![El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron [Japan Import]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91zWFQNDTJL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
I'm probably in the minority, but I absolutely enjoyed and loved and my time playing this game. Here's why:
1. GRAPHICS. Beautiful.
The graphics are like hand-drawn art and cell-shading type graphics that combined to make the beauty of what you see on screen come to life, with moving backgrounds and clear visuals. They took their time making the art style wonderful, and it shows. There's a good contrast of an array of colors that make everything lively. However, in some instances of the level design, particularly towards the ending, it gets a little bit dull, with one color making up most of the color scheme. This changes though in some of the later boss battles as it transitions to a different area for the fight, and the colors and moving backgrounds return. I particularly like an early level, where you’re introduced to the Archangels, and you’re traveling through this cathedral-like area. There’s a stained-glass window that you jump around on platforms in front of, and it is so beautifully drawn. The stained-glass windows depict the Archangels in a mesmerizing scene that I’d love to draw one day.
2. GAMEPLAY. Pretty basic. But surprisingly a little deeper than what you'd think. There’s fighting, and platforming. Levels take advantage of both, while some focusing on one or the other. There’s also a level where you drive a futuristic motor cycle the entire level.
FIGHTING. Unfortunately, I can't think of another game to compare the fighting to very nicely, so I'll just use God of War. It's very similar, but with differences. You can argue that it's nowhere near as deep as God of War's combat, but I believe it to be deeper than what you'd expect. The timing of your attacks makes a huge difference. If you time them right, you can get the upper hand on enemies quicker. You can also just button-mash, but it seems like you'll be fighting enemies for a little longer that way, ironically. Or at least, that's what it felt like to me.
With the attacks, there are Ground and Air attacks. With ground attacks, you can charge your hits, delay them, or delay and charge the attacks. You mainly get a maximum of 5 or so hits in a combo, but you can chain them by hitting other enemies, or continuously slowing down and speeding up attacks. With air attacks you mainly get 3 or so hits that can be charged, but no delayed. You can also guard with these weapons. This is all done by two buttons for attack, holding them down to charge, or pressing them slowly to delay each hit, making the combat a little deeper while making it simple at the same time.
Your main way to fight is to steal enemy weapons, and there's only three main types. The Arch looks like a bow that's basically swung around like a sword for basic and quick attacks. Then there's the Gale, which is a floating ring that has 18 or so floating shards that launch into your enemies for quicker, but weaker attacks. Finally, there's the Veil, which is a shield that can break into two pieces to deliver heavy attacks. Each has their own fairly obvious weaknesses and strengths. They are as basic as weapons come. You can also fist-fight, if the weapon you use breaks (did I mention your weapons can break after a while?), meaning stealing is almost necessary depending on the enemy.
Furthermore, the weapons become corrupted after a while from hitting the ‘unclean’ [unclean: my own interpretation of the enemies as well as why the weapons get corrupted] enemies. The weapons are essentially holy, and the enemies unholy, so you have to cleanse the weapon again with a simple button press. I actually enjoy the combat because it’s so simple as to only a few buttons are used, but deeper than you think, if you time the attacks, jump while attacking, charge the attacks or hold another button while attacking. If you want something super deep, this isn’t for you, but I still enjoyed the combat a lot. It is really fluid and smooth, that I don’t mind its simplicity. It is not hardcore or anything like the Devil May Cry series’ fighting.
PLATFORMING. Like most other games in this genre, there are areas you have to jump to and time your jumps to progress through other areas of the levels. It is like most other games, but can be a bit difficult at times depending on enemies, moving platforms, obstacles, and how hard you press the jump button.
3. STORY. Confusing, but really interesting at the same time. Based on the Book of Enoch in Christian mythology. [I’m not sure mythology is the right word, I’m just unsure where the Book of Enoch is located in the Bible, if it is there at all, or if it’s only in certain denominations of the Christian faith. Being raised Catholic, I’ve never really heard of the Book of Enoch until I heard about this game, and even then I haven’t really read the Bible]
The game is about Enoch, and him going after and defeating the seven Fallen Angels (the game only focuses on four of them: Azazel, Ezekiel, Armoros, and Sariel) that rebelled against God. He comes to find out that they each descended to Earth for their own reasons and also made their own tower, so they must be defeated and put an end to their treachery or else God will flood the Earth. Along the way, you get help from one of God’s most trusted servants, Lucifel, touting a cell phone and modern clothing. He stops time and travels through it at times in the game, which is why he’s able to do this.
[You may know him as Lucifer (you know, the devil?), so I’m assuming this takes place before Lucifer rebels against God, which is pretty interesting if you think about it and could leave room for a sequel, considering some of the things Lucifel does throughout the game, but they don’t really focus on that in the game, it’s more just some subtle things]
You also get help from the Archangels Rapheal, Uriel, Micheal, and Gabriel. Uriel sometimes helps you in the form of a power up that you get after defeating enemies and getting combos. There are also a few other characters, but I feel like I’ve already told you too much about the story. The cutscenes don’t really tell you what’s going on, it’s mainly just visuals of the obvious. The bulk of the story is told to you through text and Lucifel narrating what the hell just happened between each level. It’s a good idea to pay attention to all this, since the game’s main shortcoming is it’s weirdness in presentation. Especially since the main character, Enoch, whom you play as, doesn’t speak. You only what’s going on by what the other characters say and tell you.
And of course, the story deals with religious tones as well as the source material, with many aspects changed for a more mainstream audience and to add more to the weirdness, I guess. Haha. I recommend reading a wikia about the game after beating it to understand the story more. But I promise, if you can bear with it, it’s actually really really interesting, and I hope they make a sequel someday (unlikely, I doubt it made much money).
4. SHORTCOMINGS. Basically the confusing and unsure presentation of the story. I really feel like they could have had a pretty neat subplot regarding Lucifel and his motives. Not make the game about him, but maybe make some things about him a LITTLE bit less subtle. But that almost seems nitpicky. Also the combat, but only a little bit. I think it works for what they were going for. It seems they didn’t want to overcomplicate it, otherwise it could have been an even bigger rip-off of God of War and Devil May Cry. Maybe.
On another note, this game isn’t for everyone. People will find this too weird and “Japanese” for their liking. They may not like the story or find the combat too simple and boring and repetitive. The demo for the game that’s out doesn’t really get you into the game, so it’s a little difficult to tell someone to play the demo, and you’ll definitely like the game. I for one didn’t enjoy the demo much, but loved this game, so there you have it. If anything in here seems interesting to you and piques your interest, try it out. I’m sure it’s super cheap now.
11/5/13
*played the game over the course of 7 months (beat it in a few days, but wanted to keep playing for trophies and what-not), starting when I got it in June 2012 (the game came out August 2011), and finished playing it just before Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch released in January of 2013. I played the PS3 version of the game.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2022
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2022
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