Archive: 19 posts

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Last night I had an epiphany. I was dashing across an inky black platform with a menacing red tower looming in the distance. Purple, green, cerulean neon fireworks were exploding in the background. Children were singing what sounded like an African song. My hero Enoch encountered some vile creatures which he quickly dispatched with with a frenetic ballet of beautiful destruction. The angel Lucifel was casually talking to god on a cell phone updating him with my progress. Then the epiphany, not only are games art but a truly special game is the best kind of art there is! Before I continue: http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/galleries/2011-01-12/el-shaddai-screens-1-12-11/el-shaddai-screens-1-12-11_1294861058.jpg http://andriasang.com/comy7b/23f82.jpg http://files.g4tv.com/rimg_606x0/ImageDb3/274929_l/el-shaddai-ascension-of-the-metatron-e3-2011-screenshots.jpg http://media.gamerevolution.com/images/games/ps3/el-shaddai-ascension-of-the-metatron/el-shaddai-ascension-of-the-metatron_020.jpg http://files.g4tv.com/rimg_606x0/ImageDb3/241723_l/e3-2010-el-shaddai-ascension-of-the-metatron-photos.jpg You know, I've played a lot of games over the years. Every now and again I play something that has me saying "wow" quite often. However, nothing I have ever played comes close to the sheer visual and aural assault that is El Shaddai. I can say with all confidence there is nothing else out there like it. It will surprise you, it will delight you, it will more often then not leave you in awe. Every single level is completely different from the last. You never know what to expect and you eagerly anticipate the next heavenly vista or insane boss battle. The story takes the Book of Enoch and gives it a big Japanese twist. The angel Gabriel is a girl, the 4 archangels protecting Enoch manifest as geese, Lucifel talks to god on a cell phone! I love the Japanese design philosophy. Taking a story like this and injecting it with so much vigor and verve works brilliantly. The game feels triumphant and epic. It feels fresh, new and cutting edge. It reminds you that FAR from being in danger the Japanese industry continues to make the coolest stuff out there. Gorgeous graphics mean absolutely nothing without great gameplay. El Shaddai has you covered. The easy to learn battle system quickly reveals it's depth. There are 3 weapons and the game uses a rock/paper/scissors system. You can only use one weapon at a time, changing weapons by stealing them off your enemies with a graceful visual flourish or by picking up dropped item pods (which only seems to happen during boss battles). You have your charge attacks, guard breaks and aerial combos. You eventually get an overboost ability which lends you the power of a certain celestial someone. The strategy is prioritizing the battle against multiple enemies using different weapons and always using the best weapon for the job. Blocking, dodging and timing are key. Button mashing will usually get you killed. The game has it's healthy dose of platforming, my favorite sections are old-school 2D areas that are a nice break from the combat and have a lot of cool surprises of their own. There are hidden areas to find, some which may require a particular weapons special move to access. So far I am loving the story and presentation. There are lots of interesting characters and the opening credits might just be the best in the history of gaming. El Shaddai was released in July for NA and last week in the EU, it has been available in Japan since early in the year. I get the feeling this will be another overlooked gem that deserves all the praise and recognition in the world which is the main reason why I created this thread, I feel compelled to "spread the word"! Calling something "the most beautiful game ever" is subjective depending on the person and their own preferences...except in this case it's not! No screenshot or video will do it justice, pick the game up and experience the glory for yourself

2011-09-21 10:10:00 Author: OCK Posts: 1536

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I waited this game so much! I downloaded the Japanese demo as soon as I could... Then my HDMI f'up and you can't play a game like this in SD. So, I have to wait that my PS3 will be OK.

2011-09-21 10:41:00 Author: OmegaSlayer Posts: 5112

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What a compelling recommendation! I'll be sure to keep an eye out for this one Thanks Ock!

2011-09-21 10:41:00 Author: rialrees Posts: 1015

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Tried the demo, it looked nice and thats the only thing it had going for it.

2011-09-21 12:03:00 Author: Rabid-Coot Posts: 6728

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Tried the demo, it looked nice and thats the only thing it had going for it. I love when people judge things based off a demo, it shows a certain level of credibility. I also love one sentence replies to everything but that seems to be your modus operandi. I just finished another insane level, was not kidding when I said this game keeps surprising the player. Here is a pic I took with my phone (crap quality lol) 36999

2011-09-21 13:35:00 Author: OCK Posts: 1536

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I love when people judge things based off a demo, it shows a certain level of credibility. I also love one sentence replies to everything but that seems to be your modus operandi. Isn't this the point of a demo? If the demo doesn't peak my interest it's not my fault, it's the developers for putting out a crappy demo (or a crappy game). An example of a game with an demo done right is Enslaved Odyssey to the West. I'd never heard of that game and ended up getting it soley from playing the demo. The demo of El Shaddai didn't do anything to endear the game to me (I wanted to like this game since I really enjoyed Okami and it's some of the same people). I didn't like the combat and I disliked the "3d" platforming. The 2d stuff was much better, but the controls still weren't great. The 3d part was full of holes in the environment that you fell through to your death that were just annoying. The demo also wasn't that visually interesting. If this is actually a good game they certainly blew it with this demo... Would you really still recommend this game to me given what I didn't like about the demo...trippy visuals aren't a sufficient reason to suffer through bad gameplay... btw: That last screen shot from your phone is 1000 times more interesting that anything shown in the demo...

2011-09-21 15:15:00 Author: fullofwin Posts: 1214

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I have to tell you, I have rarely played a demo that was a good representation of the final game or that got me excited for the game and I would never presume to judge a game based only on a demo. So what do I base my purchases on? Research. I will research a game months prior to release and learn everything I need to know. As such, I love 95% of the games I buy because I only buy games I KNOW I will love (the other 5% is me "taking a chance" on something I KNOW very little about such as Brink). Beyond that I am a very open-minded gamer who plays games across many different genres so I can buy things with confidence and take that odd "risk". The reason I appreciate your post is because you quantified why you did not like the demo instead of just saying "it's pretty but that's about it". However, I go back to what I said before, the demo is NOT a good representation of the game. Beauty is only skin deep but thankfully this game has soul. A lot of older gamers have become jaded and I feel have lost their love of gaming. A lot of younger gamers have grown up in the age of self-expression where everyone wants to be a critic and we can't just sit back and enjoy a great gaming experience. With so many high profile releases this year games like El Shaddai will get lost in the shuffle and they really deserve more then that. This thread is meant to celebrate the game and let people know what it's all about. If I succeed in getting at least 1 person to check out the game then mission accomplished. I can't tell you whether or not you will like this game but should you give it a chance? Yes, you should definitely give it a chance. Edit: btw, my screenshot? I took that from a level so ridiculously cool that it literally had me shouting "**** yeah!"

2011-09-21 16:18:00 Author: OCK Posts: 1536

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i heard this game got bad scores.... and that really sucks.... i like this game.the demo was entertaining and i love the gameplay(3d platforming was a nightmare though).

2011-09-22 03:21:00 Author: majormel84 Posts: 398

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But I've seen so much more beautiful games. Mirror's Edge, Braid, Outland etc...

2011-09-22 06:05:00 Author: Edeslash Posts: 135

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But I've seen so much more beautiful games. Mirror's Edge, Braid, Outland etc... Mirror's Edge...not at all Braid...hm...no Outland...is cool But the point is...have you just seen them or actually played?

2011-09-22 07:44:00 Author: OmegaSlayer Posts: 5112

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i heard this game got bad scores.... and that really sucks.... i like this game.the demo was entertaining and i love the gameplay(3d platforming was a nightmare though). OK, I'll play along. The Metacritic score for El Shaddai is 76/10 which is quite good. Eurogamer.net (among others) who are notoriously tough when it comes to reviews gave it a 9/10. Scores mean very little to me though so here are some choice quotes: A game like El Shaddai is something that comes along only a few times in each console generation. The beautiful visuals, fantastic environments, solid (though slightly flawed) gameplay, and rich mythology combine to make a game quite unlike anything you've ever played. - Gamepro A visually arresting experience I wholeheartedly loved...A rare treat of a game and a celebration of video games as an art form. - Game Informer Many games aspire toward aesthetic sophistication, but only a precious few manage to emerge as great game in the process. El Shaddai achieves this, and it leaves you smitten and awestruck. It's both simple to grasp and rich enough to keep you coming back for more. Those seeking something refreshingly different will be well rewarded by this rare and original experience. - Gametrailers Though El Shaddai could've used a little more replay value (or perhaps even some online multiplayer ? not just leaderboard support), this game definitely looks and sounds like the sort of product that deserves multiple playthroughs, if only to relive its majesty for repeat visits and see what a talented development team can do. - Planet Xbox 360 It can feel a little dated in terms of its approach to combat, but the game is so beautiful, so different, so utterly weird and wonderful that this is of no real consequence. - Videogamer El Shaddai is such a gorgeous game that it would have been worth playing even if the combat was merely average. But developer Ignition Entertainment gave reasons to play beyond its outstanding visual design. The combat system makes excellent use of its narrow moveset to create an enticing experience that demands focus and determination to prevail. - Gamespot But I've seen so much more beautiful games. Mirror's Edge, Braid, Outland etc... As Omega asked, did you actually play these games? I have and although I enjoyed each of them comparing their overall beauty and artistic merit to El Shaddai is like comparing the glow of a candle to the might and glory of the sun.

2011-09-22 10:02:00 Author: OCK Posts: 1536

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I love when people judge things based off a demo, it shows a certain level of credibility. I also love one sentence replies to everything but that seems to be your modus operandi. That?s entire point of a demo to act as a sales pitch to catch the players attention and make them put down money to get more of it. I'm not going to go well that wasn't up to much but I better fork out the cash for full thing just incase it gets better later on. The combat was bland and felt overly long, what little plot that was given was forgettable and didn't really make me compelled to find out what was going on, the 3d platforming felt like a lazy attempt to make the little corridors between fights longer by putting in a few holes to jump over and finally we have the highlight of the demos gameplay that 2d platforming bit with the cloudy wave things, the platforming wasn?t anything extraordinary but it was the most competently constructed part of the whole experience. Or in other words looked nice and thats about it. Games I know I?m likely to buy get the appropriate level of pre-purchase research but there?s also so many games that I miss in the pre-release hype so I make the effort to try every demo that hits the PSN just incase there?s something good that I've missed and several games in my collection are there because their demo was enjoyable enough to encourage a purchase.

2011-09-22 13:26:00 Author: Rabid-Coot Posts: 6728

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Thanks for the proper reply. I go back to what I already said, the demo does not do the game justice. That does not mean you will love the full game but it's at least worth a rental. Out of the approx. 25 games I have bought so far this year El Shaddai has moved into my top 3 (alongside Deus Ex and Catherine). I like to think I have a good basis of comparison and the knowledge/experience to recognize a special game when I play one (and looking at some of the quotes above others agree?). At the end if the day it is still only my opinion but I will continue champion niche games like this provided they deserve such praise (El Shaddai genuinely does).

2011-09-22 13:50:00 Author: OCK Posts: 1536

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This looks interesting! (if only renting games was allowed here... GAH!) cheers, misty

2011-09-22 13:59:00 Author: Mother-Misty Posts: 574

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This looks interesting! (if only renting games was allowed here... GAH!) cheers, misty Buy it, thank me later (some of the visuals actually remind me of your levels lol). Btw, I don't have the option to rent either

2011-09-22 14:04:00 Author: OCK Posts: 1536

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I love when people judge things based off a demo, it shows a certain level of credibility. 36999 That's the purpose of a demo, isn't it? It's a demonstration, it's supposed to show a peek of what's in store for you and convince you to buy the game. If someone's bored by one, either the game isn't to the liking of that person or the producers chose a portion of the game that isn't in the spirit of a demo. In my opinion, this game's pretty rad. It's artsy and it's original, and in this age getting something truly original to play is pretty hard. All the games I have are usually games that earn between 8/10 and 10/10 in average, but it isn't the scores that make me buy them. The multiple reviews and viewpoints I read sure help me decide if I'll buy a game or not, but ultimately it's a game having a charisma and essence that just does it for me, that connects with my preferences. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, for example. It got about the same reception than El Shaddai, but I still bought it because I liked the adventurous feel it had. I was pretty irritated sometimes by the crappy melodrama and a few rough edges in the gameplay, but I still had much enjoyment with it and I consider it a danged good purchase. I love the art style I've seen in El Shaddai, so I'll probably buy it sometime. But only when it gets cheaper, because right now I have bigger fish to fry like Infamous 2 and Deus Ex: HR (and Uncharted 3, Skyrim and Batman: Arkham City soon enough).

2011-09-22 17:16:00 Author: SnipySev Posts: 2452

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That's the purpose of a demo, isn't it? It's a demonstration, it's supposed to show a peek of what's in store for you and convince you to buy the game. Here is the problem with a demo: nothing is put into context. Your thrown into to a specific area of the game with no character exposition, no attachment to the characters, no idea about the overall story. Game mechanics are often missing, many demos can actually be misleading. I would say a great demo should "pique interest". An astute gamer should already know as much as there is to know about the game assuming there was pre-existing interest. I have played some demos that have actually turned me off the game but I knew enough about the game and the "total package" to still give the game a chance (InFamous is one example of such a game). The ultimate point I was making with my demo comment is that you cannot judge an entire game purely based off your experience with a 20 minute demo. I am sure every sane/rational/intelligent human being would agree with me. right now I have bigger fish to fry like Infamous 2 and Deus Ex: HR (and Uncharted 3, Skyrim and Batman: Arkham City soon enough Thank you for proving my point, that is EXACTLY what I am talking about. El Shaddai will be passed over in favor of higher profile releases by the average gamer. Big sequels with lots of marketing muscle and traditional AAA franchises are slowly burying smaller, innovative, truly original titles like El Shaddai that take a chance but don't sell well. I can't tell you whether El Shaddai is more worth your money then Arkham City for that is highly subjective question (conversely I will be waiting for a price drop on that before I pick it up even though I loved Asylum, will be busy with Dark Souls, RAGE and BF3 for Oct/early Nov). However, the unwillingness of the average gamer to even entertain the thought of buying El Shaddai over something like Infamous 2 is a problem imo (btw, I have the plat trophy for Infamous2, loved it, but El Shaddai is a more valuable gaming experience to me). Rest assured, I always put my money where my mouth is and I don't pontificate on things I have no knowledge of

2011-09-22 18:32:00 Author: OCK Posts: 1536

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Yeah, a game demo, and a movie trailer are exactly the same thing. But we still use them to judge the film, and sometimes we get a surprise when the full product comes out.

2011-09-22 19:18:00 Author: poorjack Posts: 1806

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And? I loved Infamous 1's story and I want to get some closure on it, besides trying out the new gameplay that looks amazing. I have played the first hours of Deus Ex 1 and despite Human Revolution not being quite as good, I want to replay that kind of game that gives you an immense amount of playstyles to choose from. I haven't missed any second of any footage from Skyrim that has come out, and I have loved every second of it. I also loved Batman and Uncharted so those two got instantly on my future purchase list on the day I saw them announced. I'll wait until I finish Demon's Souls until I consider buying Dark Souls, and I completely forgot about RAGE. I guess I'll wait to see how it ends up. I said El Shaddai's style did it for me, but all these games I mentioned get to me too and more than El Shaddai. I don't doubt people will gloss over this game in favour of something more generic, I think you're right on that. Heck, I've been frowned at for buying LBP, Minecraft and Demon's Souls instead of the stuff all my friends buy like FIFA and COD. But I don't choose to put Shaddai on the bottom of my list just because it isn't a high profile game. I'm always well-informed when it comes to games and I just know I'll enjoy Infamous and Deus Ex more than El Shaddai.

2011-09-22 19:24:00 Author: SnipySev Posts: 2452

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