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What makes ASTRAL CHAIN different?
PlatinumGames developed ASTRAL CHAIN for Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo lists its release date as August 30, 2019. You play a Neuron officer partnered with a Legion: a chained, combat-ready ally that you control alongside your character. The system asks you to manage two agents at once rather than simply issuing commands to a companion. The Legion also helps with investigation work and puzzles, so its role extends beyond combat.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Astral Chain (Nintendo Switch) | $57.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Astral Chain - Nintendo Switch | $64.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Switch - ASTRAL CHAIN - [PAL EU - NO NTSC]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51jbcRn0BdL._SL160_.jpg)
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Switch - ASTRAL CHAIN - [PAL EU - NO NTSC] | $119.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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ASTRAL CHAIN COLLECTOR'S EDITION -Switch (Japan Import) | $245.10 | Buy on Amazon |
The setting and mission structure broaden the action-game formula. Cases can involve exploring a near-future city, interacting with citizens, investigating crimes, and venturing into the Astral Plane. If you prefer an action game that alternates combat with quieter, investigative sections, that variety is a key part of the appeal. If you mainly want continuous fighting, the casework and exploration may feel like interruptions.
How good are the combat and presentation?
Nintendo Life gave the game 9/10 in its 2019 review, highlighting its combat, presentation, and reasons to replay. The combat’s strongest idea is also its main demand: you must pay attention to both the officer and Legion, and learn how their actions work together. That gives battles a distinctive rhythm, but the many systems can be intimidating at first. Expect to learn through play rather than assume every mechanic will feel immediately intuitive.
#1 Best Overall
- ASTRAL CHAIN, a brand new action game from PlatinumGames, is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch! As part of a police special task force, it’s up to you to fight against mysterious, alien-like creatures who have invaded the world.
- Choose between two playable characters – one male, one female – on your adventure. The character you don’t choose also appears as your younger twin, and a fellow member of Neuron.
- In order to resist the creatures, humanity developed a special weapon: the Legion. The Legion acts as your partner, and helps with your investigations.
- Work together with the Legion and use all sorts of combat styles to fight your enemies. Use this synergetic action system to battle and explore together!
Nintendo Life described performance as solid and reliable overall in both docked and handheld play, while noting occasional slowdown in intense scenes, usually in handheld mode. These are observations from a 2019 review, not a current test across every Switch model or system revision.
How much is investigation, exploration, and extra content?
ASTRAL CHAIN is not structured as combat alone. Its police-officer premise leads into investigations and civilian interactions, while exploration and puzzles make use of Legion abilities. These activities give the setting room to breathe and create a change of pace, though players who want an uninterrupted action campaign should take that mix into account.
Rank #2
- Players can control the protagonist and a special weapon called a Legion simultaneously, building stylish combos by using both characters in tandem
- There are multiple Legions in the game, each with different combat styles and abilities. Players can even strategically change between Legions at will during real-time battles
- This apocalyptic setting is full of intricate details and interesting characters, including citizens and suspects you can interact with in the city, others in the special police task force, and your twin sibling
- Use the abilities of the Legion not only in battle but also for investigating cases and solving environmental puzzles
- Uncover the secrets of the alternate dimension called the Astral Plane, where the mysterious invaders originate
Nintendo Life estimated that a first playthrough could take well over 20 hours, depending on optional side quests. That is the reviewer’s estimate, not a guaranteed completion time. The review also noted reasons to return, including content missed on an earlier run and the challenge of mastering combat ranks.
Can you play solo or in local co-op?
Nintendo lists one-to-two-player play on a single system. In the local co-op arrangement described by Nintendo Life, one player controls the officer and the other controls the Legion. That split offers a different way to approach the paired combat, but it is not a separate co-op campaign or online multiplayer mode.
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Which edition and platform should you consider?
Nintendo’s current US product listing includes ASTRAL CHAIN for Nintendo Switch and lists Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility, with game behavior consistent with Nintendo Switch. The US listing gives a file size of 9.8 GB. Check the store page for current purchase details; the review-era score and performance impressions do not establish today’s price or physical stock.
Nintendo Japan documents both packaged and download editions. It also documents a regional Collector’s Edition bundle containing the packaged game, Platinum Artworks, and Platinum Sound Selection. That record describes the bundle’s contents, not whether it is currently available.
Rank #4
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Who should play ASTRAL CHAIN?
- Good fit: players who want stylish action built around coordinating a protagonist with a controllable partner, and who enjoy investigations or exploration between battles.
- Consider carefully: newcomers who dislike learning several interconnected combat systems, or players who want uninterrupted fighting rather than casework and optional activities.
- Best reason to return: optional content and the pursuit of better combat ranks, as noted in Nintendo Life’s review.
For a review-era verdict, the 9/10 score reflects a game whose originality is more than a gimmick: its paired-control combat informs both fighting and exploration. The main cautions are the onboarding curve and occasional slowdown reported in intense scenes.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Nintendo US product page — release date, platform listing, compatibility, file size, and player count.
- PlatinumGames: ASTRAL CHAIN — developer overview.
- Nintendo Life review — 2019 score, gameplay assessment, performance observations, co-op, and playtime estimate.
- Nintendo Japan: ASTRAL CHAIN — regional packaged, download, and Collector’s Edition information.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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