El Shaddai Ascension of the Metatron

[rapoon]

Nice long video about the game showcasing the art and fighting.

http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-ex- ... n/17-3937/

personally, very excited about the game.

[ZOM]

Yeah played the demo and loved it. Except for the fact that you can just revive everytime you die. I hope it's either limited or there's a penalty for using it in the final game.
The combat is still challenging enough, though.
Already preordereed the Asian version, which sadly was pushed to June.

[JoshF]

Simplistic one button mashing combat + simplistic sub-Adventure Island 1 platforming.

[evil_ash_xero]

Yeah played the demo and loved it. Except for the fact that you can just revive everytime you die. I hope it's either limited or there's a penalty for using it in the final game.
The combat is still challenging enough, though.
Already preordereed the Asian version, which sadly was pushed to June.

Where'd you play the demo?

[RNGmaster]

Simplistic one button mashing combat + simplistic sub-Adventure Island 1 platforming.

Platforming looks piss easy, but combat actually seems pretty engaging - it's very technical on the level of DMC or Ninja Gaiden. I saw a Destructoid preview where the game designer said, "If you button mash you'll die quickly" or something like that.

I also love the aesthetic.

[Devil REI]

The best part about all the crazy-ass memes and fandom Japan created around this is that it's actually a fantastic game. You can't ask for a better punchline.

Sawaki Takeyasu's direction and vision is amazing, and her team's produced a game that looks and plays like nothing else on the market. I hope she continues on to greater things - lord knows our industry could use more visible female creative figureheads.

[ZOM]

Where'd you play the demo?

Was up for download on Japanese PSN 1-2 weeks ago.

...but combat actually seems pretty engaging - it's very technical on the level of DMC or Ninja Gaiden

Yes and no. It really is just single-button combat, but by changing the timing on the button presses and coupled with the jumping and charges, it's possible to execute a bunch of different combos. There's also some sort of counterattack system that's triggered by pushing the analog stick towards the enemy at the right time.
Furthermore it's possible to disarm the enemies and use their weapons. Additional to Enoch's bare fists, there were two different weapons available in the demo, one of it is even of a more "shooting-related" nature. The weapons Enoch can grab from his enemies need to be "purified" by the push of a button(lets you open to attacks for a few frames) over time or they get weaker the more he uses them.
This whole mechanics can make for some interesting things, especially if the game provides a diverse amount of weapons. And here is my concern: there's an in-game instruction in the demo showing just three icons for different weapons, I strongly hope that's not all.

I was very impressed by the enemy AI, though - they seem to know what they're doing and constantly break your guard or guard just at the right time to protect themselves.
The way the enemies act is pretty much what makes the simplistic one-button mashing combat system work in this game, I think. Simple to execute yet still posing a challenge. (we know this from an other genre don't we? )

That's just my two cents about the very small bit you play in the demo - if the rest of the game manages to bring some moree things, I know I'll love this game. If it stays the same throughout the whole game, it could get boring after a while. But one thing's for sure, the artstyle is awesomness

The best part about all the crazy-ass memes and fandom Japan created around this is that it's actually a fantastic game.

Well, Lucifer *is* one sexy mofo in this game, you can't blame angels going gay for him.

[BulletMagnet]

DL'ed the demo for this, but only played it once...need to read up a bit more on how everything works before trying again, though. The sucker certainly looks good, and I thought the combat controls (what I grasped of them, anyways) felt fine, but the platforming came across as a little awkward...

[Elixir]

The lack of western coverage for this game is just disturbing. I skipped the initial release simply because I have a bunch of games currently and don't want a huge backlog, but I did download both 360 and PS3 versions. They seemed fine. No problems.

I'll probably just wait for the English release, else I won't have anything to buy in June.

[dcharlie]

Seems weird - Mangod Shane B is the PR point for the game so i can only assume that the west is simply waiting until the JPN release is out of the way. Looks gorgeous - though i've not bought the game itself i picked up the prelim. sketch book today.

[rapoon]

Simplistic one button mashing combat + simplistic sub-Adventure Island 1 platforming.

That's what I thought at first but RNG is right. if you mash the buttons repeatedly, you'll die.
The attacks your character performs depend on how long the button is held down, rapidly pressing the button,
the duration between pressing the attack button, etc.

I think it's brilliant. I have no doubt this game will kick ass. Everything I have seen, I love.
And I prefer a single attack button over 5 - 6 different buttons any day.

[rapoon]

The lack of western coverage for this game is just disturbing.

agree 100%. It's the lack of exposure that inadvertently results it very unique games
not being released in the states and europe.

I'm thrilled this is getting a western release but what about the next game....

after being unemployed for a very long time; it looks like I may have finally found work,
in which case I intend on immediately ordering a japanese 360 + a stack of JPN shmups
as a gift to myself.

* back on topic *

I'm very excited about El Shaddai..... and Asura's Wrath

[ZOM]

...else I won't have anything to buy in June.

No interest in Shadows of the Damned?

[mesh control]

...else I won't have anything to buy in June.

No interest in Shadows of the Damned?

Damn, I've been out of the loop. Both SotD and El Shaddai... look/sound great.

[Elixir]

...else I won't have anything to buy in June.

No interest in Shadows of the Damned?

It looks interesting, but no. I didn't like RE4. I have Steins;Gate and El Shaddai to look forward to, then EDF and Catherine in June, plus all the stuff I have now. It's not like I need any more.

I'm also probably forgetting stuff.

[GaijinPunch]

It came out -- anyone get it? Might pick it up.
Once again, for which machine? I usually go PS3 but Sony are such cunts these days, and the whole PSN shenanigans.

[BulletMagnet]

US release looks to have been pushed back again to August, like everything else I was looking forward to in July, arrrgh.

[iconoclast]

US release looks to have been pushed back again to August, like everything else I was looking forward to in July, arrrgh.

Ugh. I wanted to rent it from Gamefly and then cancel my subscription after I was done with it. Guess I'll keep it running for another month.

[CMoon]

I did not like the demo.

[Obiwanshinobi]

So I haven't played it, but I'm not quite buying the praise for the artistic direction. The character designs are just lame (and I like pretty much all of the last gen Capcom character designs; even Viewtiful Joe, lame on his own right as he is).
Boy, are they nearly as poorly designed as the characters in PoP:TSoT...

[evil_ash_xero]

I wasn't impressed by the demo. Gameplay or graphics/designs.

[Strider77]

I enjoyed the game quite a bit... but then again I wasn't expecting it to set the bar as far as benchmarking hardware. Although the motorbike level looked great along with some other parts. The trippyness and outlandishness of some parts won me over as well.

Solid combat system also if not a tad bit simple.

The demo really doesn't show you much though.

[maxlords]

DLed the demo and found it extremely underwhelming. Like it tried so hard to be artistic and highbrow that it came off kitschy. Bleah.

[Ruldra]

I did not like the demo.

[kid aphex]

I played the demo and loved it, aside from some platforming made questionable by certain camera angles.
Great enemy design and art
Didn't feel 'high brow' to me --- just felt inspired

[drunkninja24]

I played the demo and loved it, aside from some platforming made questionable by certain camera angles.
Great enemy design and art
Didn't feel 'high brow' to me --- just felt inspired

Same here.

[Strider77]

Didn't feel highbrow to me either.

[rapoon]

Bump:

US release was today. Picked up a copy at Frys (*unlisted* sale price of $39.98)
One of the most unique, beautiful games I've played in ages. The combat system is
awesome. I'm pushing 5 hours atm and loving it.

[BulletMagnet]

Been chipping away at this for a bit - I personally love the visuals, minus a few technical hiccups, but the controls still feel just a touch stiff to me: I frequently find myself mashing the jump button to save myself when I accidentally slip off of a small platform, and since you can't control the camera angle some jump perspectives can be tricky to nail down (thankfully, the penalty for falling is small). Combat is fun overall, but I'm still trying to nail down exactly when particular enemies will be stunned by your attacks versus when they're able to charge right through them and smack you hard (not to mention exactly when I'm able to get out of an attack animation to block an advancing baddie).

Despite the kinks, for me the game's worth playing just to see what the art director guy did when he was given pretty much no stylistic restraints - of course, such a mindset won't apply to everyone.

[ryu]

The combat system is awesome.

have you never played a good action game? i played the demo and thought it was awful. there's no flow and diversity to it- just mash the buttons for forever (because enemies have too much hp) and you can't die because you're here for the art style anyways.