Peak fucking Platinum Games. Genuinely on of the most fun and unique action combat systems that I have ever played. There is a significant skill element that comes in mastering the combat that can take your gameplay to a higher level. It's not like that is even required but if you do take some time to figure it out it can become so, so addicting. The story is the weak point of Astral Chain and was generally unengaging throughout, but literally everything else is so fucking COOL that it is almost entirely forgiveable. This game is absolutely badass with an incredible aesthetic, and honestly is surprising that it is running on the Switch. The soundtrack is pretty great too, until the Final Boss theme when it is literally just Xenoblade, like holy shit. I'm glad that this game did relatively well in Platinum's eyes because they absolutely knocked it out of the park with a combat system that I think just about anyone else would've completely fucked up.

9/10