It’s fair to say that PlatinumGames has mastered the art of the action game – but what if this talented studio were to expand in new directions? The phenomenal Nier: Automata offered a glimpse with its RPG trimmings, while the cancelled Scalebound seemed to aim even higher. Clearly Platinum is eager to push new boundaries, which is why it shouldn’t be a surprise that Astral Chain is anything but simple.
If you’ve seen the trailers, however, it might not be entirely clear what sort of game we’re dealing with here. Indeed, when I had a chance to sit down with Astral Chain last week, I really had no idea what to expect. I knew there would be action but everything else was up in the air. As I left the demo station, I couldn’t help but consider the most ridiculous of comparisons. Yes, there’s plenty of Platinum-style action within but everything else suggests some sort of unholy fusion between Deus Ex, Batman and The Legend of Zelda. Perhaps that’s a stretching it but stay with me – there’s a lot going on here.
It starts off simple enough. Players are dropped in the centre of the last human city – The Ark – as it falls under attack by a mysterious enemy known as the Chimera. These creatures are basically harvesting humanity, dragging people into an alternate dimension of sorts. To engage this new foe, a Police force known as Neuron was created – a team of elite fighters who command warriors known as Legion and… OK, maybe it’s not that simple after all.
Astral Chain: First Look At The New Platinum Switch Exclusive! Watch on YouTube
At this point in the demo, I was expecting that trademark PlatinumGames action and indeed, the first battle is very much that but, just a few minutes in, a new type of invisible enemy appears and it’s here where you’re first introduced to the Legion mechanic. Basically, you’re handed control of gear which can summon a Legion – a large creature connected to the player character via a blue chain – the eponymous Astral Chain, if you will.