I was ready to post a /facepalm, but 20 seconds into the trailer, I realized that the game was being developed by a Japanese studio. That was my, "Oh, okay, I understand, nevermind" moment.
Let me explain:
There's been a lot of outcry among Christians who read about games like Shin Megami Tensei and watch anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion, where Christian imagery is used outside the context of Christianity. A Western audience will sometimes assume ill will or malice in using these images in ways that could be considered offensive to Christians.
There are two important points to remember when reviewing Japanese-developed games:
Less than 1% of Japanese are Christians. Chances are very good that no one at Atlus or Gainax are Christians or have friends who are Christians. Americans have a better chance of having a Hindu friend to ask if representing Vishnu as a metrosexual would offend potential customers in India than a Japanese game developer having a Christian friend to ask if the Book of Enoch is even considered canon.
Japanese media creators, for the most part, don't seem to believe in any major religion. Sure, you may find strands of Taoism in Final Fantasy VII, but it's always the power of love and friendship that saves the day. One of the reasons why stories in Japanese RPGs tend to fail to resonate with a Western audience is because JRPG stories tend to operate on the assumption that humanity is either not corrupt or corrupt and able to save itself. If there is a prevailing "religion" in Japanese media, it's not Buddhism, Taoism, or Shinto--it's humanism. Sure, they may use religious imagery, but more likely because it "looks cool" (as in the case of Neon Genesis Evangelion) than because it holds any spiritual significance to the author. In the end, nearly every Japanese video game and anime story will fall back on the, "Man is the measure of all things" maxim.
So whenever you see a Japanese-developed game or anime that features a cross, nuns, priests, or any combination of the above, don't immediately get offended. Remember those story elements were very likely not included to make a statement against Christianity, but rather because they look cool. Need an example? Look no further than the character of Wolfwood in the Trigun anime and manga series.
