Astral Chain is a new action game from Platinum Games. The game stars members of a police special forces unit in the futuristic city of Ark. Astral Chain is a Nintendo Switch exclusive, and releases later this year on August 30, 2019.
Nintendo announced the title during today’s Nintendo Direct with a detail-packed trailer. The game’s page on Nintendo’s website also hosts a range of details. The game is being directed by Nier: Automata designer Takahisa Taura. Hideki Kamiya, director of Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, and Bayonetta, is supervising the game’s development. Manga artist Masakazu Katsura headed the character design.
Astral Chain has players in the shoes of members of the Neuron special police task force created to fight against creatures invading the world. The city of Ark is one site where gates to a different dimension appear, and you must attempt to stop invading creatures from destroying the world.
Neuron officers use Legion, a special sentient weapon, to effectively fight opponents. Players can switch between multiple combat styles, each involving a chain of some sort. The chain seems to be an important mechanic of the game, as it is used to tie enemies down and render them helpless to your onslaught of attacks.
The player character and Legion are able to attack the same enemy together or target different enemies at the same time. Players can also send Legion to fight while they hang back to heal or use support items. The game’s description calls this the “synergetic action system.”
Astral Chain has two playable characters, one male and one female. Whoever you don’t choose to play as will still be in the game as another member of Neuron, and your younger twin.
Astral Chain is being published exclusively by Nintendo for the Switch. The game is one of many Platinum Games has in the oven, alongside Bayonetta 3 and Babylon’s Fall.
