Between The Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2 , PlatinumGames' track record under Nintendo was already at an incredible high. While PlatinumGames would then go on to dedicate roughly two years to lesser titles ( The Legend of Korra , Transformers: Devastation , and TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan ), 2017's...

Astral Chain is not what I thought it'd be. Expecting a standard 8-12 hour action adventure game, a Bayonetta-like, designed to keep fans of developer PlatinumGames patience in check while it gets o

Brilliant; inventive concept; Excellent soundtrack; Begs to be replayed; Looks good; runs well in handheld and docked modes

Stealth isn't good; Platforming can be awkward

Platinum Studios have made some really fun, wild, and out-there games. They've also had letdowns; not many but a few. While waiting for them to deliver Bayonetta 3 unto the world, Astral Chain was announced. The initial trailers carried the Platinum flair, but it was hard to know what to expect.

PlatinumGames has a long and successful history of making stylish-action games, and Astral Chain is one of its most accomplished and enjoyable entries to date, giving both Bayonetta and Nier: Automata a run for their money.

Astral Chain is a game that knows what it is. After an extended bout of fast paced, balletic combat, in which my character and its tethered Legion combined forces to reap destruction I find myself back in the Police Headquarters.

She said she's from a quasar Then the toilet fairy came. Then the insane mechanical depth we'd expect out of Platinum. Then I got to moonlight as an office mascot named Lappy who helped out depressed co-workers.

Platinum Games have spent the last dozen years making slick action game combat their calling card. From the raging sass of Bayonetta to the calculated combat of NieR: Automata , they're a studio that knows how to take something as straightforward as people trying to smack each other about and turn...

Platinum's usual exhilarating combat; characterful visuals; and great story; Controlling the Legion adds more depth to the combat; Investigation and world exploration help break up the combat; Accessible difficulty options; Platinum's usual exhilarating combat; characterful visuals; and great story,...

A silent protagonist drains personality from the game; Using your Legion never quite feels natural

With games like Bayonetta , Vanquish , Wonderful 101 and MadWorld in its back catalogue, it's little surprise that Japanese developer PlatinumGames has gained a reputation for tight, action-packed titles that mix stunning visuals with intricate and rewarding gameplay mechanics.

Every time a new PlatinumGames title releases is a time for celebration. Except maybe that handful of small licensed games it made. But Astral Chain is a particularly special time, for not only are we being blessed with a big-budget Nintendo Switch exclusive, but it is a damn good one, too.

I'm a big fan of pretty much every title PlatinumGames has developed, but somehow, I didn't even know that Astral Chain was in development. I knew about Scalebound , which has now been canceled, and it looks like from the ashes of the now-canceled Xbox One title, a wonderfully original action title...

Fantastic PlatinumGames-style action; Couch co-op; Diverse score

Action can be overwhelming at first; Graphics are dated