Calling all Okami fans, and fans of beautiful games in general: I hope you’re keeping an eye out for El Shaddai. The game is almost here, and the demo has been out for a while, so if you haven’t checked the game out yet, now is the time.
Still not convinced? Then just check out this interview with the game’s director, Takeyasu Sawaki. This guy is a badass, taking on taboos and religious imagery in gaming with confidence and conviction. His interpretation of the Nephilim — the offspring of humans and fallen angels — is particularly eye-opening. Like I say in the interview, only a true artist could come up with stuff like this, and sadly, the work of true artists is becoming more and more rare in today’s retail gaming scene.
I really hope El Shaddai does well when it’s released this summer. If it does, maybe more artists will get a crack at heading up bigger-budgeted titles such as this one.