You’re Basically Playing an Anime
I’ve played a lot of anime games in my life, believe me, but I mean it wholeheartedly when I say that Astral Chain is the closest I’ve ever actually felt to playing an anime.
On a surface level this, of course, applies to the game’s art style and graphics. Astral Chain’s cel-shaded anime style is absolutely gorgeous to behold, and there’s exceptional cutscene direction that really gives the game that intense anime style.
However, this idea applies to the gameplay and actual structure of the game as well. Astral Chain is split into a number of “Files,” each of which serve as a chapter.
These Files are all built around a single word that the game shows on a black screen at the start of each one. Astral Chain clearly takes inspiration from the structure of one-shot 12-episode anime series.
Each File essentially has its own self-contained events while forwarding the overall narrative, and the absurdly flashy combat only helps emphasize the idea that you’re essentially playing a season of anime.
Reinforcing this idea, even more, is the fact that you get essentially an anime opening and ending in Astral Chain, which even feature their own original J-pop songs.
You can still, of course, play Astral Chain if you don’t like anime, as it does appeal simply through its cyberpunk aesthetic. But go in knowing where the game draws its inspirations from.
