PlatinumGames delivers a frenetic action game where you steer a cop and a chained creature at once. Juggling both units is demanding yet exhilarating once it clicks, and the cyberpunk style still looks sharp on Switch.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player16+
Description
In a futuristic city threatened by creatures from another dimension, a police officer fights alongside a living weapon. Published by Nintendo, released worldwide in 2019. Simultaneous control of the hero and their Legion, investigations, stylish action and a manga look.
Astral Chain review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Cyberpunk Neo-Tokyo through PlatinumGames' eyes: saturated neon, organically unsettling Astral creatures and razor-tight anime animation. The contrast between futuristic policing and interdimensional horror carves out a sharp, resolutely modern visual identity.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
All the appeal springs from steering hero and Legion at once: a learning curve, then combat unfolds rare depth across dodges, tactical chains and synergies to orchestrate. PlatinumGames delivers exemplary snap and a neon-cyberpunk style that hasn't dated. Investigation phases break the rhythm a little, but the whole holds remarkably. For fans of demanding, original action, it stays recommendable.
Fighting as a human chained to their Legion creates two-body confrontations of unique fluidity. Synchronizing attacks, shared dodges and chain abilities against monstrous Chimeras demands coordination and spatial reading. The cyber-police art direction and tense pacing lend these duels a choreographed intensity rarely seen.
An underrated gem
Launched a few months from a Nintendo behemoth, it got swallowed by the news cycle and never earned the echo it deserved. Its true originality is the simultaneous control of two characters tethered by a chain, an action idea where you juggle hero and Legion like nowhere else. Between field investigations and stylish combat, it embraces its manga look without apology. Worth rediscovering for fans of demanding, original action.
Is Astral Chain still worth playing in 2026?
Astral Chain is still one of the most distinctive action games on Switch. Controlling the hero and the Legion at the same time takes getting used to, but once it clicks, combat reveals a depth few rivals match, with dodges, tactical chains and synergies to orchestrate. PlatinumGames delivers sharp, responsive action and a neon cyberpunk style that has aged gracefully. The slower investigation segments sometimes break the pace, yet the whole holds up impressively. For anyone craving demanding action built on genuinely fresh ideas, this remains an easy recommendation today.
