Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered Review – A Generous Renovation of Two Cult Classics

As someone who grew up in the golden age of gaming, I can confidently say that the Soul Reaver series was one of those unique gems that captured my imagination and left a lasting impact. The first time I encountered these dark, sulphur-stained lands of Nosgoth, I felt an immediate connection to its complex lore, intricate puzzles, and dramatic narrative.

Modern video games sometimes face criticism for being hastily released, lacking completeness, requiring patches, and having popular names attached to new projects that may not be a perfect fit. However, there are exceptions like “Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver”, which came out 25 years ago and had these issues but is still regarded as an exceptional game by its dedicated fanbase and others. Now, the developer Aspyr has brought back this classic game along with its sequel in a remastered version called “Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered“. The Texas-based studio has polished both games, added new content, and presented them with bonus materials like archive footage and lost levels. This work reflects the nobility of the series’ heroes, who navigate through time to escape current flaws and aim to alter its course.

For newcomers who are eager to experience these games and find themselves unaware of their confusing timelines, let’s provide a summary. In a medieval setting, our protagonist Kain was once a nobleman. However, he was far from honorable and made a deal with a dark sorcerer that made him worse. After being killed by brigands, he rose as a vampire, characterized by pale skin, silver hair, sharp fangs, and an appetite for blood. He fathered a group of pseudo-sons and ruled over a world plagued by doom for a millennium. Following what was perceived as a misdeed, one of his sons, Raziel, was cast into an abyss. Rescued by a giant squid, Raziel returns from the afterlife seeking revenge.

The narrative outside these games is just as intricate and challenging. In 1996, developer Silicon Knights created Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, an RPG in an isometric perspective. Originally titled Shifter, Soul Reaver was intended to be a standalone game unrelated to Kain. However, it underwent a transformation into a makeshift sequel during production due to certain circumstances. Unfortunately, a legal dispute between Silicon Knights and publisher Crystal Dynamics over the rights to the property ensued. Consequently, Crystal Dynamics went on to produce a series of sequels, sparing Kain and Raziel from having to deal with the complexities of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In 1999, the game Soul Reaver was first introduced on PlayStation. The same year saw its release on PC, and in early 2000, it was available for Dreamcast. Critics have often preferred the Dreamcast version due to its vibrant color palette, upgraded textures, and characters, as well as its smooth sixty frames per second gameplay. Aspyr employs a visual style similar to that of Tomb Raider I–III Remastered: it’s clean-toned, softly lit, with a smoother look reminiscent of PlayStation 2 for characters and environments. Just like in the previous bundle, you can toggle between old and new graphics here. It seems that the developers used the PC version of Soul Reaver as their base, not the original PS1 version (I have a special affection for this initial release; the choppy frame rate and pixelated edges imbue the gloomy opening scenes with an atmosphere of damp cardboard). Tastes differ.

For me, this doesn’t supplant the Dreamcast port. If you want that first game at its most beautiful, closest to its time and cold off the press, that is still the version to hunt. However, Aspyr’s remastered package is a must, for two reasons. One is the inclusion of the sequel, which until now required some tweaking to work on modern PCs and was unavailable on current consoles. Less attention has been lavished on Soul Reaver 2, but its mere inclusion is basically altruism. The other – and what will have zealous fans crooning in blissed-out devotion – is the lost levels.

As a dedicated gamer diving into the nostalgic world of Soul Reaver, I’ve come to know that this game has been under close examination for quite some time. Back in the day, when previews graced the pages of gaming magazines, there were numerous instances where the screenshots didn’t match up with what was finally released. To add to the mystery, certain environments had odd dead ends and pathways that seemed to lead nowhere, trapping you in. The game’s abrupt ending felt more like an unfinished story than a cliffhanger, suggesting a rushed conclusion due to time constraints.

Instead of being woven back into the narrative flow of the adventure, these levels are presented in the menu with descriptive text. As Ray explains, “Consider the Lost Levels as an interactive museum,” a collection of historical artifacts preserved in their original state. It can be tempting to idealize missing elements, to piece together a spectral mosaic of what might have been, and let it linger in your mind – even when the truth is that a game may actually benefit from those parts being removed. In the case of Soul Reaver, the setting of Nosgoth lacked the depth it should have had, but these levels help to flesh out its sense of place.

While these games, such as “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” and “Tomb Raider”, certainly offer excitement for the more academically inclined, one might wonder about the average individual’s perspective. These games were significantly influenced by their environments, with the ability to manipulate the camera angle, explore interconnected spaces, and traverse them towards your objective. However, they often include puzzles that involve moving blocks into niches, which can be somewhat repetitive. The charm of Lara Croft’s adventure lay in the belief that these decaying temples and ancient caves were naturally occurring – their artificial mechanisms could seamlessly blend with moss, dust, and visual continuity, creating an illusion of organic authenticity.

Back in 1999, the veil was starting to thin; now it’s barely there, but some of the lost levels still manage to solidify Nosgoth as a gritty, sulphur-laden world where machinery of hell (levers, chains, grinding gears) seem to fit right in. But for someone who’s used to playing games like Uncharted, curious about the creator Amy Hennig, what would be appealing here? What hasn’t lost its charm over time is the story. When it comes to dialogue, this is where Hennig honed her skills, so to speak. You wouldn’t guess that the witty banter between Sully and Drake came from the same writer as the intense dialogues here. The narrative is steeped in destiny, cruelty, betrayal, and prophecy, and the characters talk to each other in harsh, declarative language. It’s almost too much on paper, but on screen, it pulls you along with its rhythm, and you buy into it. What these games and Hennig’s later work have in common is that drama takes center stage. The platforming mechanics and bursts of combat are like the backstage scaffolding – they hoist us up and draw back the curtains wide.

It’s even more entertaining to check out the bloopers from the recording studio, a delightful dose of humor amongst the additional content, as actors play around and joke about their own acts. This is a heartfelt homage to an outstanding series that has seen better days. I can merely wish for similar remasters of the other games, each unique yet centered on the same core. Whether you’re a long-time fan who can’t get enough of Kain or a newcomer curious about these quirky games, there’s something here for everyone. Despite their flaws and inconsistencies, these peculiar games captivated and enthralled us at just the right moment. Thanks to Aspyr, that time is finally upon us.

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2024-12-10 23:42