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El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron PS3 Review - www.impulsegamer.com -
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron
Reviewed by
Kyle Sudukis
on
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron PS3 Review. I really enjoyed El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron as it provides gamers with something a little left out of centre with some gorgeous graphics, simplistic yet sometimes challenging gameplay.
Rating:
4.25

Gameplay 8.5
Graphics 8.8
Sound 8.0
Value 8.5
Publisher: Mindscape
Classification:
PG
Review Date:
Sep 2011
Reviewer:
Kyle Sudukis

8.5


El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a weird game that pays homage to a simpler time of gaming, however the universe of this title features a rich and diverse sensory experience that looks quite stunning and stylised on the PS3. The story revolves around Enoch, the protagonist of this game who has been given the task of capturing the renegade angels called the Grigori... seven to be precise. Don't let the 80's hero of this game persuade you not to play  El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron because even though he looks like a himbo, he is actually quite a cool character.

According to the rather convoluted story, the Grigori became fascinated with humanity and left heaven for Earth. Fearing the influence of the Grigori on humanity, the Heavenly Council were about to decimate Earth by a great flood in order rid the planet of these 7 fallen angels, however Enoch agreed to step in which is where the player takes over. With some help from a rather familiar yet fiendish Angel who is always talking, Enoch is given the powers and the weapons to hunt down these creatures in this action adventure orientated game.

The biblical aspect of El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a little strange and sometimes the cutscenes seem to go on forever and a day but if you can push this aside, the gameplay of this title is actually quite cool and addictive. As you explore this world, the places that you visit are quite stylised and simplistic but where the game does shine is through combat. Combat has been streamlined with block, dodge, jump and attack which may sound simplistic but there's something quite endearing about this action adventure as you kick unholy butt.

As you engage in a variety of missions to find these angels, you will soon discover a number of rather cool weapons in your arsenal that includes the Arch, the Gale and the Veil. The Veil really kicks some serious heavenly butt as not only does it serve as a pair of gauntlets but also a shield. I don't want to spoil these weapons because they have some really interesting abilities. With that said, your weapons range from melee to ranged attacks and you can even steal weapons from your enemies. Boss fights sometimes to provide a challenge to the player but if you look for their weakness, you can generally work out a solution to defeating them. Generally, you will be required to use a particular weapon to defeat a certain boss.

As with most games, players will discover a favourite a weapon and when matched with your combo attacks, you will create some very fluid attacks as you take on the various enemies in the game. However, what sets this game apart from others is the inclusion of 2D levels that look visually amazing but more importantly, play quite well. Best of all, your character still has access to his weapons as it combines with puzzle solving and traditional platforming levels. I actually found the 2D aspect of the game more entertaining then the 3D version.

The only issues that I found with the game is that sometimes it is difficult to time or judge your jumps, especially over ledges and I found myself dead on more than one occasion. It does take a little time in mastering the jump system and generally more often than not, you need to compensate your jumps to safely make that landing. This is probably the biggest issue with the game but thankfully the flawless nature of the combat system more than makes up for this. Curse you developers for making this game so addictively fun!

In terms of replay value, once you have completed the game, it does open up additional difficulty levels and because the world is so diverse and original, you could easily play this title again. After playing a healthy amount of games in 2011, I found El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron a very original game that offers something different to what is currently available in the marketplace.

Graphically El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a beautiful looking game on the PS3 with a very minimalistic approach. The most surreal aspect of the game are the 2D levels that look like they have been taken directly from a PSN online game. Some of the level design here is truly inspirational. In terms of 3D, the 3D worlds are fun and the character designs of all the characters looks brilliant.

Add in some great special effects and El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron comes together perfectly on the PS3 with its engaging soundtrack of "holy" rock and orchestral themes. The downside to the game is the sometimes cheesy voice acting. I also loved how the music changed with the various worlds that you visit or when the action heats up.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron as it provides gamers with something a little left out of centre with some gorgeous graphics, simplistic yet challenging gameplay and a world that is so different that you will be craving to come back. The amalgam of 2D meets 3D is used well and I for one enjoyed this game from start to finish, even with the sometimes annoying automatic camera angles which caused judging distance, especially for jumps a holy pain in the rear. Nonetheless, this is an engaging game in a classic world of good versus evil... just don't let the story get to you.

Review courtesy of www.mindscape.com.au





 

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