El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

 Xbox 360
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
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  1. 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 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    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 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    … Expand
  2. 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 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 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.… Expand
  3. RickyBooby
    Aug 23, 2013
    2
    More like MetaBOMB! Wow. I've played well over 500 games. This is top 5 for worst ever. The first 2-3 chapters you assume they're creating the story, so you are more forgiving of the rambling, confusing non-sense. By the time you're wrapping up Chapter 12, you realized you've been playing for hours, have no idea what is actually going on, and your hands are tired from mindlessly mashingMore like MetaBOMB! Wow. I've played well over 500 games. This is top 5 for worst ever. The first 2-3 chapters you assume they're creating the story, so you are more forgiving of the rambling, confusing non-sense. By the time you're wrapping up Chapter 12, you realized you've been playing for hours, have no idea what is actually going on, and your hands are tired from mindlessly mashing buttons. I could end the review with that, but there are so many more points of rage:
    1) During your first playthrough, there is no health gauge for you or bosses. Annoying, but enraging when you learn that on a second playthrough you can unlock that. Also, you can unlock scores on second playthroughs.
    2) 3 weapons. 3 weapons the whole game, with one being vastly superior and merely requiring button spamming
    3) Literally minutes of just walking down a corridor. Maybe so the dev can load the next scene? Maybe because in game design school they were absent on the day they discussed fun. Whatever the reason, I'd say in total, I spent 20 minutes simply walking in a black room with a light tunnel ahead. Seriously.
    4) Cheap bosses. Remember those old fighters where you'd play against some jerk who leg swept you 12 times then delivered an uppercut since the animations prevented you from blocking, moving, or doing anything about it? Yup...welcome to the tactics of about half the bosses. It's not overly difficult to avoid, but when you do...brace yourself for rage.
    5) Platforming with a miserable camera angle. We've been playing games for over 30 years. You'd think that by this point silly jump puzzles and platforming portions that were done poorly would at least have the common courtesy of giving you a decent camera angle. With El Shaddai...you thought wrong.

    The positives? This game has a really neat art style, the music builds up to epic during intense battles, and visually it's neat to see a different type of game tried. Unfortunately with the shallow gameplay, non-sensical story, horrific design choices, and maddening omissions, this game is dreadful. I bought it on XBL for $3. I overpaid.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
  1. Xbox Achievements
    Nov 15, 2011
    77
    El Shaddai has its frustrations and annoyances making it something of an acquired taste, but if you can get a feel for the rhythm-based hack and slash gameplay, and if you find the game's eclectic and achingly beautiful art style as arresting as we did, then you'll be in for a divine treat that's unlike anything you've played before.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Nov 9, 2011
    80
    It's a pity that a game with such phenomenal and unusual visuals has such simple game mechanics, being a simple slasher that uses just one attack button and offers a limited array of enemies. [November 2011, p.70]
  3. Gamer.no
    Oct 27, 2011
    40
    El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron could have been a well executed mix of action and platforming, with a unique and artistic look. The combat system is interesting at first, but turns out to be too monotone and simple. With better combat mechanics and a more interesting story, it would have more to offer than simply good looks.
    Read full review
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