History VideoGame / ElShaddaiAscensionOfTheMetatron

A game for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 and UsefulNotes/XBox360, developed and published by Ignition Entertainment, released on April 28, 2011. The game consists of staff geniuses such as Takeyasu Sawaki, who was a character designer for ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1'' and ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}''. The game is loosely based on the apocryphal [[Literature/TheBible Book of Enoch]]. The story follows Enoch, a human scribe in heaven, who must round up the fallen angels that are corrupting the Earth to suit their own ideal image of perfection. God sends Enoch to judge the Watchers and return them to paradise before the human race is irrevocably corrupted with half-human Nephilim, and a Great Flood made inevitable. Along the way, he is guided by Lucifel, God's right-hand angel, and the other Archangels.

Two manga spin-offs were also released. The first, ''El Shaddai Gaiden - Exodus'', is a prequel beginning from the time Enoch first arrives in Heaven after being summoned by God, where he shortly discovers (or is sent to learn about) a conspiracy among the Watcher angels as they plan their intentional fall from Heaven. The second, ''El Shaddai Ceta'', is a semi-follow-up focusing on Lucifel's perspective of the events from Enoch recieving his summons to Heaven through to the game itself.

In 2020, Takeyasu Sawaki announced that this game will be getting an remaster on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, which was released on September 2, 2021. ''The Lost Child'' takes place in the same universe.

!!This game provides examples of:

* AirplaneArms: While wielding the Gale weapon.

* AlienGeometries: Every world, but particularly obvious in the Netherworld, the End of the World, and Arakiel's Grave.

* AllPowerfulBystander: Lucifel and Michael, the greatest Archangel brothers. Lucifel apparently can pop up anywhere he wants in ''enemy territory'', stop and control time to give some advice to Enoch, warp reality by snapping his fingers just to resurrect Enoch; Michael is always close to Enoch, he is Lucifel's brother so assuming he has the same finger snapping powers isn't far fetched, and yet all they do is just provide information and gadgets.[[spoiler:The prequel manga reveals Michael to be much more active than previously believed, since the giant hand construct and the Rings of Michael that seal away the souls of the Grigori is literally Michael's hand while he's wearing his Giant PoweredArmor "Gide Mode" which is also Michael's true form and the secret weapon for the loyalist angels during the Holy War. The Manga Prequel "El Shaddai Ceta" confirms Lucifer as the stronger sibling since he stopped and shattered Michael's Gige Form with his bare hands to stop him from coming to Earth.]]
* AlternateHistory: In regards to the Book of Genesis (by way of the Apocrypha.) At the end of the game, [[spoiler:the Flood is averted, and Man is freed from the Watchers' unnatural evolution and can continue to live in peace according to God's plan]]. Considering the Watchers were the ones who taught humanity about [[spoiler:warfare, science, and vanity]], averting that as well as [[spoiler:the Flood]] is a pretty big deal as far as biblical history is concerned!
** And then there's Lucifel. In biblical scriptures, it's implied that he was cast down and became Satan some time before Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden of Eden. In ''El Shaddai'', he's not only still an angel, but still loyal to God. Though how he [[spoiler:betrays Armaros]] may suggest [[GoodIsNotSoft he's not above resorting to cruel methods of handling a situation.]] Whether or not this is just a shout-out to traditional interpretations of {{Satan}} or if he may fall eventually is up in the air. [[spoiler:"El Shaddai Ceta" confirms Lucifel will eventually fall and defect from Heaven, ceasing from talking to God altogether and freeing Belial to serve as his right hand to take over Creation.]]

* ArchangelMichael: The twin brother to Lucifel. In-game he takes the form of a swan, but in the manga, he looks like Lucifel if someone put a blond long-hair wig on him. It's implied Lucifer once looked the same until he decided to wear modern attire.

* BadassNormal: Enoch, who (rather surprisingly) is also a BadassBiker. Ishtar also qualifies, leading armies of Free Men into battle against the fanatics and the Fallen Angels and can wield God's Weapons without any issue. The prequel "El Shaddai: Ceta" shows the human Prince Gil of the Uruk Kingdom to be one, having personally slayed all types of monsters that plagued his kingdom that were mistakenly believed to be trials from God.
* BadassFingerSnap: Lucifel whenever he [[RealityWarper warps reality]].

* BarefistedMonk: Although Enoch fares much better while wielding one of God's Weapons, he's certainly no slouch while empty-handed... and neither is Ezekiel, for that matter.

* BigBad: Semyaza is played up as such, being the leader of the Watchers and the one who instigated their Fall. [[spoiler:It's later revealed Azazel is the true BigBad as Semyaza was DeadAllAlong]]

* BilingualBonus: While the English dub and sub scripts refer to the Darkness as both the vile substance and the place, several subtitle scripts go ahead and call the latter [[spoiler:{{Hell}}[=/=] Netherworld]].
* TheBlacksmith: The "Ceta" Prequel reveals the Angel Sataniel as the official blacksmith of Heaven, who forges weapons and armor for the Angels out of the Fruits of Wisdom and even gave Enoch his own armor.
* BossBanter: The Watchers are big offenders of this.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: [[spoiler:Dark Enoch]].

* BullfightBoss: Foola & Woola, Ezekiel's pigs that fight as a team, and Boola, who fights alone.

* CelestialParagonsAndArchangels: Of course. The Archangels are apparently the highest of all Angels, but there is also apparently a Ruling Council of which Semyaza, leader of the Grigori, was an Elder. Lucifel in particular is quite high-ranked even above the Archangels, to the point he regularly speaks with God and is described as one of the two first angels created by God besides Michael since the start of Creation. However, Lucifel's goodness is a very vague matter at best. The "Ceta" prequel confirms the hierarchy can be flipped as even though Lucifer and Michael are the highest archangels they still count among the Grigori ranks and serve Semyaza who was the Grigori leader at the time.
* CelShading: A few of the environments, and all of the characters (except for Watcher armor.)
* CherubicChoir: Most of the soundtrack. Instead of the children and[=/=]or sopranos version, it is of the "OminousLatinChanting minus the Ominous" variety.

* ConductingTheCarnage: [[spoiler:Lucifel does this in the "Ceta" prequel using the Gale to decimate a team of Angels sent to capture, as he does the trope to demonstrate his mastery and skill in battle over his fellow Angels. His tendency to do this trope is what earned him his feared moniker as the "Black Swan".]]
* ContentWarnings: At bootup, the player gets a notice stating that the game is roughly based on religious texts and that it was developed by a multicultural team with people from many faiths. Considering the possible controversy in a few characters' interpretations, it was probably a good idea to include this warning.

* CreepyGood: Sin, the leader of the Freeman is this. He's a nice guy who wants to save humanity from the corruption of the Grigori, but he constantly wears bones and a skull mask which are actually the bones of Ishtar, especially her skull, being worn like a mask. He's essentially wearing parts of a woman's corpse at all times.

* DanceBattler: Armaros. Enoch while wielding the Gale.
* DarkIsEvil: Played straight here.
* DavidVersusGoliath: Enoch vs. the Fire Nephilim.
* DayInTheLife: [[spoiler:The level which you play as Armaros.]]

* DeadpanSnarker: Lucifel, usually towards the Grigori.

* DefectingForLove: The "Ceta" prequel confirms Semyaza chose to defect from Heaven after falling in love with a human girl named Lulu that he watched from Heaven and grew confused [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove by his new emotions.]] He eventually grew jealous and love sick after watching her show affection for her kingdom's hero Gil. Enoch's unintentional revelation that Semyaza was in love and should admit it to the girl, ignited his rebellion.

* DesignStudentsOrgasm: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIGaTCutqQ4 Observe.]]

* EldritchAbomination: The Nephilim, which are the offspring of angels and humans. The Nephilim themselves reproduce and grow in size and power by ''eating each other.'' Oddly [[CuteIsEvil cute]]... until they gorge themselves and become the monstrous, all-consuming, many-tentacled Fire Nephilim. These creatures are the reason Heaven wants to flood the Earth, as the Nephilim will consume the Earth itself if left unchecked.
** The Fallen Angels themselves, once they divest their human forms, assume bestial (and often incomprehensible) forms.
* EldritchLocation: The Fallen Angels' Tower, hidden in an alternate dimension that is [[spoiler:connected to the Darkness, which is itself another eldritch location]]. The path leading up to it, existing in the boundary between worlds, fits the bill as well.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: The Flood.

* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: [[spoiler:Subverted, strangely enough. The player doesn't get to see Enoch ascend.]]

* {{Expy}}: A few. Enoch as the expy of Creator/BradPitt, Sariel to Music/DavidBowie, and Armaros to Music/MichaelJackson.
** Players familiar with ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne'' will very likely have flashbacks to the Tower of Kagutsuchi while exploring Arakiel's world.

* FailureIsTheOnlyOption:[[spoiler:The "Ceta" prequel reveals God knew all along Semyaza and the Grigori would defect from Heaven and sent Lucifel to stop them on Earth and rewind time in the hopes that things would be different. Semyaza has unknowingly tried to rebel 999,996 times in a row without fail and fails each time he nearly reaches Earth. He finally manages to succeed when Armaros unexpectedly arrives and distracts Lucifel, which convinces God to just leave the rest to Enoch and order Lucifel to stop rewinding time.]]
* FallenAngel: What the Grigori have become.

* FuturisticSuperhighway: [[spoiler:Chapter 6]].
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Despite his status as the Right Hand of God, it's implied Lucifel is this in ''El Shaddai Ceta''. All due to his tendencies to prod and insult his angel brethren as TheGadfly and TheBully, taunting their lack of humanity, and being deemed as irresponsible by his peers for his constant trips to the future where he can enjoy human culture while the other angels are forbidden. Only Enoch and God seem especially close to him.

* GentleGiant: The Water Nephilim.

* {{God}}: Well considering the plot and setting...

* GodIsGood: While the Watchers want to force "unnatural" evolution upon Mankind, and the Council of Elders wants to wipe the slate clean with the Great Flood, God tasks Enoch (via Lucifel) with bringing the Watchers back to Heaven and sealing them so that the Flood can be averted and humanity can progress naturally. He also worries constantly about Enoch's well-being, to the point that ''Lucifel'', of all people, has to assuage His concerns. It is also hinted that the Archangels would be willing to forgive the Watchers if the latter repented their transgressions.
** [[spoiler:The prequel mangas do show It can be an example of GoodIsNotNice, being in constant contact with Lucifer on how the Fall of the Grigori is a part of its plan and being well aware of the conflict in Heaven but doing nothing for its own reasons, then deciding the Fallen Angels must be punished afterwards. God is also described as unaware of what the humans on Earth attribute to It and is often quite worried about unexpected events.]]

* GoodIsNotSoft: God and Lucifel may be pretty amicable figures but they prove to be absolutely ruthless towards their enemies or traitors. God planned to Flood the Earth and ordered that the Fallen Angels be killed by Enoch and their souls sealed away for eternity for siring the destructive Nephilim, while Lucifel has no qualms manipulating others to suit his or Enoch's ends. Lucifel also enjoys the suffering the Fallen Angels go through.
* [[GottaKillEmAll Gotta "Purify" 'Em All]]: While descending to Earth, Lucifel briefs Enoch on each of the seven Fallen Angels that he will need to defeat and seal within Michael's Rings. But things do not go as planned...
* GrimUpNorth: The Watchers' Tower, which Enoch must ascend.
* HalfHumanHybrid: The Nephilim. They don't particularly resemble either parent.

* {{Hell}}: In two different forms.

* ToHellAndBack: At some point, [[spoiler:Enoch dives into the Netherworld/Hell to save Nanna from Belial. Unfortunately for him, it's a trap to corrupt Enoch.]]

* HopelessBossFight: Almost every time you see a Watcher for the first time. Especially early on in the game.

* {{Immortality}}: Enoch, taken bodily into Heaven to become the Scribe of God, is TheAgeless, with a dash of ResurrectiveImmortality (up to a point, though.) During his three hundred-year quest to find the Watchers' Tower, several characters point out Enoch's immortality and agelessness.

** LaserBlade: The Arch. A blade of holy light [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin arcing]] between the two ends of an extensible pole (which can be retracted to [[SticksToTheBack carry on your back]].) The arc is "studded" with [[SerratedBladeOfPain diamond-shaped teeth]] that flow from one end to the next, giving it a buzzsaw-like appearance. Balanced in speed and defense, combo-oriented, it allows Enoch to dodge-jump out of danger as well as glide while descending from a jump.
** FlechetteStorm: The Gale. Six small missiles orbit Enoch's body, while a halo-shaped control unit hovers over his back. They can be fired individually or sent out all at once in a tiny MacrossMissileMassacre that flows up and around [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin like a hurricane]] and sweeps enemies off their feet. Fast, missiles can be aimed at several foes at once, and lets Enoch perform an air-dash move, but is the weakest weapon and doesn't combo well.
** PowerFist[=/=]LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: The Veil. A massive, circular shield impervious to all but the strongest attacks, projecting a transparent barrier in front of Enoch while still letting him slide side to side and front and back while in defense mode. For offense, Enoch can split the shield down the middle, [[MorphWeapon transforming the halves into armored gauntlets]] with studs at each fist, each projecting a halo of divine energy. This is the strongest, but slowest, weapon in the game, and the speed of its combos can put Enoch at risk while other enemies sneak up on him.

* IntriguedByHumanity: Michael to a lesser degree, he at least finds interesting the way humans see him, his brothers and other Archangel companions, while appreciating their crafted images in Ezekiel's realm. Lucifel is endlessly amused by "humanity's Shards Of Wisdom" (such as designer clothes, cellphones, and umbrellas.) The Watchers... yeah, they kinda went overboard with their fascination.

* LaResistance: The Free Men, devout followers of God who infiltrate the city and tower of the Watchers to aid Enoch with whatever scraps of information they can dig up. Their leader, ironically, is named Sin.
* LightIsGood: God and the angels that Enoch fights alongside are this.
* {{Lust}}: Half of Sariel's motivation. The other half is becoming InLoveWithLove after experiencing the emotion firsthand from humans.
* MagiTek: Azazel granted humans the knowledge to create angelic technology. As with all divine devices, it's difficult to tell where the tech begins and the godly power ends.
* ManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:One of Ishtar's Prophecies talks of a "Prince" known as Belial that appeared from the Darkness and not only instigated, but assisted the Grigori in their Fall to Earth. Belial assisted the Grigori in exchange for the souls of everyone who dies in the Tower, but the Grigori were initially unaware that humans who died ended up in The Darkness or they were actually serving its will]].

* MindScrew: If [[spoiler:you die while trying to retrieve a bone fragment of Ishtar, you end up in the underworld, where the camera is tilted and the movement controls are all wonky. There is then a cutscene where Belial accuses Dark!Enoch of rebelling against him and God... And then for some reason, we get a short trailer of the game itself, and we end up back at the title screen.]]

* MrExposition: Lucifel, he drops much of the plot points from the game, also most of the Library information is written from his point of view.
* NeverMessWithGranny: Ezekiel is the only female Grigori and one of the most elderly, but unlike the other Grigori, who fight with a balance of projectiles and melee, her move set mostly consists of pulverizing bare-handed force.

* {{Nephilim}}: Very adorable squishy looking Nephilim at that.
* NonstandardGameOver: If Enoch gets consumed by the darkness during the Ishtar's plataform segments, he will be corrupted into becoming one of the Watchers, also the credits will pop up in rapid succession.
* NoOntologicalInertia: Nephilim are said to vanish if the Grigori that sired them is killed or sealed.

-->'''Ezekiel:''' You have no parents, and have never conceived a child. I understand the love of a mother for her child! More than you ever can!
-->'''Ishtar:''' You hypocrite! What about your own children? At this very moment, they devour each other in their unbearable agony!
-->'''Ezekiel:''' I love them as well.
-->'''Ishtar:''' You "love them"? You use the word as an excuse for your actions!
* OneWingedAngel: Appropriately, several of the fallen angels have these forms.
* OutOfTheInferno: After [[spoiler:the motorcycle level on Azazel's floor, Enoch does this.]]
* OurAngelsAreDifferent: Gabriel and Ezekiel are female. The Archangels appear as swans when they aren't in any human-like form. Non-corporeal angels, such as the Elders of the Council, appear as roughly human-shaped things with halos fixed on their heads. Archangels can also possess human bodies to speak to people on Earth, as Michael did so to voice his support of Enoch.

* TheParagon: Enoch. [[spoiler:Also Nanna, to some extent.]]

* PossessionImpliesMastery: Although Lucifel does instigate some basic training for Enoch in the beginning of the journey, the following adventure has Enoch being very proficient at any new given thing Lucifel and other Archangels present him with, the motorcycle is certainly the best example, as soon as Enoch got his hands on it, he became a pro stunt driver.
** Even GOD seems surprised at this. Shortly after you collect the last of the three Godly Weapons, you can hear Lucifel chatting with God on his cell phone about it.

* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Nanna, actually, [[spoiler:by Ishtar's influence]].
* PrimordialChaos: The Nether is this with the being known as Belial as its ruler. [[spoiler:The "Ceta" prequel confirms Belial was present in the Darkness when God first brought Light to Creation before God chose to seal him away and is even older than Lucifer and Michael, who are the only beings in Heaven besides God to know Belial even exists.]]

* RaceAgainstTheClock: Strongly Averted thanks to Lucifel. He can manipulate time to ensure Enoch has all the time he needs to find and defeat the Fallen Angels, even after Enoch spent three centuries looking for their hideout.

* RecurringRiff: Variations on Theme of El Shaddai and Theme of Enoch are scattered all over the place in the soundtrack, particularly their introductory fragments. These variations run the gamut from the playful and whimsical ("Floral Arrangement") to the heroic ("The Bell of Hope Resonates On High") to the solemn, mournful versions you'd expect to hear in a church.

* RedEyesTakeWarning: Each of the "Nether" versions of the Fallen feature eyes that shift from green to yellow and finally red as they get closer to defeat, their attacks getting increasingly frantic and damaging along the way. Lucifel's own eyes are red unlike the rest of the Angels of Heaven and he's feared as their strongest and most dangerous member, [[spoiler:especially after becoming a Fallen Angel in the "Ceta" Prequel and gaining a reputation for slaughtering garrisons of angels sent to capture him.]]

* RuleSixtyThree: Gabriel and Ezekiel.

* SeriesMascot: The Nephilim.
* SequelHook: [[spoiler:TheStinger shows Armaros's water nephilim is still alive.]]

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Lucifel's name - done for a reason, though. The end of his name signifies that he is an Archangel who has not fallen.
* SpiritAdvisor: The Archangels to Enoch throughout his journey.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1'' and ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' by virtue of having a similar character designer, Takeyasu Sawaki.

* SuperMode: Overboost. Collecting Flames from breakable objects or enemies, as well as diligently purifying weapons, will build up Overboost, eventually igniting Enoch's weapon. Hit L1+R1 at this point and many things will happen: Enoch will summon Uriel (see above,) his armor will regenerate to full (and continue to regenerate if it's damaged during this state,) his defense will skyrocket so only the most potent attacks will damage him, his attacks will be enhanced, and you'll gain access to weapon-specific [[LimitBreak Uriel Smash attacks]] that will deal ridiculous amounts of damage and end Overboost instantly. [[spoiler:The "Ceta" prequel shows the Archangels have a Battle Armor form that makes them three times stronger and faster than normal angels]]
* SummonBackupDancers: You literally battle Armaros' backup dancers as he...dances in the front.
* SuperPoweredEvilSide:[[spoiler:Dark Enoch and Dark Armaros]].
* SympathyForTheDevil: Since Enoch used to be friends with Armaros, there seems to be this.

* TimeSkip: Of some [[spoiler:ten years]].
** Before this, the first level shows a montage where Enoch is searching for the Angels' Tower. It takes place over more than 300 years - and Lucifel comments that Enoch found it pretty quickly.

* TurnsRed: [[spoiler:Nether Azazel]], more than any other Fallen Angel.

* VisionQuest: Chapter 9, "Enoch's Indecision."
* YearOutsideHourInside: Time flows differently in Heaven, where a few minutes can mean years on Earth. Five Months in Heaven is also roughly 200 years on Earth.
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Lucifel explains that the Grigori must die for the sin of becoming Fallen Angels despite any regrets they may have according to God's will.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: [[spoiler:Sorry, Armaros. You tried.]]

* ButNotTooBlack: Some of the official art depicts Enoch as being very dark-skinned. Then some of it makes him very white. His appearance in the game is somewhere in between.
* CatchPhrase: "No problem. Everything's fine." This is Enoch's ''only line in the game''. He says it twice in his introduction, and every time he comes back from defeat during combat.

* AdaptationDistillation: Although inspired by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_apocrypha Biblical apocrypha]], this game is a very, very loose adaptation.

* AllPowerfulBystander: Lucifel and Michael, the greatest Archangel brothers. Lucifel apparently can pop up anywhere he wants in ''enemy territory'', stop and control time to give some advice to Enoch, warp reality by snapping his fingers just to resurrect Enoch; Michael is always close to Enoch, he is Lucifel's brother so assuming he has the same finger snapping powers isn't far fetched, and yet all they do is just provide information and gadgets.[[spoiler: The prequel manga reveals Michael to be much more active than previously believed, since the giant hand construct and the Rings of Michael that seal away the souls of the Grigori is literally Michael's hand while he's wearing his Giant PoweredArmor "Gide Mode" which is also Michael's true form and the secret weapon for the loyalist angels during the Holy War. The Manga Prequel "El Shaddai Ceta" confirms Lucifer as the stronger sibling since he stopped and shattered Michael's Gige Form with his bare hands to stop him from coming to Earth.]]

* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: [[spoiler: In order to cleanse his spirit of the vileness that had corrupted him, Enoch's soul must ascend to Heaven and seek redemption]].

* BrokenAngel:[[spoiler: It's revealed later in the game that falling from Heaven took a heavier toll on the Seven Grigori than believed. Semyaza, initial leader of the Grigori, was grievously injured and died during the Fall, being left on futile life support afterwards. Arakiel died soon after. Baraquel was apparently weakened enough that he was devoured by the Nephilim. Armaros lost his ability to pronounce words and his voice when he fell.]]

** When Enoch is on his last legs, he wears only a pair of jeans. After unlocking the invincibility armor, he instead wears [[spoiler: a pair of jeans, and ''a jean jacket''.]]

** [[spoiler: With the introduction of Armaros,]] it is indicated that some lose their voice when they leave Heaven.

* InterfaceScrew: The first part of the "fight" with Armaros involves [[spoiler: you beating up his backup dancers while he covers half the screen in the foreground]].

* NoFairCheating: Enoch can unlock armor that makes him invincible, which should make beating the game on the hardest difficulty a snap. [[spoiler: Unfortunately, Armaros isn't wearing it in his chapter,]] so you've still gotta use some skill.

* PrimordialChaos: The Nether is this with the being known as Belial as its ruler.[[spoiler: The "Ceta" prequel confirms Belial was present in the Darkness when God first brought Light to Creation before God chose to seal him away and is even older than Lucifer and Michael, who are the only beings in Heaven besides God to know Belial even exists.]]

* SequelHook: [[spoiler: TheStinger shows Armaros's water nephilim is still alive.]]

* SuperPoweredEvilSide:[[spoiler: Dark Enoch and Dark Armaros]].

->''Allow me to tell you a tale. It took place 360,000... No, 14,000 years ago. But what is time, anyway? To me it seems like yesterday. For you, it might be tomorrow. It's the story of a man.''

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/elshaddailogo_8967.png]]

* SpiritualSuccessor: Of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' and ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}''.

** The prequel manga takes this UpToEleven. Certain human concepts like fatigue and dancing are completely foreign to the angels (save for those like Lucifel, who bounces around time on Earth, and even has a goddamn ''cell phone'') prior to Enoch's arrival. Angels also lack physical forms in Heaven, reduced to astral bodies influenced by the human that sees them and are unable to physically touch any human like Enoch who reaches Heaven unless the human wills it.

A game for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 and UsefulNotes/XBox360, developed and published by Ignition Entertainment, released on April 28, 2011. The game consists of staff geniuses such as Takeyasu Sawaki, who was a character designer for ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' and ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}''. The game is loosely based on the apocryphal [[Literature/TheBible Book of Enoch]]. The story follows Enoch, a human scribe in heaven, who must round up the fallen angels that are corrupting the Earth to suit their own ideal image of perfection. God sends Enoch to judge the Watchers and return them to paradise before the human race is irrevocably corrupted with half-human Nephilim, and a Great Flood made inevitable. Along the way, he is guided by Lucifel, God's right-hand angel, and the other Archangels.

* MoralDissonance: Lucifel. For an angel, he enjoys taking out the fallen angels a little too much.

* ArchangelGabriel: He's a she in this interpretation.
* ArchangelLucifer: ''Lucifel'', rather.

* BossSubtitles: And regular enemies get them too the first time you encounter them.
* BottomlessPits: The game is ''littered'' with them.

* GodIsGood: While the Watchers want to force "unnatural" evolution upon Mankind, and the Council of Elders wants to wipe the slate clean with the Great Flood, God tasks Enoch (via Lucifel) with bringing the Watchers back to Heaven and sealing them so that the Flood can be averted and humanity can progress naturally. He also worries constantly about Enoch's well-being, to the point that ''Lucifel'', of all people, has to assuage His concerns. It is also hinted that the Archangels would be willing to forgive the Watchers if the latter repented their transgressions.[[spoiler:The prequel mangas make God out to be more morally ambiguous and flawed, being in constant contact with Lucifer on how the Fall of the Grigori is a part of its plan and being well aware of the conflict in Heaven but doing nothing for its own reasons, then deciding the Fallen Angels must be punished afterwards. God is also described as unaware of what the humans on Earth attribute to It and is often quite worried about unexpected events.]]

* ItIsPronouncedTroPay: It is meant to be pronounced ''el shah dah yy'' (or ''ee'' with a sharper intonation.)

* KnightTemplar: All of the Watchers believe their course is right and just, they make excellent points about freedom and mankind's evolution, and they will smite whoever opposes them. However, the Archangels, Lucifel, and the Council of Elders ''[[NotSoDifferent are the same way]]'', just playing for the opposite side.

In 2020, Takeyasu Sawaki announced that this game will be getting an remaster on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}. ''The Lost Child'' takes place in the same universe.

* TragicMonster: [[spoiler:Dark Armaros]]. Some of the Nephilim, such as Nanna's friend, are actually good and seek an end to their own torment.

* RedEyesTakeWarning: Each of the "Nether" versions of the Fallen feature eyes that shift from green to yellow and finally red as they get closer to defeat, their attacks getting increasingly frantic and damaging along the way.

* DefectingForLove: The "Ceta" prequel confirms Semyaza chose to defect from Heaven after falling in love with a human girl named Lulu that he watched from Heaven and grew confused [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove by his new emotions.]] He eventually grew jealous and love sick after watching her show affection for her kingdom's hero Gil. Enoch's unintentional revelation that Semyaza was in love and should admit it to the girl, ignited on his rebellion.

* OneBadMother: Ezekiel, whose motherly love instills ''fear'' into her followers, and who considers her war pigs "her children." She also doesn't care in the slightest that her Nephilim children live in constant agony and hunger and feed on each other. Best described in her final confrontation with Ishtar, who gives her a ReasonYouSuckSpeech in response to her view of "love".

* OneBadMother: Ezekiel, whose motherly love instills ''fear'' into her followers, and who considers her war pigs "her children."

* PrimodialChaos: The Nether is this with the being known as Belial as its ruler.[[Spoiler: The "Ceta" prequel confirms Belial was present in the Darkness when God first brought Light to Creation before God chose to seal him away and is even older than Lucifer and Michael, who are the only beings in Heaven besides God to know Belial even exists.]]

* GodIsGood: While the Watchers want to force "unnatural" evolution upon Mankind, and the Council of Elders wants to wipe the slate clean with the Great Flood, God tasks Enoch (via Lucifel) with bringing the Watchers back to Heaven and sealing them so that the Flood can be averted and humanity can progress naturally. He also worries constantly about Enoch's well-being, to the point that ''Lucifel'', of all people, has to assuage His concerns. It is also hinted that the Archangels would be willing to forgive the Watchers if the latter repented their transgressions.[spoiler:The prequel mangas makes God out to be more morally ambiguous and flawed, being in constant contact with Lucifer on how the Fall of the Grigori is a part of its plan and being well aware of the conflict in Heaven but doing nothing for its own reasons, then deciding the Fallen Angels must be punished afterwards. God is also described as unaware of what the humans on Earth attribute to It and is often quite worried about unexpected events.]]

* DefectingForLove: The "Ceta" prequel confirms Semyaza chose to defect from Heaven after falling in love with a human girl named Lulu that he watched from Heaven and grew jealous and love sick after watching her show affection for her kingdom's hero Gil. Enoch's unintentional revelation that Semyaza was in love and should admit it to the girl, ignited on his rebellion.

* GoodIsNotSoft: God and Lucifel may be pretty amicable figures but they prove to be absolutely ruthless towards their enemies or traitors. God ordered that the Fallen Angels be killed by Enoch and their souls sealed away for eternity, while Lucifel has no qualms manipulating others to suit his or Enoch's ends. Lucifel also enjoys the suffering the Fallen Angels go through.

** And then there's Lucifel. In biblical scriptures, it's implied that he was cast down and became Satan some time before Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden of Eden. In ''El Shaddai'', he's not only still an angel, but still loyal to God. Though how he [[spoiler:betrays Armaros]] may suggest [[GoodIsNotSoft he's not above resorting to cruel methods of handling a situation.]] Whether or not this is just a shout-out to traditional interpretations of {{Satan}} or if he may fall eventually is up in the air. [["El Shaddai Ceta" confirms Lucifel will eventually fall and defect from Heaven, ceasing from talking to God altogether and freeing Belial to serve as his right hand to take over Creation.]]

* AllPowerfulBystander: Lucifel and Michael, the greatest Archangel brothers. Lucifel apparently can pop up anywhere he wants in ''enemy territory'', stop and control time to give some advice to Enoch, warp reality by snapping his fingers just to resurrect Enoch; Michael is always close to Enoch, he is Lucifel's brother so assuming he has the same finger snapping powers isn't far fetched, and yet all they do is just provide information and gadgets.[[spoiler: The prequel manga reveals Michael to be much more active than previously believed, since the giant hand construct and the Rings of Michael that seal away the souls of the Grigori is literally Michael's hand while he's wearing his Giant PoweredArmor.]]

** And then there's Lucifel. In biblical scriptures, it's implied that he was cast down and became Satan some time before Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden of Eden. In ''El Shaddai'', he's not only still an angel, but still loyal to God. Though how he [[spoiler:betrays Armaros]] may suggest [[GoodIsNotSoft he's not above resorting to cruel methods of handling a situation.]] Whether or not this is just a shout-out to traditional interpretations of {{Satan}} or if he may fall eventually is up in the air.

* BadassNormal: Enoch, who (rather surprisingly) is also a BadassBiker. Ishtar also qualifies, leading armies of Free Men into battle against the fanatics and the Fallen Angels and can wield God's Weapons without any issue.

* CelestialParagonsAndArchangels: Of course. The Archangels are apparently the highest of all Angels, but there is also apparently a Ruling Council of which Semyaza, leader of the Grigori, was an Elder. Lucifel in particular is quite high-ranked even above the Archangels, to the point he regularly speaks with God. However, Lucifel's goodness is a very vague matter at best.

* TheCorruption: The Darkness is this trope and is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Falling into the vile substance of the Darkness will invariably corrupt and change even a pure soul, turning it monstrous and demonic. Angels get turned into horrible demonic monsters upon contact and it is actually a sentient force known as Belial that seeks out strong souls to corrupt.

* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Despite his status as the Right Hand of God, it's implied Lucifel is this in ''El Shaddai Ceta''. All due to his tendencies to prod and insult his angel brethren as TheGadfly, taunting their lack of humanity, and being deemed as irresponsible by his peers for his constant trips to the future where he can enjoy human culture while the other angels are forbidden. Only Enoch and God seem especially close to him.

* GodIsGood: While the Watchers want to force "unnatural" evolution upon Mankind, and the Council of Elders wants to wipe the slate clean with the Great Flood, God tasks Enoch (via Lucifel) with bringing the Watchers back to Heaven and sealing them so that the Flood can be averted and humanity can progress naturally. He also worries constantly about Enoch's well-being, to the point that ''Lucifel'', of all people, has to assuage His concerns. It is also hinted that the Archangels would be willing to forgive the Watchers if the latter repented their transgressions.[spoiler:The prequel manga makes God out to be more morally ambiguous, being in constant contact with Lucifer on how the Fall of the Grigori is a part of its plan and being well aware of the conflict in Heaven but doing nothing for its own reasons, then deciding the Fallen Angels must be punished afterwards.]]

* SuperMode: Overboost. Collecting Flames from breakable objects or enemies, as well as diligently purifying weapons, will build up Overboost, eventually igniting Enoch's weapon. Hit L1+R1 at this point and many things will happen: Enoch will summon Uriel (see above,) his armor will regenerate to full (and continue to regenerate if it's damaged during this state,) his defense will skyrocket so only the most potent attacks will damage him, his attacks will be enhanced, and you'll gain access to weapon-specific [[LimitBreak Uriel Smash attacks]] that will deal ridiculous amounts of damage and end Overboost instantly.

* YearOutsideHourInside: Time flows differently in Heaven, where a few minutes can mean years on Earth.
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Lucifel explains that the Grigori must die.