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The next big Nintendo Switch release is Astral Chain from PlatinumGames, the same studio that created the Bayonetta series.
PlatinumGames is bringing players into the world of Astral Chain where they play as a rookie cop who uses living weapons called Legions. As an officer, you'll need to use your Legion to solve cases and save humankind from those looking to take down civilization.
From demos and walkthroughs, it seems the hack and slash battling that PlatinumGames is known for returns but bringing it to the next level as players will have to control their character and Legion at the same time.
Currently sitting at 88 on Metacritic, it seems that Astral Chain is another hit for the Nintendo Switch, but what are the critics saying about the title? Here's a roundup of Astral Chain reviews.
GAME INFORMER
Score: 9/10
Game Informer's Andrew Reiner praises how the A.I. in Astral Chain allows for dual-battling to be achieved with little-to-no headaches. He does criticize how the story goes through some odd choices in terms of the themes and tone, but it largely didn't affect their experience.
"I had a blast playing Astral Chain and didn't want it to end," Reiner wrote. "Platinum has created a wonderful new universe for players to dive into that I could see extending into anime, movies, and hopefully sequels."
NINTENDO INSIDER
Score: 10/10
Nintendo Insider's Darren Palma praises PlatinumGames' ability to bring out such a polished and fun game amidst the studio's development of Bayonetta 3. It would have been easy for the studio to put a, as Palma put it, "B-Tier" team to develop Astral Chain, but the dedication to the game really shines through.
"It soon becomes apparent that Astral Chain is not a mere snack to fill the gap for a more anticipated main course, but its own beast altogether and clearly out to make a name for itself," Palma wrote.
GAMESPOT
Score: 8/10
Gamespot's Michael Higham loved the anime/manga style of the characters and the world of Astral Chain. Like other outlets, they also enjoyed the combat system although Higham criticized the movements of your character, calling it "imprecise" and "occasionally frustrating."
"Astral Chain's shortcomings don't overshadow what it does best. It's an incredible execution of a fresh take on Platinum Games' foundation, standing among the stylish-action greats," Higham wrote. "And its own anime-inspired swagger makes fights all the more exhilarating."
IGN
Score: 9/10
IGN's Steven Petite went deep in praising the various Legions you can control and the battle system that perfectly meshes two separate ways to fight.
"Astral Chain is another excellent game from Platinum, and one of the best action games of this generation. Period," Petite wrote.
Astral Chain releases August 30 exclusively on Nintendo Switch.
Are you excited for the release of Astral Chain? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
About the writer
Phillip Martinez is a game and culture reporter for Newsweek. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2018, he was a reporter ... Read more