Astral Chain

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***ASTRAL CHAIN** (アストラルチェイン Asotoraru Chein)* is a synergetic action game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch, released worldwide on August 30th, 2019.

Two collectors editions were available for purchase before the release of the game, one exclusive to Japan which contains the game, an artbook and the original soundtrack, and one available in Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, which contains a sound selection CD, a 152-page artbook and an artboard in addition to the game card.

## Overview

### Title

ASTRAL CHAINアストラルチェイン *(Asotoraru Chein)*

## Release Information

### Price

**Standard*** **NA** $59.99
* **EU** €59.99
* **UK** £40.99
* **AU** $79
* **NZ** $99.99
* **JP** ¥8,618

**Collector's Edition**

* **EU** €89.99
* **UK** £69.99
* **AU** $129.99
* **NZ** $159.99
* **JP** ¥10,778

## Plot

In 2043, a meteor impact with the Earth caused a mysterious wormhole known as a gate to form, triggering an apocalyptic series of events. Smaller gates began appearing throughout all continents, causing global collapse as pollution from the gates known as Red Matter began corrupting the people and land of Earth in a process known as redshift. Within six months of the gates' appearance, 90% of all land on Earth was rendered uninhabitable.

The survivors took refuge in a massive artificial island metropolis known as the Ark, where peace was enjoyed for ten years before gates finally began appearing in the Ark as well, bringing invisible creatures known as chimeras from the world behind the gates - the Astral Plane. The existence of the chimeras was kept secret from the residents of the Ark while a special police task force known as Neuron was established specifically to counter the extradimensional threat.

Neuron officers employ the use of the Legion, a special living weapon created by capturing a chimera, neutralizing it with armor, and neurologically syncing it to a human operator through the eponymous "Astral Chain". Only a few people have the potential to wield the Legion effectively as officers of Neuron, and the protagonist along with their twin sibling Akira Howard are two police officers with such qualities. As a rookie Neuron officer newly recruited into the team, the protagonist and their Legion partners must work together to investigate, solve cases, fight chimeras, and save humanity itself.

↪ For a more detailed description of the plot of *ASTRAL CHAIN* including spoilers, see Story (Astral Chain).

↪ For a comprehensive timeline of events within the *ASTRAL CHAIN* universe, see Timeline.

## Gameplay

### Overview

*ASTRAL CHAIN* is a semi-open world Action RPG, where the game progresses through different cases, which tell a mostly linear story. The separate levels are linked together by the police station, which acts as a base as the protagonist heads out to solve incidents or crimes, and then returns. Levels can be replayed, and are ranked with a scoring system which can grant different bonuses at the end of the level depending on how well they were cleared. In an interview with Polygon, Director Takahisa Taura described the game's style as a middleground between the linear nature of *Bayonetta*, and the open-world gameplay of *NieR:Automata*.

As a member of Neuron, the protagonist needs to solve cases and investigate crimes as well as fighting chimeras. The Legion can assist in investigations as well as in combat, in several different ways.

### Combat

*ASTRAL CHAIN* features a Synergetic Action system for combat, allowing the player to control both the protagonist and their Legion at the same time during battles, or alternatively for two players to each control one of the protagonist and Legion. The game allows the player to switch between three different X-Baton types and five Legion types in real-time battles, with each Legion having its own unique combat style and ability, and features a skill tree for each Legion for added customization as the game progresses. The gameplay was described by Takahisa Taura as being inbetween that of *Bayonetta* and *NieR:Automata* in a video posted on Nintendo's YouTube.

The gameplay is based around the concept of a single player controlling two entities, but as the controls for the protagonist and those for the Legion are each isolated to a single Joy-Con, there is a two-player mode of sorts if one player controls the protagonist through one Joy-Con, and the other controls the Legion through the other. Director Takahisa Taura compared this multiplayer method to *Super Mario Galaxy's* multiplayer feature, but stated that in *ASTRAL CHAIN*, splitting the controls across two people makes the game more difficult.

The player can team up the protagonist with their Legion to target the same enemy for a more concentrated attack, have each attack different enemies for better coverage, or use the Legion to distract an opponent while taking the opportunity to heal or use an item. Options for both melee and ranged combat are also available both for the Legions in their different forms, and the protagonist, in the different styles of the X-Baton.

While the Legion is summoned in battle, it can only stay summoned for 100 seconds, represented by a gauge on screen, after which it will disappear and the gauge will need to recharge before it can be summoned again.

Further information on the gameplay styles of each of the Sword, Arrow, Arm, Beast and Axe Legions can be found on their pages:

* Sword Legion
* Arrow Legion
* Beast Legion
* Arm Legion
* Axe Legion

#### Chain Attacks

While the Legion is summoned, the chain binding it to the protagonist can also be used as a weapon, in what are called Chain Attacks.

* **Chain Bind**: By moving the Legion in a circle around an enemy, it becomes wrapped in the Legion's chain, and tethered to the ground for a short while, where it is unable to move. This can be used on multiple opponents at a time, provided the Legion circles them all.
* **Chain Counter**: By moving the chain to be in the path of a charging opponent, the chain acts as a barrier, flinging the enemy back in the direction it came from, leaving it momentarily stunned.

#### Sync Attacks

In battles, the opportunity to perform a special attack with your Legion, known as a Sync Attack, can arise. This is shown with a blue flash that appears over the protagonist, and if the player times their attack correctly with the flash, the protagonist and their Legion will team up and perform the sync attack. Sync Attacks can be performed during combos, while dodging, or upon summoning the Legion, and can be used to build greater combos.

## Development

The idea for *ASTRAL CHAIN* was proposed by Takahisa Taura, and the game began development under his direction along with a team including veterans of PlatinumGames works such as Bayonetta and NieR:Automata. *ASTRAL CHAIN* will be Takahisa Taura's directorial debut.

The game was announced on Feburary 14, 2019, with a trailer being shown on a Nintendo Direct and released separately on the Nintendo YouTube channel the same day. Further information about the game was revealed on PlatinumGames' official website, showing screencaps of the characters, battles, and environments.

A second trailer was released on June 11, during the E3 2019 Nintendo Direct, with 25 minutes of gameplay footage being shown afterwards at Nintendo Treehouse. An additional 35 minutes of gameplay footage was shown at Nintendo Treehouse the next day.

*ASTRAL CHAIN* started production when Nintendo contacted PlatinumGames to make a game with a high difficulty, and the game has been in the making since before development on NieR:Automata started - over five years before *ASTRAL CHAIN*'s release date.

The original concept for *ASTRAL CHAIN* was a fantasy game where you would use magic, but over the course of the development in collaboration with Nintendo, the decision was made to change the game into cyberpunk, in order to make it stand out more among other games. Director Takahisa Taura stated in an interview with Polygon that the game's setting was influenced by anime like *Ghost in the Shell* and *Appleseed*, among others. Additionally, the game's artistic designs were heavily influenced by the work of character designer Masakazu Katsura, and his science-fiction manga *Zetman*.

The base for the game was to control two characters at the same time, and as the game was developed, other features such as picking up empty cans and visiting the hidden toilets were added in. Additionally, the first thing started with in development was the character customization system, so the player could feel like they are - or can become - the police officer protagonist. Takahisa Taura explains that they wanted an experience where the player, as the police officer, is doing daily things like collecting cans, visiting toilets and buying products from vending machines in order to become immersed in the world of the game.

Unlike *NieR:Automata* or other games by Yoko Taro, the game was built from the gameplay mechanic of controlling two characters, and not the scenario and the world, both of which were developed afterwards.

PlatinumGames studio head Atsushi Inaba stated in an interview with VGC that in development, the company really wanted to focus on the dual-action system where the player controls both the protagonist and the Legion simultaneously, which requires split focus between control of the two characters. He went on to describe the system as "...an evolution of some of the action games that we've [PlatinumGames] built in the past", and "...a very unique, original experience and exactly what we wanted it to be with the core idea of 'Synergetic Action'." He also denied any similarities between the gameplay system of *ASTRAL CHAIN*, and that of PlatinumGames' cancelled project Scalebound, stating that they are both very different despite revolving around the same concept of dual-character gameplay.

While the Synergetic Action system and the control of two characters was the base concept the game was built on, the blue chain connecting the protagonist and their Legion was added later, in order to make it easier for the player to determine direction and position of the two characters in relation to each other. Once the chain was added, other features such as the chain bind and chain counter were added. Takahisa Taura mentions the arcade game *Libble Rabble* as an influence on the game's features.

### ASTRAL CHAIN Devblog

In the leadup to *ASTRAL CHAIN*'s release, PlatinumGames' official website releases a weekly devblog written by people heavily involved in different areas of the game's development, detailing information on the development of the game as well as offering insight into some of the more specific features.

* 06/12/2019: Director Takahisa Taura welcomes you to the ASTRAL CHAIN devblog! - Takahisa Taura, Director
* 06/20/2019: On the Origin of Legions - Marumi Nakajo, Animator
* 06/27/2019: A Scenic View of the Ark - Yuki Suda, Concept Artist
* 07/04/2019: The Legions Take Shape - Yoshikaze Matsushita, Sculptor / 3D Modeler
* 07/11/2019: Facing Down Challenges - Takahira Iwagami, Cinematic Artist
* 07/18/2019: Between Anime and Reality - Koji Ishida, Lead Character Modeling Artist
* 07/24/2019: A Powerful Duet - Satori Igarashi, Lead Composer
* 08/01/2019: The Sounds of Science Fiction - Satori Igarashi, Lead Composer

## Reception

*Astral Chain* received "generally favorable" reviews on Metacritic getting a mMtascore of 87/100 based on 90 critic reviews.

## Gallery

**Official Screencaps**
* Combat using the Sword Legion.
* Combat using the Sword Legion.
* Combat using the Sword Legion.
* Combat using the Sword Legion.
* Ranged combat using the Arrow Legion against a flying chimera.
* The female protagonist using the Beast Legion as a mount.
* The male protagonist fighting a boss using the Arrow Legion.
* Combat using the Sword Legion.
* Combat against multiple enemies at once.
* Combat using the Sword Legion.
* Combat using the Beast Legion.
* The male protagonist.
* The female protagonist.
* The female protagonist talking to a young boy.
* The protagonist and Akira Howard.
* The male protagonist.
* The female protagonist.
* The female protagonist on a motorbike.
* The male protagonist on a street in the Ark.
* A busy street in the Ark
* The Ark as seen from on the wall at nighttime.
* An aerial view of the Ark.
* The Neuron task force.
* The Neuron task force.
* Combat with other Neuron officers against aberrations.
* Injured people being escorted to safety by the protagonist and others.
* The female protagonist and her Legion.
* The male protagonist following the Beast Legion.
* A simulated holographic view of rubble falling on a street in the Ark, using IRI technology.
* The female protagonist performing a stealth attack against a guard with her Sword Legion.
* The female protagonist performing a stealth attack against a guard with her Sword Legion.
* Jin Wong in the Neuron task force headquarters.
* Maximilian Howard and Alicia Lopez talking.
* Two characters being attacked by a large chimera.
* The female protagonist.
* A mysterious red Legion.
* An unknown character in control of a red Legion.
* The male protagonist.
* A chimera.
* The protagonist and Akira Howard facing off against a chimera.
* The protagonist and Akira Howard.
* The female protagonist summoning her Legion.
* The protagonist and Akira Howard summoning their Legions.
* The protagonist and their twin summoning their Legions.
* A Legion.
* A chimera slamming into the glass of what appears to be an experiment chamber, as Yoseph Calvert and other characters watch.
* A chimera on cracked glass.
* Yoseph Calvert.
* Olive Espinosa and Brenda Moreno.
* The male protagonist using the Sword Legion to finish off a chimera.
* An unnamed woman stroking a large chimera.
* A helicopter flying over the Ark.
* An aerial view of a large amount of wreckage on a road in the Ark.
* The female protagonist and her Sword Legion.
* The female protagonist riding a motorbike.
* The female protagonist fighting a chimera using the Sword Legion.
* The female protagonist in the Astral Plane with her Sword Legion.
* The female protagonist in the Astral Plane, solving a puzzle using her Arrow Legion.
* The male protagonist using the Arm Legion to fight a large chimera.
* The female protagonist riding her Beast Legion in the Astral Plane.
* The female protagonist using her Axe Legion in combat.
* One of the protagonist or Akira Howard being grabbed by a large hand emerging through a portal.
* the male protagonist in the Astral Plane, facing against a chimera.
* The female protagonist using her Sword Legion to jump across a gap in the Astral Plane.
* The female protagonist fighting a chimera with her Sword Legion.
* Combat against a chimera using the Arrow Legion.
* The female protagonist using her Sword Legion to fight two chimeras at once.
* The female protagonist using her Arrow Legion to solve a puzzle in the Astral Plane.
* The female protagonist using her Beast Legion to track something down.
* The female protagonist and her Beast Legion in the game.
* The male protagonist riding his Beast Legion in the Astral Plane.
* The female protagonist using her Arm Legion to open a door.
* The female protagonist using her Arm Legion in combat.
* The female protagonist using her Axe Legion in combat.
* The female protagonist using her Axe Legion to shield herself from an enemy attack.
* A street in The Ark.
* Buildings in The Ark.
* Buildings in The Ark.
* A view of a wall in The Ark.
* A street in The Ark.
* The Neuron Headquarters.
* A carpark in the Neuron Headquarters.
* A large, currently unidentified building off the coast of The Ark.
* An accident site on a road in The Ark.
* The female protagonist fighting two chimeras along with her Sword Legion.
* The Arm Legion pushing a block with the female protagonist standing on it in the Astral Plane.
* The female protagonist using her Axe Legion to shield them from an enemy attack.
* A chimera wielding a burning sword.
* The Sword Legion fighting against Jena Anderson.
* The female protagonist using the chain linking her to her Legion to trap a chimera.
* The male protagonist using his Arrow Legion in combat.
* The Beast Legion attacking a chimera with the male protagonist's baton.
* Yoseph Calvert talking to the protagonist and Akira Howard in the Neuron Headquarters.
* The female protagonist viewing The Ark using IRI technology.
* The female protagonist using the chain connecting her and her Sword Legion to bind an enemy in place.
* The male protagonist in combat with his Sword Legion.
* The female protagonist and her Arrow Legion attacking a flying chimera.
* The female protagonist and her Beast Legion in combat.
* The female protagonist and her Arm Legion fighting a large chimera.
* The female protagonist and her Axe Legion.
* The female protagonist fighting a chimera.
* Brenda Moreno holding a clipboard.
* A Legion manifesting.
* The male protagonist and his Sword Legion chasing a masked individual.
* Marie Wentz.
* The male protagonist and his Sword Legion fighting a Homunculus.
* The male protagonist firing a gun.
* Earth, as affected by Red Matter.
* The Ark, a floating metropolis island.
1/109

**Trailer Videos**

## Trivia

* In a video posted on Nintendo's Youtube, Takahisa Taura stated that lots of cats appear in *ASTRAL CHAIN*, with various kinds of cats to be found in all kinds of places that you can search for.
	+ In the same video, it was confirmed that Luigi does not make an appearance in *ASTRAL CHAIN*.
* Takahisa Taura stated in an interview with Famitsu, that "it is Platinum's destiny to show off a good butt in their games".

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Buy ASTRAL CHAIN Collector's Edition on Nintendo Store (JP); 16.02.2019
2. ↑ Video: ASTRAL CHAIN - E3 2019 Trailer (Nintendo Switch); 11.06.2019
3. ↑ Video: Nintendo Switch - E3 2019 Software Lineup; 11.06.2019
4. ↑ Buy ASTRAL CHAIN on Amazon (NA); 14.06.2019
5. ↑ Buy ASTRAL CHAIN at GameStop (Ireland); 14.06.2019
6. ↑ Buy ASTRAL CHAIN on Amazon (UK); 14.06.2019
7. ↑ Buy ASTRAL CHAIN at JB Hi-Fi (AU); 14.06.2019
8. ↑ Buy ASTRAL CHAIN at EB Games (NZ); 14.06.2019
9. ↑ Buy ASTRAL CHAIN on the Nintendo Store (JP); 14.06.2019
10. ↑ Buy ASTRAL CHAIN Collector's Edition at GameStop (Ireland); 14.06.2019
11. ↑ Buy ASTRAL CHAIN Collector's Edition at GAME (UK); 07.08.2019
12. ↑ Buy ASTRAL CHAIN Collector's Edition at EB Games (AU); 07.08.2019
13. ↑ Buy ASTRAL CHAIN Collector's Edition at EB Games (NZ); 13.06.2019
14. ↑ Blog: 8月30日（金）発売『ASTRAL CHAIN』続報！最新映像や公式サイトも公開！; 12.06.2019
15. ↑ Nintendo Japan official ASTRAL CHAIN website; 02.07.2019
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 PlatinumGames official ASTRAL CHAIN website; 15.02.2019
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Nintendo official ASTRAL CHAIN website; 15.02.2019
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 E3 2019 Nintendo official ASTRAL CHAIN Website; 11.06.2019
19. ↑ Polygon: Astral Chain’s director talks about Nier, the police, and cyberpunk; 17.06.2019
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Video: Three Things You Might Not Know About ASTRAL CHAIN - E3 2019; 13.06.2019
21. ↑ Kotaku: Astral Chain Director Says It Actually Can Be Two-Player, But It Makes The Game Harder; 19.06.2019
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Video: ASTRAL CHAIN - Action trailer (Nintendo Switch); 26.07.2019
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Blog: PlatinumGames presents ASTRAL CHAIN; 14.02.2019
24. ↑ Video: ASTRAL CHAIN - Announcement Trailer;13.02.2019
25. ↑ Video: ASTRAL CHAIN - Nintendo Switch Trailer - Nintendo E3 2019; 11.06.2019
26. ↑ Video: ASTRAL CHAIN Gameplay Pt. 1 - Nintendo Treehouse: Live | E3 2019; 11.06.2019
27. ↑ Video: ASTRAL CHAIN Gameplay Pt. 2 - Nintendo Treehouse: Live | E3 2019; 12.06.2019
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Nintendo Everything: Astral Chain was in the works before NieR: Automata started development, original plan was for triplets, more; 28.08.2019
29. ↑ VGC: Platinum Fights for its Future; 08.05.2019
30. ↑ Metascore for Astral Chain*Metacritic*, Retrieved February 27, 2020

## External Links

* PlatinumGames Official Website
* Nintendo Official Website