El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

 Xbox 360
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 44
  3. Negative: 2 out of 44
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  1. GameFocus
    Sep 10, 2011
    74
    Perhaps the most artistically beautiful game I've ever played, it's easy to get lost in the gorgeous environments. Once or twice the art style did take away from the gameplay, appearing as if static was affecting my television and making depth perception harder to comprehend.
  2. GameOver.gr
    Sep 23, 2011
    70
    This obscure take on a legend of the Jewish religion has a remarkable art direction and some of the most beautiful graphics we've ever seen. Too bad the combat system is shallow and the overall gameplay doesn't live up to the standards of the art department.
  3. Thunderbolt
    Sep 19, 2011
    70
    One of the best visual experiments of the last few years.
  5. D+PAD Magazine
    Sep 19, 2011
    70
    Through its boldly chosen subject matter, ravishing good looks and slick mechanics El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is without question a title that deserves to be played – the big question mark that hangs over it is whether you'll engage with it enough to care or to want to come back for second helpings.
  6. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Sep 19, 2011
    70
    Gorgeous, enjoyable and absolutely nutty, El Shaddai is full of ideas. However, it doesn't put them all to good use, and its beautiful world is merely a facade to dress up the repetitive combat. [Issue#76, p.86]
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  7. BigPond GameArena
    Sep 15, 2011
    70
    A game unlike no other. Every minor failing in gameplay or plot was cancelled out by a graphical marvel or auditory explosion.
  8. 3DJuegos
    Sep 12, 2011
    68
    El Shaddai is an unconventional and beautiful game that seduces with its ideas rather than its gameplay.
  9. Game Chronicles
    Oct 23, 2011
    60
    El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a linear action-brawler, and at some basic levels of design no more ambitious than your standard God of War game.
  10. Level7.nu
    Sep 30, 2011
    60
    Ambitious and gorgeous, but too simplistic and repetitive.
  11. GamerNode
    Sep 15, 2011
    60
    A game this rich in inspiration and bizarre in interpretation should be beheld; to be played, it seems, was not El Shaddai's priority.
  12. Gameblog.fr
    Sep 9, 2011
    60
    El Shaddai is a game that seduces with its looks, atmosphere and little ideas rather than its gameplay. This beat'em all is far from a Bayonetta or a God of War for sure, but it mesmerizes nonetheless with its hallucinated and daring visuals, its soundtrack and its very personal way - to say the least - of interpreting a religious text. One does not come out unscathed from the experience... whether it is in a good or bad way, depending on one's appreciation of the value of the form over the substance, or the artistic approach over the efficiency of a gameplay.
  13. Gamer.nl
    Sep 9, 2011
    50
    This game is all about the looks: the imagery on offer here is simply spectacular. But what is the message? We have no clue. The gameplay is lacking and overly simplistic. If you're looking for the next "art-game", look no further, but don't expect to play something that's truly fun.
  14. IGN
    Aug 16, 2011
    50
    In the end, El Shaddai attempts to do too much, and much of what it does it doesn't do well.

Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011
38
#38 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2011

User Reviews

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User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 52 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 52
  3. Negative: 9 out of 52
  1. SaucyGit
    Sep 4, 2011
    4
    I was intrigued by the first good reviews even though the game was based on the bible. Which the bible was based on past religions from theI was intrigued by the first good reviews even though the game was based on the bible. Which the bible was based on past religions from the grecian times, so maybe it might be good based on this idea. This was not the case at all. The beginning of this game is kinda goofy, with no complete pretext on whats going on and this continues throughout the whole game. Fight bosses in tower...O,K., I can do that, but it continues to par you up to bosses that have a script to kill you and kill you good. No chance what so ever. I know this is a method used in this game to give you an idea on how far you need to go or how far you have come along, but it fails because of the dragging load times and annoying reminders of how to stay alive. Another method used is platforming. Platforming has become rampant in recent games and I loathe it in this day and age no matter how 'pretty' it is. It's linear and sleep inducing. it's jumping and falling. It's repetitive and all 60 dollar games should not have this in it in this day and age. another very awful mechanic is the cut scene, death scenes. Jumping in the darkness when 'searching' for bones leads to a painful death and credits screen about 5 min in length. Torture. I tried to give this game a chance just to say I finished it, but I couldn't take the repetitiveness of waiting for the game to load only to die again and again and again. I did play it on the hardest setting but my Xbox Hard drive had more action than I did playing this game. The back ground design of levels is amazing but you can't venture into it. This game, in total, is a waste of a visual designers talents meets a horrible game designer, in my opinion. Rent, if you like being tortured and not in a Demons souls way either. Oh and by the way this game has a total of probably 7 types of enemies and 3 weapons.… Full Review »
  2. TundraFreeze
    Aug 26, 2013
    10
    It is the unique artistic design, storyline and topic that makes El Shaddai a unique gaming experience. Nothing like it exists on console, youIt is the unique artistic design, storyline and topic that makes El Shaddai a unique gaming experience. Nothing like it exists on console, you have to look at modern indie PC games for equally unique visuals. So if you want a game that stands out on your shelf this is it. The gameplay is a combination of 2D and 3D platforming with combat. Mostly combat though. The combat is not overly technical you only have to memorize ten or so button combinations, which is not a lot for this type of game. However having less button combinations to memorize made the game more enjoyable to me, I prefer being able to master a few moves over trying to recollect a tonne of them. I simply have more fun this way. Besides, mastering them can be difficult and the enemies are not that easy to beat. In addition, enemies require you to use specific weapons in order to beat them in the most efficient way. So there is a heavy trial and error aspect to El Shaddai. You also don't have much armor and health. By now you should realize that this is definitely not a button-mashing game. You need to play smart and master the combat. I had a great time with El Shaddai, I have done two playthroughs of it since I first bought it. For me the game has a high replay value because of the unique visuals and uncomplicated combat style. Like I said earlier, nothing like it exists on the 360 console.… Full Review »
  3. havberg
    Jun 1, 2013
    2
    I have bought a decent amount of bad games but this tops it all. I admit that while the graphics are unusual and interesting it can not redeemI have bought a decent amount of bad games but this tops it all. I admit that while the graphics are unusual and interesting it can not redeem the whole game.

    The story is some Jewish-christian tale taken from the Bible and as an idea I found it intriguing. But the game barely tells you any of the background of this story and all I understood was that my dude's name was Eunuch (or something like that), I must defeat the fallen angels and this guy who helps me by talking on the phone is actually talking to God.

    Game play sounded exciting at first, but after trying it I realized that there are 3 different weapons you can use and 7 different enemy types bosses. So I thought it's cool and complex at first, then I realized that I can just take the ranged type weapon and spam the attack and jump button to kill all the enemies. The boss fights were a nice change of pace but not enough to divert you from the boring combat that kept on repeating itself. Moving around is done by platforming around, with not too great controls might I add, and the game repeated that jump, fight, jump, fight, go to some kind of freakish teleport and jump and fight again

    The game also likes to jump to some totally random boss fights that you can't win and just leaves you with a WTF feeling and just puts you back to the place where you originally were.

    So the only thing that I found to be good was the soundtrack and the graphics. Sometimes I would just stop fighting to listen to the background music and the visuals are stunning. Even the 2D phases looked good and I mostly enjoyed watching the scenery of this game.

    So to sum it up, good scenery and music. game play and story, unless you deem it worth it to research the story yourself, and not worth the relatively high price, even when bought used    … Full Review »
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