El Shaddai ASCENSION OF THE METATRON HD Remaster (v2022.04.11)

A surreal retelling of the Book of Enoch turns biblical myth into one of the most visually daring action adventures on PC. You guide Enoch through heavenly realms, flooded ruins, impossible cities, and abstract dreamscapes while pursuing seven fallen angels whose rebellion threatens to drown humanity. Lucifel, an immaculate and dryly amusing celestial guide, frames the journey with conversations that make ancient scripture feel unexpectedly stylish. The tone is mystical and theatrical rather than grim, with every chapter trading realism for bold color, shifting architecture, and painterly spectacle.

Combat uses a deliberately small command set—jump, attack, guard, and disarm—but timing and positioning make those inputs matter. Enoch can seize enemy weapons and rotate between the sword-like Arch, the rapid Gale projectile weapon, and the close-range Veil gauntlets, each supporting a different rhythm of offense and defense. Weapons need purification after extended use, creating brief windows of vulnerability and encouraging players to stay aggressive rather than settle into a single safe pattern. Platforming regularly changes perspective as well, moving from third-person brawling to side-scrolling obstacle courses, aerial sequences, and strange traversal challenges without losing the game’s momentum.

What separates El Shaddai ASCENSION OF THE METATRON HD Remaster from most character-action games is its refusal to make any location look normal for long. Environments morph as Enoch advances, sometimes resembling ink paintings or minimalist stage sets, then exploding into saturated, otherworldly landscapes that remain memorable years later. Its action is more approachable than the demanding combo systems of Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, yet players who learn guarding, weapon management, and enemy timing find considerably more depth than the controls initially suggest. Fans of eccentric Japanese action games, mythological stories, and art-forward adventures should give it a serious look, while newcomers can enjoy it without needing encyclopedic knowledge of its religious inspiration.