Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code is a pleasant surprise. I stepped into the game without expectations, finding a solid traditional RPG. With lore rooted in years of systematic research into Judaism, Christianity, and ancient Babylonian, Sumerian, and Egyptian religions, Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code is a compelling science fiction and fantasy narrative that draws you in the more you play.
The game’s narrative begins at Mount Sinai, where no one has set foot since a horrific battle. Idinites are people divided into two groups with opposing viewpoints: the Jehudans and the Attikans. They form a tentative alliance to explore the area, though it becomes readily apparent neither side is keen on cooperating as they go their separate ways to explore.
Joshwa Asa is a Jehudan soldier hoping to become a highly respected Judge like his father and uncle. He traverses through the dangerous, monster-filled caves of Mount Sinai to discover the hidden secrets, just as a curious young Attikan Judge named Beyoz journeys to do the same. Unbeknownst to either, a young dispatch of their sworn enemies, the mechanical Cainites, has also ventured into the depths of Mount Sinai to search for their missing brethren, hoping to save their people. This dispatch’s leader is the half-Cainite Ruthia, determinedly navigating the dangerous mountain caves. Joshwa, Beyoz, and Ruthia’s paths inevitably cross, with the trio reluctantly joining forces to save what they hold dear. Together, they might discover the truth behind the war between the Idinites and the Cainites. But how will the three react when everything they thought they knew gets uprooted?
I’ll refrain from saying much more about the overall story, because I’m genuinely impressed by Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code‘s handling of later plot reveals and twists. The narrative seamlessly combines science fiction and fantasy with an incredible amount of world-building detail, even if it’s sometimes simply through acquiring artifacts or pieces of lore while traversing the game’s different areas. The main story and side quests are immensely fleshed out, offering further insight into the world that Joshwa and the others call home.
Joshwa, Beyoz, and Ruthia serve as the cornerstones of the story. They’re easily the three characters you feel the most for in the game. Joshwa admittedly took a long time for me to warm up to, as he has to grow past his initial prejudices regarding both Attikans and Cainites. Still, his character development is astounding once he does, and he has some incredibly pivotal scenes later in the plot. I also love his dry back-and-forth with his two traveling companions once he gets used to them. Ruthia is a kindhearted young woman who wants to do her best for her people, so you naturally can’t help but root for her. Beyoz is a complicated character who likes to think outside the box, and I adore the eventual romantic bond between him and Ruthia. The trials and tribulations of these three as they journey together and grow from their experiences are the heart of the game’s narrative.
Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code plays like a highly polished traditional RPG. Combat is turn-based, with a focus on using enemies’ elemental weakness against them using an array of spells. Some spells are innate to each character, while you can equip others to make versatile party builds. Having a variety of elemental spells available across the party means that at least one character in each battle can deal significant damage. Hitting an enemy with their elemental weakness opens up a timed button press sequence that inflicts additional damage, which is a mechanic that is implemented well and keeps the turn-based combat from feeling too stagnant. Enemies appear on the field and disappear upon being defeated unless you respawn them at particular points in dungeon areas.
The battle system is entertaining enough once you learn the hang of it, and the game provides enough enemies and chances to gather experience points to stay adequately leveled without having to level grind. But that doesn’t mean the game is easy enough that you won’t want to use healing, buffs, and debuffs for more challenging encounters. Defeats allow you to check your gear and try a fight over again or skip the battle entirely. Those not necessarily interested in combat can play the game in story mode anytime. I give Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code kudos for being more forgiving than many games regarding defeats and accommodating different gamers with multiple accessibility options and playstyle preferences.
Dungeon areas in Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code often have puzzles that require certain magic items to progress, such as being able to jump over long distances or freeze heated tiles on the ground to traverse them. You can find floating hearts scattered throughout dungeons that give your active party a chance to come together for an insightful discussion about the area or what is happening in the story. Collecting money and metal parts allows you to purchase new equipment and abilities upon reaching safe areas in a dungeon or town. The gameplay mechanics are more tried and proper for the RPG genre, but their solid implementation makes the overall experience entertaining.
Visually, Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code has a distinct art style for its main characters and enemy designs. However, the character art might not appeal to everyone, and while it gets the job done, the UI is certainly simplistic. The small font can be challenging to read, especially when playing on the smaller screen of the Steam Deck, as I did. However, the sprites used throughout the game are highly detailed. The soundtrack is also impressive, as it helps paint story scenes and bring the game’s setting to life. The script is mainly well-written, with few typographical errors you can easily overlook.
The biggest gameplay weakness stems from the limited number of spells each character acquires. Even if you try to keep things varied amidst the party, you invariably encounter enemy types that as little as one character can effectively combat. This can frustratingly prolong fights more than necessary, particularly boss battles or enemies with shields, as you must also use a special move to successfully break through their defenses before being able to deal damage.
There’s also the undeniable fact that Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code is setting up one or more sequels, which becomes quite apparent once you reach its cliffhanger ending (and confirmed by the developer’s description of the game on YouTube and social media as “The first game in the Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code series.”). I’m no stranger to lengthier RPG stories getting entirely told in subsequent games, and the setup here is intriguing enough that I wish to know how things ultimately turn out. Still, not everyone has the same opinion regarding waiting for a narrative to continue.
Those minor quibbles aside, I’m impressed by how solid of a traditional RPG experience Elohim Eternal: The Babel Code provides overall. Its trio of heroes is memorable, truly standing out in a compelling and detailed narrative. In particular, this fifteen-plus hour game’s last few entertaining hours just flew by. I give the title credit for being an unexpectedly enjoyable gaming experience.
