Raziel… the Abyss has been unkind.
This has been a long time coming. The Legacy of Kain series is something people who were there when it was at its peak, will NOT shut up about. These games kicked off with an overhead Zelda-style game with a more adult approach. It hit fire though when the first Soul Reaver dropped on the original PlayStation. The cinematics, the story, and of course the voice acting were above and beyond so many other games that it etched itself into gaming history. Then…it died. It has been 20 years since the last official release, sorry we don’t count Nosgoth, and Raziel and Kain are back with a remaster of Soul Reaver 1 and 2. This package contains the two most popular games in the series, but hopefully it opens up the gaming world to the series again, and perhaps we can finally get a new game.
Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered packs in the two games that follow Raziel, Kain’s lieutenant and second in command, who was executed by Kain because he evolved past Kain himself. After being killed, Raziel is cast into the Lake of the Dead where he is resurrected as a wraith by the Elder God. These two games follow him as he exacts revenge against Kain and his brothers. What he doesn’t realize is how long it has been since he was killed, and thus the world of Nosgoth has changed drastically.
MSRP: $29.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $29.99
What sells all of this is how the story is told alongside the superb voice acting. Seriously, this game delivers performances that are nearly unmatched in other games. With the likes of Simon Templeman and Michael Bell just to name a few, every character in these games are brought to life with such impact. I still get goosebumps when hearing it today. These games are truly head and shoulders above so many out there, I am still shocked it died as abruptly as it did, and it is why so many people have been clamoring for the return of this series.
Revisiting these games has been both fantastic and a challenge. Yes, they are products of their time, games have evolved a lot since their inception. Soul Reaver 1 and 2 are archaic when it comes to simple things we take for granted now, though Aspyr has done a decent job of adding some tweaks to make them more playable today.
The first thing that stood out was combat. The lock-on mechanic is still awkward and the hit detection feels off most of the time. Once I got used to it again, it was serviceable, but it still takes time to adjust to. The platforming is made better by the fact that Aspyr has allowed for a full free camera system. Players can now use the right analog stick to adjust it manually. This is a game-changer for those that played the original. There is also now a map system, which is nice, but again it feels tacked on. It is rudimentary at best and still confusing at worst.
The graphics have been given a nice overhaul with increased resolution and widescreen support. The art design is doing a lot of work here though. It looks good thanks to that, but the changes between the original and the new showcases how little was actually done. This feels like a title that aims to make it look like you remember, instead of making it look better than I remembered. It is effective again, thanks to the art direction. The enemies look good, and the bosses are still imposing, but I am ready for a truly new generation of these characters. Also worth noting they remastered the intro, and it is outstanding. The music, as well, continues to be incredible.
As for additional content, they did add some lost levels that can be played from the main menu. These are neat to explore but are not implemented into the core game. The first Soul Reaver also now has a save anywhere feature, which is nice. The second game uses a checkpoint system. There are also some text logs in the menu to learn a little more about the game, but a documentary or included items would have been appreciated. Cannot wait to watch the NoClip doc, but maybe it should have been included here. There are also no rewind features or save states, which is disappointing.
The Legacy of Kain series deserves to come back, and this collection is a nice first step. These games are dated, but still excellent. The price tag is decent at $30, but I do wish it had a little more meat to it. Still, I can highly recommend these games. Just be prepared to deal with the quirkiness of the beginning of 3D gaming. It will take some time, but the investment is worth it.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
