Astral Chain review appears in Famitsu

The first Astral Chain review has been published in Japanese publication Famitsu, awarding the game a 37/40 review score.

[UPDATE: VGC’s Astral Chain review has been published, awarding the game a score of 5/5]

Famitsu reviews games by taking the scores out of 10 from four separate critics and combining them. Three of its reviewers awarded the upcoming Switch exclusive 9/10, while one gave it full marks, Gematsu reports.

“The content is not completely devoted to battles, as you can also use Legions for investigations which is good,” one Famitsu reviewer said (via Japanese Nintendo). “Being able to have 2-player co-op is also awesome.”

Astral Chain puts players in the role of a rookie officer in a special police force called Neuron. Along with its living weapon companions called the Legion, Neuron is humanity’s last defence against an inter-dimensional alien invasion.

Players are given control over two characters at once in what Platinum calls a “synergetic action” experience. Users can switch between several Legion types and skills in order to combat enemies, solve puzzles or traverse platforming environments.

“The Astral Chain itself – the digital rope which tethers the Legion to the player character – provides the tangible feeling of controlling a puppet on strings,” VGC wrote in a recent Astral Chain hands-on preview.

“Combat has a satisfying rhythm to it, as you time your own slashing (or shooting) with on-screen prompts to call in a Legion attack, which will compliment your own moves and chain up stylish combos.”

VGC’s YouTube channel launched in July with several Astral Chain gameplay videos.

Astral Chain will release for Nintendo Switch on August 30.