The story of El Shaddai is based on a fantasy interpretation of biblical themes, with the apocryphal Book of Enoch serving as the primary source of inspiration for the story. God entrusts Enoch with the mission of apprehending those angels who have abandoned their responsibilities of keeping watch over the human earth. These angels, known as Grigori, got enamored with the people they were entrusted to protect and eventually left Heaven to live and procreate among humankind. Enoch is tasked with traveling around their domains, engaging in combat with their deviant Nephilim progeny, and bringing them back into the fold of Heaven after the fallen angels have been located. As Enoch travels, the chief archangel Lucifel is there to help him along the way.
The third-person action game El Shaddai strongly emphasizes both platforming and close-quarters combat. The fighting system has a relatively small number of buttons and instead relies on the timing of those buttons to accomplish light, heavy, and counterattacks. Since Enoch has no weapons, he must take them from foes through counterattacks. These weapons deteriorate over time and must be “purified” regularly or replaced with brand-new ones. Combat occurs at regular intervals in arena-like engagements, followed by either 3D exploration or 2D platforming, depending on the game. Most of the game’s artwork is done in a watercolor style, although each angel’s domain has its unique aesthetic.
