They can even eavesdrop on problematic witnesses. It’s like having a partner who does whatever you say. The dog-like creature can track clues via scent and then dig things up, while the armor is strong enough to lift heavy objects from trapped victims. You’ll search for clues and talk to witnesses, and you’re aided by an AR system that picks out points of interest. But it also helps give Astral Chain a very distinct feel.Īt other points, you’ll have to do your regular job of being a cop, heading into the city to investigate everything from missing persons to subway bombings. It takes some getting used to controlling two characters at once can be clunky at times, especially when there’s a lot going on. You can also chain together attacks with the main character you control. You can toss them out in battle, and they’ll fight autonomously. One is basically a floating suit of armor, while another is a metallic dog creature. You’ll unlock multiple legions throughout the game, each with different skills and abilities, and you can swap them in and out via a weapon wheel-like pop-up menu.
Photo by Christian Petersen / Getty Images “I kind of want to continue to fail.” - Nier: Automata director Yoko Taro They’re kind of like a cross between a pokémon and a weapon, and they’re tethered to your body with an ethereal chain that stays strapped to your wrist at all times. Aiding you in battle are creatures called legions. There’s the combat, which has the stylishness you’d expect from a Platinum title - even if you just mash buttons, you’ll look cool - but with a very specific twist. The game is divided into a few different parts. It’s an odd and often confusing setup, but it also allows the game to constantly shift around, sending you to different places doing very different things. Oh, and the city is also under attack: strange creatures called chimera keep appearing, pulled in from what appears to be a different dimension. The game puts you in the role of one of two twins - you choose whether you play as the male or female sibling - who are part of an elite police force in Ark, a sci-fi megatropolis located on a human-made island in a future where humanity is on the brink of collapse. It’s intense and thrilling before you even know what you’re doing. The opening credits roll by while you ride a motorcycle across a busy futuristic street, explosions going off around you. Astral Chain is equal parts weird, exciting, and endearing, and it’s one of the most refreshing games of the year so far.Īstral Chain wastes no time. There are plot threads about stray cats and the future of humanity, and your main weapon is a powerful being that’s tethered to you by a chain. It’s a cyberpunk police anime about an interdimensional invasion that blends action, puzzle-solving, platforming, and detective work. Really, it’s unlike anything I’ve played before.
#Nintendo anime games full
Astral Chain is full of thrilling action sequences, but in most ways, it’s completely unlike any other Platinum game. But in reality, it’s the latest release from Platinum Games, a studio best-known for stylish action games like Bayonetta, Vanquish, and, more recently, Nier: Automata, a collaboration with idiosyncratic director Yoko Taro.
It’s a name that calls to mind things like astrological and arcane philosophy books. It’s hard to know what to expect from a game with a title like Astral Chain.