Gaming Age:
In a console landscape of re-releases, remasters, and years-after-the-fact ports from PC, Astral Chain both stands up as a wholly new game–and a throwback to PS2 era action games.
Yes, fifteen years ago, when the focus of mainstream gaming wasn’t on super-cinematic experiences. When action games either decided to throw a single wacky mechanic at a workmanlike game, then slapped a coat of paint overtop that either wound up being a samey military theme or Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Platinum Games faces a talent drain as five senior developers, including directors behind Astral Chain and Bayonetta 3, reportedly leave the studio.
Even if they buy them, they'd be buying a shell of a studio at this point. Almost everyone that mattered to the studio is gone.
Never a good sign. They lost Hideki Kamiya, which was arguably the top tier of their talent list. So, seeing this is like the writing on the wall. They got Ninja Gaiden 4 coming, so hopefully that’ll deliver and keep them going.
VGChartz's Mark Nielsen: "The Nintendo Switch has been one Nintendo’s most successful systems ever, both measured by the number of units sold and the quality of its titles, but if there’s one thing this generation has been missing it would have to be the Nintendo Selects line, bringing existing titles that had paid their dues back at bargain prices. With the Switch now entering its twilight years, and there being few new titles in store for the foreseeable future, what better time could there be to bring back this tried-and-true tradition? While the actual realization of it may be doubtful given how rigid both hardware and software prices have become in recent years, that only gives us all the more reason to dream up a hypothetical lineup of our own.
For this article the specific focus will not be on those massive multi-million evergreens that the lineup would no doubt contain a few of to cement its value, but instead on games that for one reason or another fell short of their full potential the first time around and deserve a second chance to reach more players at an affordable price. Let’s get started."
I really want Xenoblade Chronicles X on the Switch, can't believe that hasen't been ported. I'm playing Skyward Sword at the moment and I'm almost finished, but it's so long and the controls are so bad, even without motion. Astral Chain is fantastic though, they should make a sequel.
Daily Video Game writes: "Today, Amazon has just kicked off a new digital sale on several games for Nintendo Switch gamers, offering up to 67% off on many popular first-party and third-party titles such as Luigi's Mansion 3, Cult of the Lamb, and many more right now!"
