Developer: Crim Co., Ltd
Publisher: Crim Co., Ltd Gamera Games
Genre: Action RPG
Price: $29.99
Release date: 4/29/2024
Where to buy: Nintendo, Steam
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron HD is a unique action-adventure game that blends artistic storytelling with a surprisingly deep combat system. This essay will delve into the core mechanics of the game, exploring how it creates a captivating experience that is both accessible and rewarding.
One of the first things that strikes players is the game’s distinct visual style. El Shaddai utilizes a blend of 2D and 3D elements, creating a world that feels like a living painting. This aesthetic extends to the gameplay as well. Environments offer a mix of platforming challenges and linear exploration, with a focus on environmental puzzles and traversal. Enoch, the protagonist, moves with a satisfying fluidity, leaping across chasms and scaling walls with ease.
Combat in El Shaddai is deceptively simple on the surface. Players have access to a basic set of moves: jump, attack, guard, and a unique mechanic called “weapon stealing.” Despite this limited set, the combat offers surprising depth. Mastering the timing of attacks and dodges is crucial for success, and the weapon stealing mechanic adds a layer of strategic thinking. By disarming enemies, Enoch can acquire their celestial weapons, each with unique properties that can be used to exploit enemy weaknesses. This system encourages experimentation and adaptation, forcing players to constantly assess the situation and choose the right tool for the job.
Another interesting aspect of the gameplay is the lack of experience points or traditional leveling systems. Instead, character progression comes through acquiring new weapons and mastering combat techniques. This approach keeps the focus on the core gameplay loop of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat, without bogging the experience down with menus and stat management.
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron HD’s gameplay is not without its challenges. The platforming can be demanding at times, requiring precise jumps and well-timed button presses. Additionally, some boss battles can feel more like tests of endurance than skill. However, these challenges are balanced by the game’s beautiful visuals, engaging story, and satisfying combat system.
A Feast for the Eyes
El Shaddai’s true strength lies in its breathtaking art style. The world is a captivating blend of celestial landscapes and fantastical creatures, all rendered in a watercolor aesthetic that feels both timeless and whimsical. The HD remaster brings a noticeable improvement in clarity and detail, making the environments even more impressive on the Switch’s screen.
Simple Yet Satisfying Combat
The combat system is deceptively simple. With just a few buttons for attacking, guarding, and weapon stealing, the focus is on timing and precision. Mastering these mechanics provides a rewarding experience, allowing for stylish combos and strategic disarming of enemies. However, some might find the lack of complexity repetitive over longer stretches.
An Angelic Narrative (with a Few Hiccups)
The story takes inspiration from the Book of Enoch, an apocryphal text. You play as Enoch, tasked by God to retrieve fallen angels who rebelled. The narrative tackles themes of good and evil, forgiveness, and redemption. While intriguing, the story can be convoluted at times, and the pacing suffers from occasional exposition dumps.
A Heavenly Fit for the Switch…Mostly
El Shaddai translates well to the Switch’s handheld mode. The art style shines on the smaller screen, and the core gameplay loop remains engaging in short bursts. However, the game’s originally fixed camera angles can feel restrictive in tight environments, and the occasional frame rate drops can disrupt the flow of combat.
Verdict: A Beautiful But Flawed Angel
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron HD is a visually stunning game with a unique blend of action and adventure. While the combat is simple yet rewarding, the story can be uneven, and the technical aspects aren’t entirely flawless on the Switch.
