opinion was underwhelming, tedious, and boring. These are just my opinions, overall this is a very solid game, but all i can recall of playing this game was that i couldn’t wait for it to be over just so i could say i played it. Watch some gameplay, do your research to see if this game is for you. I wish there were more motorcycle levels, as those were the best parts of the game. Also pretty good music, the main hub music is still stuck in my head. (uwuuuuuuu naniiiiii)… Expand
  23. zeroanime
    Sep 10, 2019
    10
    this game is absolutely masterpiece by platinum games.. i just love the game so much
  24. Guay
    Feb 17, 2020
    10
    Un joc brutal, amb una dificultat molt bona, una història molt entretinguda i uns gràfics impressionants!
  25. JakeyBoy
    Feb 14, 2020
    10
    Made an account to post this review. When I'm not playing this game, I am thinking about the next chance I will get to pick up my switch and hop back in. Seriously fun, satisfying combat mixed with an engaging story and considerable learning curve make for an incredible experience that is well worth your time and money.
  26. OooHesGood
    Feb 9, 2020
    10
    Didn't think it was my type of game, I was wrong. So glad I took a chance and bought this. I usually don't like hack n slash sort of games (Bayonetta, DMC ect.) but this game does it amazing, feels fluid, has depth and variety, it offers a challenge but never feels unfair and you always feel powerful and capable. Visuals are filled with popping colors and neon, music is a bit of cyberpunkDidn't think it was my type of game, I was wrong. So glad I took a chance and bought this. I usually don't like hack n slash sort of games (Bayonetta, DMC ect.) but this game does it amazing, feels fluid, has depth and variety, it offers a challenge but never feels unfair and you always feel powerful and capable. Visuals are filled with popping colors and neon, music is a bit of cyberpunk style but leans more towards rock, CyberRock? (I don't usually like rock but this is good), music during non combat creates a perfect ambience, plenty of customization, more exploration than I expected which is good, I'm usually not very pulled in by stories but this was simple to understand and interesting enough to want to understand. It has it all and does it all very well!… Expand
  27. tom974
    Feb 3, 2020
    9
    Great games for those who like A-RPGs/ Beat'em all style. Clearly it is not perfect but Platinum Games put a real effort into bringing something original with a universe of its own. The gameplay is somewhat demanding, the game can be hard sometimes for the casual gamers. Nevertheless, I had a good time on it and once you get accustomed to the gameplay, it's really heady.
  28. Ponchorelo7
    Feb 3, 2020
    6
    As per usual with Platinum games: all style, little substance. Combat is fun, flashy and enough to keep you entertained through it's surprisingly long story. BUT THE STORY. By far the worst part of the game. It felt as though someone wanted to make a crappy, sub-par shonen anime, but decided it would bes best as a game. If you like Platinum games' stuff you will love this. If you're aAs per usual with Platinum games: all style, little substance. Combat is fun, flashy and enough to keep you entertained through it's surprisingly long story. BUT THE STORY. By far the worst part of the game. It felt as though someone wanted to make a crappy, sub-par shonen anime, but decided it would bes best as a game. If you like Platinum games' stuff you will love this. If you're a Switch owner, give it a shot.… Expand
  29. Piligrim380
    Jan 31, 2020
    9
    A wonderful mix of action and metroidvania. Favorite game from Platinum Games.
  30. LeonardoGarciaB
    Jan 26, 2020
    10
    Astral chain que más decir otra obra maestra para Nintendo switch , una excelente jugabilidad(combates muy buenos ) , tremendo juégazo de platinum game para Nintendo switch
  31. DeonRufiyo
    Jan 23, 2020
    10
    This Nintendo Switch exclusive is a solid inter dimensional hack and slash game with a perfect anime feel.
  32. jdavis3581
    Jan 22, 2020
    8
    Astral Chain is a game I really looked forward to playing. I just finished it and I must say it's pretty boring. The story is nothing special, and the combat is slow. The two worst issues are the camera, and the controls. As for the story it just goes way too over the top, and I was laughing all the way to the end. It was the "Black Knight always triumphs," kind of boss fights. Sekiro hadAstral Chain is a game I really looked forward to playing. I just finished it and I must say it's pretty boring. The story is nothing special, and the combat is slow. The two worst issues are the camera, and the controls. As for the story it just goes way too over the top, and I was laughing all the way to the end. It was the "Black Knight always triumphs," kind of boss fights. Sekiro had the same boss fight and it wears thin.

    The things I loved about the game is the chimera a creature from the astral plain one can used to fight in battles and solve puzzles. I did a great majority of the side quests. But the game kept dragging on. There are more than ten side quests to each file/chapter, and the chapters are too long. The astral plain is nothing to think about, and only looks cool when it invades the main world. The music is nothing special and considering it was made by the same team that made Nier, this is disappointing.

    There were many mechanics I did not enjoy including the aerial bosses, I can't jump so there is only one way to take them out is with arrows. The other is the tap, tap, teleport monsters/boss fights. This is really annoying when the camera spins like a tornado. There are many times when my character can't defend himself so he just gets pummeled into submission. I can do nothing because my chimera gauge has to fill. When the gauge fills the chimera will defend the character if knocked out.

    The graphics are nothing special either it reminds me of the cartoon design from Borderlands. Overall this game is fun, and I would recommend just playing the main story for the quick play through. If you are a completionist, you are in for a boring ride. I give this game a 8/10.    … Expand
  33. Max007
    Jan 16, 2020
    10
    Que rabia me da la gente que puntúa con menos de un 8 este juego. Eso denota que no lo han jugado.

    He flipado con este juego, es una obra de arte, hay muchos momentos en los que te dan ganas de gritar de la emoción con lo que pasa y también pasan muchas cosas que ni se te ocurrían que podían pasar y flipas. Increible. Dan ganas de rejugarlo. JUGABILIDAD impresionante a vista parece    Que rabia me da la gente que puntúa con menos de un 8 este juego. Eso denota que no lo han jugado.

    He flipado con este juego, es una obra de arte, hay muchos momentos en los que te dan ganas de gritar de la emoción con lo que pasa y también pasan muchas cosas que ni se te ocurrían que podían pasar y flipas. Increible.
    Dan ganas de rejugarlo. JUGABILIDAD impresionante a vista parece difícil pero en cuanto le cojes el punto es facilicimo e innovador.
    SONIDO impresionante, acertado en todo momento, te mete en escena y te hace flipar lo más. Lo he jugado con cascos y el sonido te mete de lleno y no se si eran por mis cascos pero sentía el sonido 3d brutal.
    GRÁFICOS excelentes. Diría que el mejor de la switch, y va fluido, no da tirones, una delicia ala vista.
    INNOVACIÓN increíble, jugar con 2 personajes a la vez, la cantidad de pisibilidades que se pueden hacer con esto. La mezcla de géneros y la cantidad de cosas que se hace aparte de pelear y pelear como otros en su géneros.    … Expand
  34. Ignan
    Jan 5, 2020
    10
    Best switch game so far. I had SO much fun than playing botw, it must be one of the most "synchronized" experiences at games, everything is perfect
  35. breadshido
    Dec 28, 2019
    9
    Probably one of my favorite games to come out of the year, with me waiting for the game since hearing about platinum working on it, and it didn't disappoint! The gameplay is really fluid, with the different types of missions (and sub-missions) being a nice change of pace every once in a while even with the more frustrating ones (looking at you ice cream and traffic missions), along withProbably one of my favorite games to come out of the year, with me waiting for the game since hearing about platinum working on it, and it didn't disappoint! The gameplay is really fluid, with the different types of missions (and sub-missions) being a nice change of pace every once in a while even with the more frustrating ones (looking at you ice cream and traffic missions), along with the great soundtrack! Overall my only real complaint is the story, which is still good but can be rather predictable at times but is still overall pretty good. 9.5/10… Expand
  36. Swaler
    Dec 27, 2019
    10
    With stunning graphics, interesting story, and fun engaging gameplay, I wonder why it’s not a bigger hit on the switch. This proves to Pc master race, PlayStation fans, and Xbox fans that Nintendo DOES make new IPs, and damn good ones at that. If your a fan of “The Arkham” series check this out. This combines the Detective work of Arkham Asylum, the level system of Megaman, and a fightingWith stunning graphics, interesting story, and fun engaging gameplay, I wonder why it’s not a bigger hit on the switch. This proves to Pc master race, PlayStation fans, and Xbox fans that Nintendo DOES make new IPs, and damn good ones at that. If your a fan of “The Arkham” series check this out. This combines the Detective work of Arkham Asylum, the level system of Megaman, and a fighting system that merged the two with you being able to switch your legion to best suit the situation, and the fast pace multi enemy combat. It will give anybody that likes adventure games or detective work a good 2 weeks at least of fun… Expand
  37. bringbacknatdex
    Dec 26, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Platinum Games delivers again.

    This game broke me and fixed me and then broke me again and fixed me again. Storyline is top tier, pacing is good and the game allows you to practice the combat system (I find this system one of the most interesting and fun ones to play) at your own pace to take on chimeras when you are ready to kick butt. Music is incredible, OST was the best, designs and otherwise are all amazing.

    I just love this. So I replayed it again for more crying.

    Gameplay is so fluid, although some bosses try to dart around a bit too much and camera goes awry. Other than that, this is one of the best games on Switch, do yourself a favor and get this. Now.

    It is so satisfying to slay chimeras that have been hindering your progress (looking at you, File 12) after becoming more familiarised with combos, movesets and abilities that your legions can offer you. Postgame has the most content and secrets to uncover imo, so I dove right into that to 100% this game.

    Make a sequel. Please. And please bring Max back. Or not, I don't know. I love the Neuron squad, and it's just not the same without him.

    Thanks for the tears, Platinum Games. I loved every bit of it.    … Expand
  38. Slava_Gedich
    Dec 24, 2019
    6
    It is not a bayonetta and mgsr or dmc. Here you can find game with innovated system of control by two characters in same time. And a lot of exploration and collecting some objects. It is not a pure slasher game. Here a lot of QTE. Just be prepared to find new type of game. Don't expect new bayonetta from this game.

    P/S My final score of this game after I finished this game is 6/10    It is not a bayonetta and mgsr or dmc. Here you can find game with innovated system of control by two characters in same time. And a lot of exploration and collecting some objects. It is not a pure slasher game. Here a lot of QTE. Just be prepared to find new type of game. Don't expect new bayonetta from this game.

    P/S My final score of this game after I finished this game is 6/10

    Story is really bad and twist really obvious.
    60-70% of time you have boring running and grinding some stuff (like collecting crystals, searching portals and etc.)    … Expand
  39. Dynamind
    Dec 23, 2019
    10
    Platinum games are pure Gold what else is there to say they’ve done it again another modern day masterpiece
  40. Exethel
    Dec 23, 2019
    10
    - An amazing game which is one of a kind in terms of game-play .
    - The story is also very well written around the game-play which adds even more depth.
  41. Lagiacruszero
    Dec 22, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is an amalgamation of everything Platinum games has done throughout its history, as an example of this is the mechanics of real-time cutting of metal gear rising, or also the use of quick time events as in almost all of its games.
    The game stands out in almost all its sections and it is a delight to be able to make all the combos that the game allows you.    … Expand
  42. dreloxx
    Dec 11, 2019
    10
    It's my first time playing a Platinum games IP and was surely blown away by the artistic direction and the gameplay. I love how this game balanced out the combat and how it also immersed you into the story with great cut scenes and storyline. Been eyeing on buying Bayonetta next, Platinum games has me by the neck.
  43. Justjoined83
    Dec 9, 2019
    9
    If you are feeling apprehensive about the amount of content in Astral Chain, allow me to ease your mind. This game can be as long or as short as you want it to be. There are approximately 130 red cases and 90 blue cases to solve over the course of 12 chapters, and some cases (like the heavy traffic puzzles) can take upwards of 20+ minutes to solve. Plus, you have to keep your eye-risIf you are feeling apprehensive about the amount of content in Astral Chain, allow me to ease your mind. This game can be as long or as short as you want it to be. There are approximately 130 red cases and 90 blue cases to solve over the course of 12 chapters, and some cases (like the heavy traffic puzzles) can take upwards of 20+ minutes to solve. Plus, you have to keep your eye-ris peeled for cats, chests, digging spots, arrow rewards and red matter in every area you go. Between upgrading your weapons and legions and completing the appropriate orders to acquire the necessary premium material codes needed for upgrade, you can easily spend 40-50 hours. It took me 60 hours to fully upgrade my x-baton, Legatus and Sword legion and I have not even s-ranked everything yet. My biggest regret is not taking a picture of every enemy right away because now I don’t know what photos I’m missing which makes it difficult to 100%.

    As stated above, there is a ton of depth to this game. Everything from puzzles to riddles to platforming to stealth and escort missions can be found in this platinum title, so if you were expecting a simple hack & slash, think again. The game isn’t perfect though. The motion controls function poorly in tv mode (even if it is hardly used), the camera can be a little funky when you are trying to fight multiple enemies and the FPS will go bonkers at certain junctures. The biggest problem, however, is the fall damage incurred in the astral plane. That sense of satisfaction you get from dodging attacks is quickly gone the moment you get close to the edge, and I suspect the developers knew this was cheap because the game allows you to survive with 1 hp. Also, your fall damage INCREASES relative to your hp. How stupid is that? The game provides abilities that grant immunities to just about everything except fall damage. I would honestly deduct 2 points off the final score if it were not for the fact that this is mostly a post-game issue than a main game issue.

    All these things prevent Astral Chain from getting a perfect score in my view, but Astral Chain is the best game I have played in 2019 and that’s gotta count for something.

    Thanks for reading.    … Expand
  44. Superman_94
    Dec 7, 2019
    0
    Switch devs need to do better. I know the hardware isn’t great to be working with and god knows how much it limits them, but this title is unacceptable.
  45. Mr_Orange281
    Dec 6, 2019
    9
    Uno dei migliori giochi Nintendo e action ,dei ultimi anni,Trama intrattenete con un ritmo incalzante ,gameplay innovativo e fresco.Comparto tecnico eccellente.Alta rigiocabilità ,per scovare i vari collezionabili e sbloccare vari costumi e molto altro grazie a sfide presenti in game
  46. Kelvingame
    Dec 5, 2019
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Es un juego penoso muy aburrido la dificultad es muy fácil en fin un juego recomendable cuando cueste 2 dólares… Expand
  47. MadBert91
    Dec 5, 2019
    9
    Puede que se trate de uno de los mejores juegos para Nintendo switch. En el apartado gráfico soberbio, en el apartado de jugabilidad, aunque un poquito difícil (no es malo, porque muchos precisamente buscan esa dificultad) es también genial si es verdad que lo que menos me ha gustado es el apartado musical del juego, esta es una opinión muy personal pero me parece un poquito taladrante dePuede que se trate de uno de los mejores juegos para Nintendo switch. En el apartado gráfico soberbio, en el apartado de jugabilidad, aunque un poquito difícil (no es malo, porque muchos precisamente buscan esa dificultad) es también genial si es verdad que lo que menos me ha gustado es el apartado musical del juego, esta es una opinión muy personal pero me parece un poquito taladrante de ahí que mi nota máxima sea un nueve, estar muchas horas jugando al juego con esa música a mi me da dolor de cabeza pero todo lo demás compensa con creces sin duda un gran juego eso si esperad que sea un poquito repetitivo aunque la mayoría de los juegos son los son, quizá mi nota sería más ocho con siete que un nueve pero redondeando se la dejo en nueve… Expand
  48. Guttenor
    Nov 29, 2019
    8
    Pros.
    - Combat is great from chapter 6 or so -- deep and rewarding. - Replaying levels on the highest difficulty, trying to get S+ ranks, feels very satisfying.
    - puzzles are creative and fun - The sections where you investigate are exciting, more so because the world is so immersive and beautiful. - Finding and rescuing those stray cats feels great. - Surprisingly emotional ending. Cons    Pros.
    - Combat is great from chapter 6 or so -- deep and rewarding. - Replaying levels on the highest difficulty, trying to get S+ ranks, feels very satisfying.
    - puzzles are creative and fun
    - The sections where you investigate are exciting, more so because the world is so immersive and beautiful.
    - Finding and rescuing those stray cats feels great.
    - Surprisingly emotional ending.

    Cons
    - The combat feels lackluster for the first 5 chapters or so, simply because you havn't unlocked enough skills and legions. It means you are are stuck with some pretty underwhelming combat moves. - The camera can get REALLY bad when you are fighting serveral enemies simultaneously. - The enemy art design is quite bland.

    One of the top games of the year, for sure.
    Ps: Do your self a favor and choose japanese voice acting and the male protagonist.    … Expand
  49. Nevermber
    Nov 26, 2019
    8
    I went through the game literally in one breath, did not notice any problems, it seemed that this was the perfect game. But then the postgame began with its battles in small arenas. And problems with the camera and the inconvenience of controlling two heroes simultaneously got out. No, this is definitely a cool game, but after the first delight, a sober look at it feels like a hangover.
  50. aurk_shahriar
    Nov 26, 2019
    10
    One of the best exclusives of switch Super worth it !!! PlatinumGames just nailed it
  51. dharma
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    Astral Chain is Platinum Games' at its finest. It is clear that the partnership with Nintendo has disciplined this studio, sharpen their instinct and allowed them to create their best work. Astral Chain features their typical hack and slash perfection, married with a police procedural. It is an eccentric yet addictive combination that will entertain you to no end. The Switch receivesAstral Chain is Platinum Games' at its finest. It is clear that the partnership with Nintendo has disciplined this studio, sharpen their instinct and allowed them to create their best work. Astral Chain features their typical hack and slash perfection, married with a police procedural. It is an eccentric yet addictive combination that will entertain you to no end. The Switch receives many great exclusive games and this, along with several this year, has made it the number one console of 2019. Bravo.… Expand
  52. FrostbyteXP
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    This game is something you have to finish. i was highly AFRAID of it's combat and to watch a huge amount of people slam it before going through the skill tree's sucks. This game just opens up more and more as you progress, you start to understand the stories issues and the motive behind the final boss but you do play as a cop and use the futuristic tools help the people in need. The musicThis game is something you have to finish. i was highly AFRAID of it's combat and to watch a huge amount of people slam it before going through the skill tree's sucks. This game just opens up more and more as you progress, you start to understand the stories issues and the motive behind the final boss but you do play as a cop and use the futuristic tools help the people in need. The music matches the tone so well, platinum brings their combo's back, the different legions actually add to the amazing combat system, you can upgrade your weapons and legion and it meshes together well especially abilities that would enhance your character. having played devil may cry, bayonetta and, nier automata, this game is worth going through.… Expand
  53. Pr0x
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    People who never played it speak of 1 button combat system. Christ! These idiots ever tried to S+ grade 1 single fight? This game is difficult as hell
  54. Kronos_EVC
    Nov 18, 2019
    10
    Increíble juego! La historia me recuerda a una especie de Evangelion con Bayonetta. Uuufff adrenalina pura desde el primer episodio y los toques de investigación le dan un plus espectacular!
  55. Sagrav
    Nov 18, 2019
    10
    Un juego super entretenido y emocionante, y un buen soundtrack en las peleas, este juego es para todos aquellos a los que les gusten estos tipos de juegos hack and Slash, es una compra obligada para todos aquellos que tengan un Nintendo Switch. :D ya lo eh estado jugando 60 hrs y aún no me canso de jugarlo.
  56. space_ank
    Nov 18, 2019
    10
    Despite the game being only 20 hours long they were really good 20 hours due to the fun combat and boss fights. The soundtrack is the best part about it too
  57. slambammer
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    This game is a masterpiece, no exaggeration. If you own a Switch, you should own this game.

    The combat is fun, varied, and strategic. The environments are detailed and interesting to explore with many secrets to find. The graphics are stunning for a portable game (I played this game almost exclusively in handheld mode). The side quests have you doing a WEALTH of different tasks -    This game is a masterpiece, no exaggeration. If you own a Switch, you should own this game.

    The combat is fun, varied, and strategic. The environments are detailed and interesting to explore with many secrets to find. The graphics are stunning for a portable game (I played this game almost exclusively in handheld mode).

    The side quests have you doing a WEALTH of different tasks - tracking, balancing things with motion controls, escorting, tailing people, stealth sections, measuring distances, cleaning up streets, taking quizzes, polling people for information - there is SO much to do in this world.

    The story is impactful, the characters are lovable, the customization and leveling options are deep... I cannot give this game enough praise. This might be the best game on the Switch.    … Expand
  58. WilliamGame
    Nov 16, 2019
    10
    Astral chain was an incredibly fun game! I loved the story. The gameplay was phenomenal! It wasn't too hard nor too easy and offered a great challenge. The music was great also. The graphics were also top notch along with the art style! I cannot recommend this game enough!
  59. Spinoirt
    Nov 15, 2019
    8
    The game is great, well expect for the Postforming that could use some improvements
  60. NegroSnake
    Nov 15, 2019
    9
    Astral Chain does what DMC5 tried but failed: an actual summoner hack & slash combat. I could talk endlessly about the possibilities of the combat system, how starts slow but reaches exorbitant heights when it "clicks" but it's better to experience by oneself. I feel like this is what V's combat from DMC5 should be and, despite Astral Chain being a much more flawed game than DMC5, I valueAstral Chain does what DMC5 tried but failed: an actual summoner hack & slash combat. I could talk endlessly about the possibilities of the combat system, how starts slow but reaches exorbitant heights when it "clicks" but it's better to experience by oneself. I feel like this is what V's combat from DMC5 should be and, despite Astral Chain being a much more flawed game than DMC5, I value a lot the originality of the combat with Legions. Every battle is super fun and the cyberpunk atmosphere, soundtrack and technical design is top notch.… Expand
  61. reaper02
    Nov 15, 2019
    9
    Now that review bombing is gone. This is a fantastic game, The missions are all fun and the soundtrack is amazing. You just just sit there for hours with just the music. Only reason its not 10 is the frame rate drops during the crazier fights, but all around its hold steady. The art style looks great and fits the game to a T. The post game is a little lacking and i wish there was more. butNow that review bombing is gone. This is a fantastic game, The missions are all fun and the soundtrack is amazing. You just just sit there for hours with just the music. Only reason its not 10 is the frame rate drops during the crazier fights, but all around its hold steady. The art style looks great and fits the game to a T. The post game is a little lacking and i wish there was more. but the extra collectibles kept me going for hours past the story.

    A very good game that I recommend anyone with a switch.    … Expand
  62. vodkaffee
    Nov 15, 2019
    9
    an amazingly fun game, looks great, plays great, is just a bit anime, not to any cringe point and the replay value with extra missions give you dozens of extra hours of gameplay; the music is also amazing, the plot could be better, is not bad, is not super new and innovative on storytelling but still makes for a great excuse to throw your Legions to the enemies.
    Also fully customizable,    an amazingly fun game, looks great, plays great, is just a bit anime, not to any cringe point and the replay value with extra missions give you dozens of extra hours of gameplay; the music is also amazing, the plot could be better, is not bad, is not super new and innovative on storytelling but still makes for a great excuse to throw your Legions to the enemies.
    Also fully customizable, you can change from your hat, to the colors of the legion and a lot of thing in the UI    … Expand
  63. Bannedalex
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    Una de las joyas de la Nintendo Switch. Como siempre Platinum Games haciendo juegos de gran disfrute. Esta vez con una estetica anime y un hack and slash que no defrauda.
  64. FoolPhilosopher
    Nov 14, 2019
    9
    This title has a frankly ridiculous amount of depth. You can cruise through the game with very little challenge, or you can strive to complete each task perfectly. It must have taken a gargantuan amount of effort to make all these different difficulties viable and fulfilling. On top of that, the story is engaging enough to make me want to keep playing, chapter after chapter.
  65. Magenta1991
    Nov 14, 2019
    9
    El gamplay, la musica, y los personajes hacen al videojuego digno de ser recordado como uno de los mejores de Switch. A la historia le falta un poco para estar al nivel de otros videojuegos de Platinum y se toma demasiado en serio. La batalla final es bastante buena aún así y nunca dan ganas de dejarlo hasta terminarlo
  66. Kazuya198
    Nov 14, 2019
    10
    Great game platinum have got me eagerly awaiting bayonetta 3 but this wws a great standalone game and beginning of a new franchise
  67. CZechi
    Nov 14, 2019
    10
    I've never thought, that it is possible to make an action game so brutally and addictively complex and fun at once but... Platinum Games made me wrong. Again. They overcame them selves once again.
  68. Jack1600o
    Nov 14, 2019
    10
    The most technical hack and slash i remember, its combat system is perfect, its artistic section is incredible, but the best, without a doubt, is its soundtrack.
  69. TheLittleMelo
    Nov 14, 2019
    10
    Clarísimo juego del año 2019 en Nintendo Switch y candidato a serlo en global, toda una sorpresa. PG vuelve a firmar un juego único dónde la jugabilidad y el frenetismo de los combates destacan por encima de todo, pero a su vez nos ofrece un juego variado que engloba multitud de mecánicas. Un action RPG (no os equivoquéis, aquí el H&S se huele a lo lejos y sólo en el combate) de corteClarísimo juego del año 2019 en Nintendo Switch y candidato a serlo en global, toda una sorpresa. PG vuelve a firmar un juego único dónde la jugabilidad y el frenetismo de los combates destacan por encima de todo, pero a su vez nos ofrece un juego variado que engloba multitud de mecánicas. Un action RPG (no os equivoquéis, aquí el H&S se huele a lo lejos y sólo en el combate) de corte policial, pausado, que requiere cierta dosis de exploración y recolección de objetos que nos ayudarán a mejorar las habilidades de nuestras Legiones. Quién busque un juego de acción lineal no lo encontrará (no al menos al 100%), este es un juego que se toma su tiempo, necesita reposo, como cualquier JRPG.
    Astral Chain nos ofrece los mejores combates de la generación y un producto global excelente. Mención especial al característico estilo artístico y apartado gráfico general, que muestra una vez más lo que puede llegar a ofrecer Switch con un poco de mimo.
    Una experiencia fascinante que sólo se ve ligeramente empañada por algunas misiones secundarias un tanto anodinas en algunos casos (algunas de ellas directamente desesperantes) que además merman la experiencia de la rejugabilidad, siendo este un título organizado en capítulos en los que puedes obtener una puntación y calificación, eso llega a afectarle negativamente.
    Las historia es ciertamente interesante, acompaña en todo momento, aunque es algo predecible y podría estar más desarrollada y explotada (quizás para un Astral Chain 2).
    En definitiva un juego soberbio que nadie se debería perder, mucho menos si eres poseedor de una Nintendo Switch.    … Expand
  70. MrYama
    Nov 13, 2019
    10
    Another action game by the kings of action gameplay Platinum Games. What more do you need to know? Amazing game.
  71. Shaman_evil
    Nov 13, 2019
    8
    Muy buen juego, tiene gameplay fresco y se nota la calidad de Platinum Games, tiene varias fallas como falta de diversidad de escenarios, mas variables en la edicion del personaje, la historia es poco interesante y por los dioses que dolor es jugarlo en los joycon del switch (con el pro controler se disfruta al 100)
  72. Animegroove
    Nov 12, 2019
    10
    juego digno de platinum games

    un juego frenetico de accion para nintendo switch

    recomendado
  73. Crosi
    Nov 11, 2019
    6
    The gameplay is really the only redeeming feature of this game and it even manages to be an hassle sometimes: the camera will often get stuck in walls or usually in front of your character when in tight spaces and the whole "control your Legionis" thing is uncomfortable to say the least . It's just drawing in circles and will most of the time be a mess because of the camera.
    Story is    The gameplay is really the only redeeming feature of this game and it even manages to be an hassle sometimes: the camera will often get stuck in walls or usually in front of your character when in tight spaces and the whole "control your Legionis" thing is uncomfortable to say the least . It's just drawing in circles and will most of the time be a mess because of the camera.
    Story is bland, characters are bland, the only thing they had do make right was the relationship between the twins and they ruined it by making the MC completely silent (loud gasps ans grunts don't count as interacting).
    Not worth 60$, but fun.    … Expand
  74. MetaDudee
    Nov 4, 2019
    10
    Es increíble, el combate y la investigación pareciera complejo pero nada de eso, todo fluido y los controles se aprenden con rapidez. Buena historia, excelente gameplay y un arte sobresaliente.
  75. Ernest_Figueroa
    Nov 11, 2019
    10
    Dificultad buena, en modo dock se ve muy bien y superó mi expectativa, para mi es mejor que el dmc 5 por narrativa, jugabilidad y variedad de combos. Le he dado el triple de horas que a DMC 5, este juego es de los que puedes viciar hasta hartarte y siempre puedes hacer retos y tratar de sacar la clasificación máxima para sacar todo el contenido extra. La música es muy buena y acorde alDificultad buena, en modo dock se ve muy bien y superó mi expectativa, para mi es mejor que el dmc 5 por narrativa, jugabilidad y variedad de combos. Le he dado el triple de horas que a DMC 5, este juego es de los que puedes viciar hasta hartarte y siempre puedes hacer retos y tratar de sacar la clasificación máxima para sacar todo el contenido extra. La música es muy buena y acorde al gameplay. No tiene momentos lentos, te atrapa desde el principio.… Expand
  76. Lordmort04
    Nov 11, 2019
    10
    The fights are the best I've seen but they are better in the last operations and also the story is very good check and it hooks you a lot.
  77. RC1000Zero
    Nov 11, 2019
    9
    Incredible combat, amazing music, a decent plotline, and stellar performance are making this game one of the best Switch games so far, and quite possible the best action game i ever played

    While the story follows a very anime esque plotline where most twist can be deducted a few chapters prior(or even earlier if you watched certain anime this game draws inspiration from) the plot itself    Incredible combat, amazing music, a decent plotline, and stellar performance are making this game one of the best Switch games so far, and quite possible the best action game i ever played

    While the story follows a very anime esque plotline where most twist can be deducted a few chapters prior(or even earlier if you watched certain anime this game draws inspiration from) the plot itself managed to captivate me in its own way, the mute protagonist being a less then optimal choice from platinums side isnt bad enough to hamper my enjoyment of the, once again predicable but still, good plot.

    The gameplay can be categoriezed into 2 Main categories, Combat, and non Combat.
    The combat system relies on your legion to get the most out of it, using the Titelgiving Astral Chain to controll him from affar, to bind the enemy in place or using him as a ankerpoint to jump to across the battlefield, towards an enemy, or away from it. The legion attacks on its own and focuses on the target you locked on. you have a basic Attack combo, which expands via upgrades to have more situational attacks(a 360° attack, a dash attack) as well as a dodge. Combat consist of evading enemy attacks, bashing on them and using your legion to defeat enemy after enemy, some enemys are as simple as bashing on them till they die, some others need to be binded to have a clear and safe attack window, others are protected by supourt enemys, underground or in the air, or close by and needing to be severd from their compaion via one of the 5 Legions special ability.
    Bosses present the biggest highlight in any platinum game, and AC is not an exception to it, evading, clearing out mobs, binding the enemy, attacking and finishing a combo with a powefull synch attack with your legion, all there while you need to manage not only your health, but also your legions energy, not forgeting to call it back before it runs out and having to wait precios seconds till its full agian, seconds, that can mean the end.

    Non combat is used to investiage areas for hints of what boss you will fight, helping civilian or simply carying boxes or icecream. These missions are hit and miss, most of them are completly optional, only required to 100% the game, or S+ Ranking every mission, and i havent found any mission that is completly garbage, even if having a Gyro sensor carying minigame in the middle of the game was kinda odd.

    The non combat mssion give a well needed break of the combat missions during a File(the games name for Chapter) and arent breaking the pacing in any way.

    The Music is amazing, the Opening, ending and insert songs are phenomenal, the boss tracks are all amazing, and every track was great to listen too.    … Expand
  78. ToRu12
    Nov 10, 2019
    9
    La historia del juego fue espectacular, grandioso juego, la música en cada batalla lo hace épico.
  79. adosantos97
    Nov 10, 2019
    10
    best games to play ever in action mode. good combos. graphics and story. better to get S+ in extreme mode. you must play too in 2 playes story mode
  80. Neatqt
    Nov 10, 2019
    3
    Cast: 2/10
    Story: 2/10
    Fun: 2/10
    Gameplay: 4/10

    Not Recommended
    ----------------------
  81. FreedomFighters
    Nov 10, 2019
    10
    I’m gonna be honest with you, 2019 has been a pretty underwhelming year in gaming for me. Sure, I haven’t gotten to play some of the year’s big games just yet (like the “Resident Evil 2” remake or “Devil May Cry 5”), but it feels like, for the most part, the year’s just been really unexciting. Well, unless you’re a Nintendo Switch fan, of course: outside of a few very minor misstepsI’m gonna be honest with you, 2019 has been a pretty underwhelming year in gaming for me. Sure, I haven’t gotten to play some of the year’s big games just yet (like the “Resident Evil 2” remake or “Devil May Cry 5”), but it feels like, for the most part, the year’s just been really unexciting. Well, unless you’re a Nintendo Switch fan, of course: outside of a few very minor missteps (“Yoshi’s Crafted World” was just okay, and I’ve heard mixed things about “Daemon X Machina”), Nintendo’s been consistently putting out well-received titles like “Super Mario Maker 2” (which, I can confirm, is fantastic), “Fire Emblem: Three Houses” (not my kind of game but I’ve heard nothing but amazing things), “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” (haven’t started it yet, but I’ll get to it soon), “Luigi’s Mansion 3” (have started it and I’m definitely loving it), and of course this game, “Astral Chain.” Now, this was one I was really excited for: I may not be extremely invested in PlatinumGames’ entire library, but I love the “Bayonetta” games, and I’m one of the six people on the planet that like “Star Fox Zero,” and early looks at the gameplay impressed me a lot. Having played through the game, I can honestly say this may be one of the best games I’ve played this year.
    “Astral Chain” impressed me on all fronts. From a story perspective, I may not be an anime viewer (I know practically nothing about anime), but this game’s story feels like an anime lovingly crafted into a video game; the dramatic moments work perfectly, I love the game’s cast of characters (even if the protagonist is a silent one), and the game’s world is breathtakingly realized and absolutely incredible down to the tiniest details. The anime-like aesthetic not only affects the story, but the visual design as well, and even in the game’s darkest moments, the visuals spring to life with lush, beauty, and an incredible sense of wonder. Adding to the already-strong visual presentation, the music is incredibly varied and fits within the game’s tone perfectly. Gameplay, though, is where the game really stands out: the combat is deep and intricate, made even better by the vast majority of Legions the game gives you to use. The teamwork mechanic between you and your Legion is also well-crafted, and it feels like every Legion is important, making your use of each one incredibly gratifying. The campaign is also quite varied in its mission structure, strikes a perfect balance in regards to length, and features some very memorable boss fights and enemy encounters. It’s a game that checks every box, and not only establishes PlatinumGames’ strong grasp on action games, but also refines their formula and sees them reaching one of their biggest creative highs.
    If there’s one very minor criticism I can give the game, it’s that the AI of your Legion can be the tiniest bit wonky at first, but it doesn’t take long to get it down, and once you do, the game becomes a rip-roaring good time. I could gush about it even more, but I think you guys get the point, “Astral Chain” is breathtaking from start to finish. Not only is it one of the best games I’ve played this year, but this might honestly go down as one of the best games (perhaps even the best game, though it’s a tight race between this and “Bayonetta 2”) in PlatinumGames’ library of titles to date. If you haven’t gotten a chance to play it yet, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Go play this right now. PlatinumGames, thank you. I can’t wait to see where you take this franchise in the future!
    Final rating: 10 out of 10 “Fantastic”    … Expand
  82. proffk
    Nov 9, 2019
    7
    Below average game from Platinum Games. The combat is good but you fight the same enemies over and over again. Confusing story with many plotholes. Not much replay value.
  83. Lagdom
    Nov 9, 2019
    9
    Este juego es una pasada. En mi opinión comparte podio junto a Resident Evil 2 Remake para ser el mejor del año 2019. Claro candidato a ganar el GOTY. La historia es increíble, el apartado gráfico brutal, rompiendo el techo de Switch y la banda sonora digna de cada combate. Inolvidable.
  84. GlassCannon
    Nov 8, 2019
    10
    I feel that Astral Chain is a strong contender for one of the best games of 2019. Platinum Games has found yet another way to revolutionize combat in action games, and this begins with the concept of the Legion. One can jokingly describe the Legion as a Persona or a Stand, but what makes Legions stand out is that you can freely swap between five of them, adding new layers of versatilityI feel that Astral Chain is a strong contender for one of the best games of 2019. Platinum Games has found yet another way to revolutionize combat in action games, and this begins with the concept of the Legion. One can jokingly describe the Legion as a Persona or a Stand, but what makes Legions stand out is that you can freely swap between five of them, adding new layers of versatility and strategy to every fight. The musical score is expertly made, including a final boss theme that may be in my top five video game songs ever created. Even in casual mode the enemies can provide a significant challenge at times. There is one detriment to this game, and it's that a lot of the characters aren't written that greatly. Obviously Jena and Yoseph are standouts but a lot of the others are just kind of there. I would have loved the player character to have some voice lines and a real personality, but at the end of the day this IS an action game. And if you're looking for a fast-paced, high-stakes, incredibly inventive action game, look no further than Platinum's newest masterpiece.… Expand
  85. Xplocion
    Nov 8, 2019
    7
    The good: a competent Slash Hack. Character design was done by the mangaka Mazakatsu Katsura (creator of Video Girl Ai / Lehn and Shadow Lady). A lot of action. Dizzying actions Links

    The bad: there is no jump button (it is a skill or consequence of a chained attack). Design of manga characters the Mazakatsu Katsura (creator of Video Girl Ai / Lehn and Shadow Lady), so that several of    The good: a competent Slash Hack. Character design was done by the mangaka Mazakatsu Katsura (creator of Video Girl Ai / Lehn and Shadow Lady). A lot of action. Dizzying actions Links

    The bad: there is no jump button (it is a skill or consequence of a chained attack). Design of manga characters the Mazakatsu Katsura (creator of Video Girl Ai / Lehn and Shadow Lady), so that several of his characters from his manga works seem to be in the video game with other names and attitudes. The novelty and surprises do not last long, the game becomes repetitive. Scenarios reduced to corridors and guided action and scripted by corridors.

    Lo Meh: you are trying to sell this game as the eighth wonder of the world and it is not. It is a regular game. It seems that Mazakatsu Katsura cannot draw more than 7 different faces.    … Expand
  86. Blackfer
    Nov 8, 2019
    10
    Maravilloso videojuego !! Acción sin parar es igual a diversión , videojuego súper recomendado
  87. Tirian
    Nov 7, 2019
    10
    Platinum Games esta de vuelta, una excelente historia con muy buenas dinámicas de juego, los gráficos demuestran la verdadera capacidad de la consola Nintendo Switch, la cual se robustece con este tipo de juegos exclusivos. También las diferentes mecánicas de investigación y misiones secundarias, le dan un sentido de variedad que cae bien, aun cuando no todas son sobresalientes. En generalPlatinum Games esta de vuelta, una excelente historia con muy buenas dinámicas de juego, los gráficos demuestran la verdadera capacidad de la consola Nintendo Switch, la cual se robustece con este tipo de juegos exclusivos. También las diferentes mecánicas de investigación y misiones secundarias, le dan un sentido de variedad que cae bien, aun cuando no todas son sobresalientes. En general y a pesar de que no es un juego perfecto, pero sin duda un juego de 10 que es imprescindible para los amantes de Platinum Games.… Expand
  88. Viciousblue
    Nov 6, 2019
    8
    Me lo han traído hoy por fin y estoy alucinando con lo que he visto hasta ahora. Super frenético y me parece que sus mecánicas son divertidas y originales. El diseño artístico me parece una flipada bestial, y la música acompaña en todo momento.

    Seguiré jugando y dependiendo de como avance la experiencia mejoraré o bajaré la puntuación, pero por ahora tiene la pinta de que como mínimo el    Me lo han traído hoy por fin y estoy alucinando con lo que he visto hasta ahora. Super frenético y me parece que sus mecánicas son divertidas y originales. El diseño artístico me parece una flipada bestial, y la música acompaña en todo momento.

    Seguiré jugando y dependiendo de como avance la experiencia mejoraré o bajaré la puntuación, pero por ahora tiene la pinta de que como mínimo el 9 se lo merece con creces.    … Expand
  89. Eddie89
    Nov 4, 2019
    9
    What a game!!! just fun to play, excellent control, cool story, great graphics. game play really nice.
  90. Ginseng-1
    Oct 31, 2019
    9
    Platinum games... u r the best. Nice game with fantastic gameplay and soundtrack. Combat - wonderful!
  91. Sebascr12
    Oct 31, 2019
    9
    PlatinumGames is like 90s Sega, i mean good games and fun. And this game have a unique combat system that have a potential and with a cheesy story but you know? You play this kind for the game for the gameplay (in my opinion). Good combat, nice music and is one of the best of this year
  92. MikeyTheWarrior
    Oct 30, 2019
    10
    The game is epic to the new type gameplay mechanics all the way to the story, it is a game I would say to give it a chance since it is so good.
  93. RpgGuru
    Sep 3, 2019
    1
    Totally dissapointed not an open world, very repetitive, 60 usd very expensive, low resolution and low frame rate on portable mode.on switch
  94. alexturner381
    Oct 29, 2019
    5
    this game is kinda disappointing.
    Really bad writing (like...wow.), the camera is crazy aaaaand sometimes the gameplay is just borring (i'm speaking about puzzle with car...what an awful idea)

    not a bad game, but hell, not a master piece either !
  95. Sprucegoose
    Oct 28, 2019
    10
    El juego es increíble, así como ya hizo el Fire Emblem consigue unir diferentes estilos de juego y extender cada uno a niveles inesperados.
    Sin spoilers.
    Por un lado tenemos las mecánicas típicas de juego de acción, tienes tres tipos de arma que tu puedes usar mas 5 legiones diferentes cada una con su árbol de desarrollo y gran amplitud de habilidades; En los combates controlas al    El juego es increíble, así como ya hizo el Fire Emblem consigue unir diferentes estilos de juego y extender cada uno a niveles inesperados.
    Sin spoilers.
    Por un lado tenemos las mecánicas típicas de juego de acción, tienes tres tipos de arma que tu puedes usar mas 5 legiones diferentes cada una con su árbol de desarrollo y gran amplitud de habilidades;
    En los combates controlas al protagonista y tu legion ataca al objetivo que elijas automáticamente, pulsando ZL podemos controlar a la legión también para realizar todo tipo de maniobras desde usarla para impulsarte hasta enredar enemigos usando la cadena que os une.
    Por otro lado tenemos la exploración, el juego, al igual que Fire emblem, cuenta con un “hud” (central de policía Neuron) al que siempre volvemos y en el que se dan distintos tipos de misiones secundarias y desarrollo de historias paralelas de otros personajes; Fuera de ese hud la historia se desarrolla en operaciones (niveles) cada una con un numero de misiones principales y secundarias que completar, cada operación se desarrolla en lugares diferentes y aunque se revisitan algunos puntos es en situaciones completamente diferentes. Estos lugares son generalmente grandes y ricos a nivel de contenido habiendo misiones tan variadas como atrapar a un ladron, evitar que la prensa fotografie una escena del crimen o llevar un helado a un niño asi como multitud de secretos para los más exploradores habiendo zonas solo accesibles con la ayuda de una u otra legión.
    También hay misiones de sigilo y escolta, nótese que la mayoría de interacciones de misiones si no todas tienen doblaje de voz.
    También resaltar el desarrollo de personajes (prácticamente todos) al mas puro estilo anime de los 2000 que te hace conectar mucho mas con el juego.
    A nivel técnico es una maravilla, lo primero que a mi me llamó la atención son las animaciones, desde un agente que estaba trabajando en un escritorio y gira su silla para Hablar contigo hasta la forma en que una mujer abraza a su gato en una misión menor se nota un nivel de detalle exuberante, a nivel de rendimiento los 30fps son constantes (se que hay gente que se queja pero yo no, asi como no me quejo de los 18fps a los que va control en una ps4...) y van perfectos con el ritmo de acción del juego.
    El hecho de tener que controlar dos personajes puede parecer algo titánico de aprender pero una vez se maneja es una gozada y los arboles de desarrollo desbloquean diversas habilidades que aumentan y mejoran el ritmo; por último a nivel de “vida” estoy feliz de reportar que no hay ninguna zona del juego que se asemeje mínimamente a las zonas vacías de nier, por ejemplo; todo esta vivo y lleno de gente, objetos, animales y trasfondo.
    PD: realmente esta página DEBERÍA tener un modo de:
    1- identificar usuarios solo con carnet de identidad para eliminar los clones (y las opiniones de nenes que no dan la cara)
    2- tener que probar que tengo el juego para puntuarlo porque un 60% de lo que veo por aquí denota claramente una ignorancia gigantesca respecto al título.    … Expand
  96. Kacek1996
    Oct 27, 2019
    10
    Huh, today I found some time to do my second try on File 11 (at my first try I had too little of my life available for the last fight, but this time I was at max HP) and I did it all the way.

    This game is so gorgeous, art style is like sugar for my eyes! There is so much to do, picking up trash, beating up chimeras or some people, finding cats and some toilets, cleaning the red    Huh, today I found some time to do my second try on File 11 (at my first try I had too little of my life available for the last fight, but this time I was at max HP) and I did it all the way.

    This game is so gorgeous, art style is like sugar for my eyes! There is so much to do, picking up trash, beating up chimeras or some people, finding cats and some toilets, cleaning the red crystals, stealth missions, mini games, great boss fights, a lot of attacks I as a player can do and great rating system.
    At the start I wanted to play it as much as possible with touching every wall that's available to touch xD
    But with time, my responsibilities came as well and I had to do a bigger break from playing but today I finished it!!

    AWESOME game, music, graphic style, fights, enemy design and game concept overall. Also, I liked length of this game as well, right now I have a little over 40 hours in, but I'm planing to play it more.
    Legions are unique, it's a shame that I cannot pick the order of unlocking them, but when I accepted that I got even more fun out of this game.

    Sword Legion is nice and quite quick, but with light dmg.
    I think that Arm legion is my favourite, it gives the biggest choice of things you can do with it!
    Arrow legion was nice for the "Hit Rush" ability and the ability where I aim with its bow.
    Beast legion was quite weird for me, but when I upgraded it enough, it was fine and useful.
    Axe arrow IS THE SLOWEST LEGION EVER but without its shield I wouldn't be able to beat last file.

    Right now it's my top 1 Nintendo Switch game, it shares the same place with BOTW!    … Expand
  97. Hideyasus
    Oct 26, 2019
    6
    Esencia de platinum pero nada rejugable y misiones secundarias muy pesadas.
  98. Lushen1212
    Oct 25, 2019
    10
    Candidato a GOTY, con esto lo digo todo.
    Uno de los 3 mejores juegos de nintendo este año, sino el mejor, apartado tecnico impresionante. Diria que ahoramismo tiene el techo de la consola. Jugabilidad de 10, como era de esperar viniendo de platinums games.
  99. happybear
    Oct 23, 2019
    3
    This game contains a lot of locations in the "parallel world" with extremely poor level design (like "organic levels" in DMC5).
  100. Noodless
    Oct 19, 2019
    10
    I’ve only spent 6 hours on this game so far but I am definitely hooked. I love the combat-style, there’s just so many ways you can fight! The plot is engaging, there’s so much going on but easy to keep up. There’s also tons of side missions to do, I can take as much time on the missions as I want and run around exploring. I just can’t stop playing the moment I pick this up, it’s soI’ve only spent 6 hours on this game so far but I am definitely hooked. I love the combat-style, there’s just so many ways you can fight! The plot is engaging, there’s so much going on but easy to keep up. There’s also tons of side missions to do, I can take as much time on the missions as I want and run around exploring. I just can’t stop playing the moment I pick this up, it’s so exciting! The people that are salty because this is a Switch exclusive game need to back-off lmao, if you want to play it that bad then get a Switch. Crying about how your system doesn’t have the game and then **** on the game is pathetic.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best Switch Game of 2019
2
#2 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019
70
#70 Most Shared Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 92 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 89 out of 92
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 92
  3. Negative: 0 out of 92
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 28, 2020
    85
    This one is more of a crowd-pleaser than a game-changer. [Issue #42 – October 2019, p. 68]
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Feb 28, 2020
    100
    Astral Chain consists of varied genres, but is mostly an action game, which has great ideas and interesting, relaxed humour, that doesn´t spoil its serious plot. [Issue#298]
  3. ZTGD
    Nov 7, 2019
    85
    Despite the hardware limitations and a handful of odd design choices, Astral Chain is one of the best new IPs to hit in recent years and one deserving the attention of every Switch owner.
    Read full review
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