El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a 2011 action video game developed by Ignition Tokyo and published by UTV Ignition Games for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It saw later releases on Windows and Nintendo Switch. The storyline, based on the apocryphal Book of Enoch, follows the immortal scribe Enoch as he is sent by God to find seven fallen angels and save humanity from a great flood triggered by the Council of Heaven. Gameplay has Enoch platforming through 2D and 3D levels which vary in presentation and art style, with hack and slash combat using weapons stolen from enemies.
| El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron | |
|---|---|
North American cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Ignition Tokyo |
| Publisher(s) | UTV Ignition Games |
| Director(s) | Sawaki Takeyasu |
| Producer(s) |
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| Designer(s) | Yusuke Nakagawa |
| Programmer(s) | Katsuya Nakamura |
| Artist(s) | Soutarou Hori Sawaki Takeyasu |
| Writer(s) | Yasushi Ohtake |
| Composer(s) |
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| Engine | Gamebryo |
| Platform(s) |
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| Release | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Windows
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| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Production began in 2007, and included several former members of Capcom's Clover Studio. After being contacted about the project idea, director and character designer Sawaki Takeyasu was given extensive creative freedom, contributing to the simplified game design and focus on art and music. The storyline, based around the theme of self-sacrifice, was described by Takeyasu as being "half-finished" due to production problems. The music was co-composed by Masato Kouda and Kento Hasegawa, with members of music production company Imagine contributing to arrangements.
Announced in May 2010, El Shaddai received an extensive promotional campaign. Journalists praised its art design and music, but the game saw low sales. The game was Ignition Tokyo's only product, as it was closed in 2011 shortly before its release, and planned sequels were abandoned. Takeyasu supervised further El Shaddai-related media, going on to purchase the intellectual property in 2013 and developing a follow-up called The Lost Child.