Astral Chain is a fantastic new game from the creators of Bayonetta. This game tells the story of a new police officer on their first day at their new precinct. The main character is host to a special creature and becomes entwined in quite the adventure. The main character is part of a certain task force in the police department called Neuron. Neuron is responsible for the protection of the city from all sorts of troubles. Their main power is the Legions, a being from another dimension that is chained to them. Along with the rest of the task force, the Hero will help save the city from an insane threat.
There are 5 different legions for the player to use. Each of the legions has its use that varies wildly from the last. With this being the first game in what the creators want to be a trilogy I’m curious which other legions will be in the series. There is a lot to work with, as these legions are attached to the character. I’m keen to see what other ideas they have in the pipe for this crazy series. There is the Sword Legion which is quick and nimble wielding a thin sword. The Arrow Legion is also rather nimble but wields a powerful bow. The Arm Legion has two powerful arms to open doors and beat enemies to a pulp. A cop’s best friend is his beast legion a rideable quadruped who can tear foes apart. Lastly is the super-strong shield making buster wielding Axe Legion
The legions add a layer to the game that makes it a must-play. The player is playing a two-person game with one player. They can manipulate the legion to do all sorts of things. It’s certainly not easy to master, but getting a hang of how to play as both characters is important in beating the game. It’s quite cool as players can wrap their foes up using both the hero and the legion. This move can help the player defeat multiple foes at once or to give some short respite.
The game offers multiple difficulties to give everyone a chance to beat the game. The starting mode is casual, but players can also play in Standard PT. After beating the numbered files once the player will unlock Ultimate PT. This is considered the hard mode of the series and perfect for those who feel they have mastered combat. This mode turns the already intense game up to eleven and watching the producer play the game at E3, showed how intense the combat can be.
There is also an unchained mode that players can opt for. This mode is the easiest. The player character will always be glowing with Legion energy and fueled to the max for battle. If the player has beaten the game and wants to just 100% complete levels it isn’t that big a deal. As long as the player is having fun that is all that matters. Plus, to be completely honest, the glowing form of the character is super cool! This game is chock full of quests for the player to undertake. Some of these quests are strictly combat-oriented. But other quests are for the people or your comrades. It always feels good knocking out as many quests as possible because it also raises the player’s policy level. Some of the quests are out of the box and will test the player’s mettle in interesting ways.While completing quests players will also be able to gain customization options for their characters. There are quite a few outfits for the protagonist to wear and customize. Player’s will also unlock customization options for their Legions which offers a little chance to make them truly the players. It’s great seeing the character outfitted as the player wants, and the Legion too!
There is also a photo mode for players to have fun with. In the photo mode, players can fill up their database with pictures of all the chimeras and people. They can also take some pretty great shots in the game. It’s always fun having a way to document cool things in a game! Plus, there are a few achievements based on certain characters and instances so the player needs to take a few pictures anyway!
Astral Chain is a game that is filled to the brim with charming characters. These characters might not have a lot to say but they all bring something to the Neuron team. Make sure to talk to them whenever possible to hear their thoughts and see their stories through. The stories all wrap up in nice ways, so it doesn’t hurt to finish them. The voice acting in this game is also on point. I am always a proponent of voice acting, and can’t get enough. It honestly helps to get a little vocal context, with such a strange game. Plus, usually when voice acting is done, it’s done right and this game is no exception. The music is also fantastic as it’s just futuristic enough. There is always a hint that this is in a far-flung future but also feels like it’s normal. The boss music is some of the best and the twins even have slightly different battle music. The station music is especially nice as well and makes the player feels safe.
Astral Chain is all about kicking butt and taking names. With a trusty legion by their side, this rookie cop might end up doing some incredible things. With a tight story, wicked combat, and tons of customization Astral Chain is one of the best Switch games out there. Will the player help this rookie and his otherworldly ally take on evil?