PlatinumGames' upcoming release Astral Chain left a pretty strong impression on us after E3; the game is being directed by Takahisa Taura, the lead designer on NieR: Automata, and it certainly looks like it could be strong enough to tide us over until the studio's next Bayonetta effort comes along.
As you'll know if you've been keeping an eye on it, the game stars a rookie police officer who must fight off an interdimensional invasion. These enemy beings are known as Chimera, and after capturing one, humans can train them to fight on their side. These captured Chimera are known as a Legion, and players will take control of both the police officer and their Legion during combat.
The game is primarily designed to be a single-player experience, but Taura has revealed a sneaky trick which will allow you to join up with a friend if you prefer. Speaking to Kotaku, he noted that removing the Switch's Joy-Con from the console will place the police officer's controls on one controller, and the Legion's on the other, resulting in a kind of makeshift co-op option which Taura describes as "challenging" but "fun".
In the interview, he explained how this co-op mode would work in practice:
“If you’re going for a high score, it’s challenging to do this, playing in two-player. As one example, while you’re playing the game, there are several synchronous moments where you’re doing attacks with the Legion at the same time. And if you’re playing two-player, the other player and you—actually, it’s almost like you would actually have to be of the same mind...”
"But it’s not just that it’s hard. If you’re sitting next to somebody and playing this game, it’s also really fun.”
We'll leave you with this 10-minute video for the game which was recently shared on Nintendo's official Japanese YouTube channel. Are you feeling hyped for Astral Chain's August release?
[source kotaku.com]
Comments 25
The game is looking better all the time.
This game looks way too complicated for me to play, but if there is a demo at some point will give it a go.
please let us use two pro controllers
I mean, every game is "co-op" this way if you just share the controllers
@Octane Yeah, but he's saying that the full controls for either character will be available on each Joy-Con, so you control one whole character each.
If you did this with Mario Kart, someone would essentially just be holding down the accelerator for hours on end (with the occasional bit of drifting I suppose)
It’s about time. Nintendo’s website has said this game is 2 player since it was first announced, but they never once actually mentioned it.
@ALinkttPresent they teased that they had more to announce on that front during treehouse tbf
This reads like couch co-op will be both fun and chaotic.
@ryancraddock Yeah, that's true.
I wonder how it plays then, are you actually controlling both at the same time?
@Bunkerneath my feelings exactly. A demo would be really nice.
Really want NieR: Automata on Switch but Astral Chain will most certainly do. Day one purchase!
@Octane Yeah, seems like combat at least will have you doing attacks with both characters together. Hopefully we'll have a much clearer idea soon!
if Astral Chain doesn't sell more than one million copies it will be a crime it looks like one of the best Switch games coming this year
Sounds good enough! My wife and I co-oped the entirety of BotW and that was only half a character each.
The most challenging part will be playing with one joycon without hurting your hands.
@KBuckley27 Considering Platinum Games always had a problem breaking into the million+ club, even with multiplats, it's saddly anything but a given, that this will turn out any different.
I suppose it's definitely possible though, as the attach rate on Switch is rather high, the game looks absolutely swell and it has already seen a fair bit of promotion and thus received alot of awareness ... but still, it just seem wise to keep expectations in check here, given their history.
I agree with the sentiment though, but again, the sales numbers of games like Vanquish were already ... criminally low ... unfortunately =(
@ryancraddock BOTW with each person using a joy-con was a pain in the ass but then became fun as hell haha.
Well that's disappointing this should be online co-op from the start!
@KBuckley27 Nintendo should do TV ads like they do for Mario and Zelda.
Online coop or GTFO. It's 2019, not 1984. Get it together.
@Ralek85 Platinum Games could do so much more if they didn't focus on such niche types of games but I am glad they do. Mainly because that's why I love platinum so much! I take it their marketing department doesn't reach people too well lol
@lnrts99 yeah i'm already all in
Not my type of fighting mechanics, but the game looks better and better in the graphical department. Terrific! Probably a pass for me at launch but will be tempted if there's a sale.
Funny, for all those asking for online coop.... I remember when Bayo 2 launched, people were pissed Tag Climax was only online!
I think that couch coop works better for this, though - the level of coordination required seems very high.
A friend and I spent a few hours playing BotW co-op this way. The amount of communication that basic tasks like cooking and climbing took was hilarious. That has little to do with this besides co-op with one joycon each though.
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