There are few games in recent memory that are as visually impacting as El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. The new adventure, out on August 16 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, has a distinctly dreamy anime aesthetic that transports players into another world—a world where angels are fighting to live more like men, men are fighting to be more divine, and the whole world is trapped amidst a holy battle.

Click through the gallery above to get a look at the gorgeous character art that inspired El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, and to find out who the fate of the world is dependent upon.