El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a three-dimensional action game, complemented by two-dimensional platform stages, characterized by original visuals and a simple combat system. Players take on the role of Enoch, a heavenly scripture entrusted by God with the task of tracking down and defeating fallen angels on Earth.

The Japanese branch of the British studio Ignition Entertainment and Takeyasu Sawaki, known for his character designs for Devil May Cry and Okami, are responsible for developing the title. The plot of the game is a partial and loose adaptation of the apocryphal Book of Enoch. In the game we play the role of Enoch, great-grandfather of Noah, who as the only human was allowed to stay in heaven where he performs the role of divine scribe. Some angels fascinated with mankind oppose God and descend to Earth, where they produce offspring with mortals, called Nephilim. When God decides to flood the world to stop the birth of the Nephilims, Enoch gets one last chance to prevent the threat of the Great Flood. In order to succeed and save mankind from extinction, he has to travel to Earth and find and defeat the fallen archangels. Our guide and a link with the All-mighty is is Archangel Lucifel, who travels in time. It is she who commissions us with subsequent tasks by contacting God using a mobile phone, waiting for the hero in some of the places, fulfilling the role of a mobile save point.

We spend most of the game fighting with the angels' servants and travelling through large, yet linear locations, which often require from us dexterity in jumping on platforms and avoiding traps. The breaks between the main levels are boss battles and stages which are a variation of traditional two-dimensional platformers. These short episodes give us the opportunity to select different paths leading to the end of the stage, where the items that make it possible to achieve a positive ending of the game are hidden.

Unlike other action games, such as God of War or Devil May Cry, the controls have been greatly simplified here, which does not mean, however, that they do not require some skill and finesse from the players. Enoch's movements are controlled by means of an analog knob and four buttons responsible for attack, block, jumping and disarming opponents. More advanced attacks are obtained by performing combos, which requires rhythmic and alternate pressing of buttons responsible for block, attack and jump.

Game provides three types of weapons, although we can carry only one weapon at a time. Importantly, each of the enemies we encounter on our way is sensitive or immune to damage caused by some of them. A new weapon can only be gained by taking it from opponents' hands. With time, the weapon we use becomes less and less effective and we have to clean it with the appropriate command. The cleaning animation lasts a few seconds, during which Enoch becomes completely defenseless. During the game we are not accompanied by menus or infographics, such as health bars or weapon icons. Enoch's armor falling apart under the blows of his opponents informs us about the hero's condition, and its color about the effectiveness of his defense. Each of the twelve acts of the game is characterized by a specific visual style, distinguishing it from the others. The visual layer and enemy designs are modelled on both African and Indian cultures, as well as those from Japan or India. We will even find ideas taken directly from science-fiction. Thanks to this, the graphic design creates a unique, slightly surrealistic mix, which distinguishes the game from other productions.

Last updated on 20 December 2023