Astral Chain in the Test
The software developers Platinum Games, features, in spite of a Backlog that could not be more diverse, again and again through ingenious and perfect, from the Hand of in-depth Gameplay mechanics. Following the highly successful commissioned work Nier: Automata are the Japanese with their brand-new, own IP Astral Chain, which is exclusive to Nintendo Switch appears in the wings. What is the Action wizard, this Time can think of?
No time for coffee and Donuts
In the year 2078 is no longer of the world as we know it, much of it left: For years, the humanity from powerful beings out of a strange Dimension is attacked and the attackers had no chance. The last remnants of civilization have holed up in a gigantic, futuristic city Called the Ark, but here, too, there is no security, because the attacks of the so-called Chimeras, which kill their victims with a strange disease, or in your own Dimension procrastinate, will infect more and more frequently. Only Neuron, a mysterious special Department of the police, is able to bear the danger to oppose, because that is where one has managed, thanks to years of experiments to put Chimeras using a highly developed technical instrument, literally on a leash. A handful of specially trained officers draws as with your very own personal Chimera Sidekick in the fight against the invaders. The brother and sister, Howard, your character is a young police officer, get it at a apparent Routine to do with a counterparty, which you seem to have nothing to offer the opposite. At the last second, the Neuron-force shows up, way recruited the two on the spot and provide you with all your Legions, your obedience compelled Chimeras. And in order to begin your adventure really.
Alone, as a couple, or two in one?
After you reboot for the male or female Part of the sibling pair decided to as well as hairstyle, hair color and name chosen has, will, without further ADO, into the action thrown out, because of the above-mentioned application also serves as a Tutorial for the basic mechanics of the combat system in the Astral Chain. During the Move-Repertoire of a game character with only one attack Button and a second to Dodge is not just lush, the thing with the summoning of the Legion is already Much more exciting. This can be rushed to the desired opponent, and again called back. The beings attacked independently, so that in principle no further control.
What is sounds not too exciting, turns out to be after the first training sessions in the headquarters of the Neuron directly after the first Mission, but then as extremely complex and, above all, very fun framework for a whole series of ways to make the fights. For example, the fact that it is connected to each via chain with his Legion, more than optical surface is: Because you can move his hearing Partner is also free in the room, just used this chain, smart to an additional weapon. For example, opponents can be held in place by Orbiting for a short time on the spot, or Monster, brought to a charge, by a spatially correctly tensioned chain to the case. Furthermore, there is a so-called Sync attacks, which you activate by calling at the right Moment his Legion (for example, to extend combos or special attacks to trigger).
In the further course of the game, a further four being added to the original Legion, which can be easily replaced at any time and to act differently: long-range fighter, powerhouse, massively armored Tank or a quick beast play all quite different and offer so much room to experiment. In addition, various Special Moves, you can for the Legions to unlock, each of which is a maximum of two at the same time equipped can have. However, before you can let go of all the cool Legions, and attacks on his opponent, once dry police work on the Plan.
Your friend and helper
Astral Chain is divided into chapters, each of which in the headquarters begins. Here healing and Buff can be items as well as grenades and other things purchased to facilitate the next use. Or you put on in the locker room of the new stuff that you can colorize as desired. Additional Outfits or individual items of clothing in the course of the game by Mastering certain objectives to unlock. The Outer you can change it at any time. For those who like to practice a bit, you can do this in the training hall with plenty of hologram enemies. Who has enough money left over, you may upgrade in addition, yet his weapons and the Legatus, the Tool with which help it is binding on the Legion itself.
You will start the Mission, first in one of the many parts of the city, it is where the beginning must be, what is going on here actually. Questioned or overheard passers-by (with the help of the Legion), solves small tasks or examined surveillance footage. All relevant information will be collected in a digital notebook, and can be retrieved later. Enough clues are gathered, will be discussed in a kind of Multiple-Choice conversation with colleagues in the further course of action. Latest from here should then be finally fought back, because as soon as you’re on the right track, opposed to the first counterparty. The Legions come in during the, admittedly, a bit lengthy, Search-phase is used. Each has a special skill that must be used to traverse the maps and, above all, to Find chests and hidden Items. So a Legion can open heavy doors, and another on distant targets to shoot and another to carry the player character to carry him safely over the dangerous ground. The latter can also jump, but he may send his (pending) Legion over precipices, and then safely via chain drag.
Sooner or later you will be drawn in the course of a Mission in the Astral Plain, the Dimension of the Chimeras,. Here it is important not only to avoid the much more common opponents, but to navigate skillfully through the confusing and small puzzle-filled locations. In between, there is, of course, always smaller Mini-bosses, and at the end of a particularly hard nut to crack, the in the way. For defeated enemies and solved tasks, you get also points that may at any time be in the skill trees of each of the Legions invested. There also a new passive abilities or additional Sync-attacks hide in addition to Stat Boosts. Short Story-cutscenes also interrupt during the missions again and again the flow of the game, longer breaks for Exposition there is, however, only between chapters. Once you have completed the Rest of the such, you can repeat as needed to find forgotten or overlooked, Secrets, or simply to achieve a better final ranking. On request, you can do that also in the Complete unlocked, new difficulty.
Watch or join in?
Contrary to all prophecies of doom Games surprise for the small Nintendo console again and again with impressive optics. Measured in terms of the technical possibilities of the small box, sees the Astral Chain in this respect, fantastic. The brightly colored Cyber-Neon-Look, in conjunction with the extremely Anime-influenced character Designs might not be to everyones taste, but homogeneous, and appears to be made of a casting that looks for more than what the Switch can actually. It comes in a particularly massive effect massive battles to small Slowdowns, this but in limits and falling only slightly to the weight.
Also, for the ears of the title has a Lot to offer: in addition to the consistently successful and the Anime-style synchronization, as well as a powerful and varied soundscape is convincing, especially the driving Soundtrack. The futuristic Setting is suitable, there is a colourful mix of Synth Wave, Rock and chill-out to hear sounds. Also a couple of Songs with Vocals are going to remain almost exclusively in the – and credits reserved. All in all, impressed with the entire presentation of the Astral Chain, not only from the point of view of the weakening of the home Hardware.
There is so much to see and to hear, which is also a Passive player (i.e., Couch-roommate, the watch is mostly the only) to have determined your joy. But why not even get in on it? The game has a fun Co-op Option: With the two Joy-Cons can take on two players in control of a game character and / or its Legion. This makes, in practice, kill is actually a lot of fun, but the selected level of difficulty. A Team destroyed everything the Game against the wind, while a novice of the Legion tax is also the lightest opponent for the challenge. Since we are highly on topic: Experienced players should stay with the default “Normal” difficulty, because this has little to offer challenges to, as soon as you look at the mechanics first, halfway through.
CONCLUSION
Even if I have only a little Negative about Astral Chain have to say, I am not sure whether the title to the great success of can be. The sophisticated combat system is in need of absolutely not behind a Bayonetta or Devil May Cry to hide and makes a lot of fun, but I don’t know whether or not the target audience for a game of this type is also willing, with the relatively shallow, but any RPG elements to deal. This applies to both mechanical aspects such as skill trees and Stats as well as the very basic, not very exciting, “police work”-sequences. Nevertheless, the Astral Chain is a stylish and technically impressive Action-gem, with no real quirks and the inclined player a Lot to offer. If only the cult-Hit or Mega-Hit actually plays not a big role, right well the thing is, in any case.
What Chain is the Astral plane? Sci-Fi Action Game with Adventure, Platform and RPG strikes.Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Tested: Nintendo Switch
Developer / Publisher: Platinum Games / Nintendo
Release: 30. August 2019
Link: Official Website
