PlatinumGames on Astral Chain’s ice cream and box juggling mini-games, studio’s variety

As part of a Famitsu interview featuring Astral Chain director Takahisa Taura, supervisor Hideki Kamiya, and Yoko Taro from Square Enix, there was discussion about all three developers being the type to include a lot of variety in their games.

Astral Chain was one of PlatinumGames’ latest titles, and contained some detective segments and different types of mini-games like ice cream and box juggling. Taura recognizes that some players weren’t fans of those extras, but feels their existence is justified since they’re not mandatory.

Taura said:

Taura: We had some feedback from players that they didn’t care for the ice cream and box juggling parts in Astral Chain… But we didn’t make them mandatory in the game, so I figure those who don’t want to play those parts can just skip it, and it’s fine.

There was more discussion on the topic of gameplay variety as well:

Taura: You guys both really like shoot ’em ups right? You even find a way to include something like that in your games.

Taro: Yeah, but you put elements of that in Astral Chain, too, didn’t you? It felt like you were showing off there with that opening.

Kamiya: You know, I put shooting in Bayonetta and The Wonderful 101, then Yoko added it to NieR: Automata, too – now some people might think it’s PlatinumGames’ tradition. (Laughs)

[…]

Taura: But I wasn’t paying homage to our studio by putting shooting elements in Astral Chain, though. I think it might be a curse or something from NieR: Automata… Or punishment. (Laughs)