El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

The enemies show physical damage to represent how far along you are with hurting them. And obviously once you take their weapon you know they're almost dead.

[RockyRan]

I dismissed the game because I found the demo terrible, but now that reviews are coming out and they're all pretty much singing praises I'll have to put it back on my list. It could very well be one of those great games that just had a shit demo. And it doesn't look like one of those cases where the publishers pull a CoD and pay reviewers to write good things. I'm sure reviewers in general would have no qualms about shitting on this game (they've shat on other unconventional games before), but they're not. Good thing in my book >_>b

[Hot Heart]

Far be it from me to wholly trust an IGN review, but the guy does raise some concerns I had.

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/118/1188056p1.html

 

'El Shaddai is a button-masher, and while you could certainly utilize some cursory combos and skills at your leisure, why would you if the game never really forces you to? You could just mash X over and over again while occasionally blocking an enemy attack or parrying out of the way of danger.'

'the game has only three weapons'

'There's a lot going on in the background of El Shaddai that you simply cannot see during your first playthrough, including a points meter, a power-up system that allows you to use special attacks, and even a gauge that governs your ability to revive yourself after dying. But the only suggestion you'll have from the game on your overall health is the status of your armor.'

 

I think the demo gave a good indication of how clunky the combat and control was, as well as containing all the weapons and pointless platforming.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

Pointless platforming? When does platforming have a point?

[Mister Jack]

I find it difficult to believe that a demo that bad could be part of a product that much better. I don't trust the reviews on this one. Most of the ones I've read seem to point more to the game's achievement as an art piece as opposed to whether it's actually any fun to play.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

There are people who believe that making something an achievement as an art piece is fun to play. You do enjoy art, don't you?

[RockyRan]

I find it difficult to believe that a demo that bad could be part of a product that much better. I don't trust the reviews on this one. Most of the ones I've read seem to point more to the game's achievement as an art piece as opposed to whether it's actually any fun to play.

 

 

 

There's absolutely no reason for game reviewers to give El Shaddai a pass just for being artistic. I would much sooner believe that the demo was bad than the reviewers "dig" the art style so much it's being overrated. Reviewers simply aren't that "deep".

[CorgiShinobi]

Give it about two to three weeks and the game will be at $40.

 

Problem is I would probably choose Deus Ex if I were to buy a game soon.

[Hot Heart]

Pointless platforming? When does platforming have a point?

 

Can't believe I'm bothering to reply to this.

 

'In a platforming game' would be the answer.

[Faiblesse Des Sens]

So if it's not a purely platforming game the platforming is pointless?

 

[Hot Heart]

I'm not sure if you've actually played the demo but at moments it was just 'here are two gaps to jump' and then onto another fight. Plus, if it doesn't work with the given controls I'd say it's ill-advised. Platforming just does not seem at all relevant to the gameplay and the annoying checkpointing ('Missed a jump? Go back to before the first fight') I experienced in the demo did not help matters.

Edited August 19, 2011 by Hot Heart

[CorgiShinobi]

I would consider it pointless platforming too. Not all of it as the 2D segments resembled actually platforming, but the walkways Hot Heart mentions that exist between the battle platforms, yeah, those are pointless. It was like, "Hey, lets have the user be a bit more active between battles. I know, make three holes in the path!"

[WTF]

You know what - that demo was fricking awful but the game. The game is just beautiful. The score is for lack of a better pun - heavenly. The game is 2D and 3D platforming primarily. If you die you can mash buttons to come back to life but the enemies get harder. Your armour breaks when you die and there's many check points when you fall down in some of the platforming levels but if you die there it's sort of reload from some checkpoint ages ago. The combat is quite intuitive and actually gets pretty deep as you progress.

 

This game is for those of you who enjoy games like DMC. It's not quite God of War. However the weapons so far are pretty limited and I think it just stays with 3 weapons for the whole game. There's no levelling up. You need to block, time your attacks, etc standard DMC style stuff. The artistic merit is there but there's a lot of depth to the gameplay. The demo is on par with the demo for uncharted 1, if you played that demo you'd think the game was shit too.

 

It's a game that begins a bit slow just to let you get used to the pace. Oh and so far it's almost impossible to win against the main bad guys who keep coming but at some point you will. It does require a certain amount of skill. There are so far no QTEs, the basic mob enemies are named a bit lame like EzekA SarB etc. The midbosses are fun, the platforming is engaging and the score is soothing though you do get some interesting tracks later such as

 

and this is pretty much played during the load screens

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIBpymWKKc

 

Rent the game and decide for yourself. I'm pretty sure it's a limited run game anyway.

 

The game only has two difficulties to start with, you unlock hard and the other one later if I recall correctly or maybe I just started with Normal. I'll definitely be replaying it. I only judge games by my playing choices and style and to me this is actually a good contender for game that's actually awesome that nobody played.

 

FYI after having tried it while travelling earlier I totally forgot about it and my enthusiasm was quite low but playing the game again made me realise why I loved it. It is a fun game that's probably about 10-15 hours long for the first playthrough and there's an interesting story to boot.

 

The track didn't embed so

 

Anyway the composers were the ones who did the OST for RE:Outbreak and one was the guy for DMC1 and 2 and the other for DMC3 and 4. Plus a bunch of rockman games.

Edited September 18, 2011 by WTF