Legacy of Kain is one of my all-time favorite series, and I deeply regret that Kain and Raziel have been in deep slumber for years. Hence, it’s great that they will finally wake up thanks to Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered. Maybe it’s not the remake Nosgoth fans have been counted on, but half a loaf is better than no bread. Let’s take a look at the changes and new features it will deliver.
The Legacy of Kain series
Legacy of Kain is the series launched by Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen, released in 1996. This top-down action-adventure game, developed by Silicon Knights and published by Crystal Dynamics, mesmerized players with its dark story and rich lore. The story follows a proud nobleman, Kain, who is murdered, robbed, and resurrected as a vampire. He embarks on a mission to slay his assassins, but this simple quest for vengeance turns into something much more significant.
Unfortunately, things between Silicon Knights and Crystal Dynamics have gone sour. Their cooperation was terminated, and both companies engaged in a legal dispute. Hence, the sequel, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, was developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Eidos Interactive in 1999. Set 1500 years after Blood Omen, the game introduced a new protagonist: Raziel, Kain’s former first lieutenant and now his sworn enemy. The game also improved graphics to 3D and changed the camera to view from behind Raziel’s back. Players had to fight enemies, solve puzzles, and learn new abilities on their hunt for Kain.
The game was a success and spawned another entry. Soul Reaver 2 came out in 2001 and continued Raziel’s story. A year later, players got a chance to return to Kain’s role in Blood Omen 2. The last major installment in the series, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, hit the shelves in 2003. It featured both Kain and Raziel as playable characters and resolved most story arcs, opening the gate for new adventures. Unfortunately, we have never seen another chapter in this exhilarating story.
There were some sparks of hope, but they quickly faded. An action-adventure called Legacy of Kain: Dead Sun was canceled after a few years of development in 2012. An MMO called Nosgoth entered open beta tests in January 2015 but never got the full release. Its servers died in May 2016. Thus, Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered will be the first new release in Nosgoth in 21 years. Maybe it’s not an original game or a high-budget remake, but at least it’s something.
Release and platforms
The rumors about overhauled versions of Soul Revears had spread for quite some time and were fueled by the display of Kain and Raziel figures branded as Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024. The game’s trailer leaked on September 24. Later that day, it was officially presented at PlayStation’s State of Play event.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered will be released on December 10, 2024. It will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X. The new version of Kain and Raziel’s saga was developed by Aspyr, the studio behind many satisfying remasters, including classic Tomb Raider games and Star Wars: Bounty Hunter. There were also some less successful examples, such as Battlefront Classic Collection. I hope that Soul Reaver will fit in the former group.
New features
Like most remastered video games, the new Soul Reavers offers higher resolution and enhanced textures and models. The developers promise an upgraded camera and new control options, so we probably will have a choice between modern and classic controls like in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered.
The Aspyr team developed the new map using original source art, design documents, and community reviews. Players will also use an optional compass that will help them navigate towards the next objective. This feature should let us avoid straying across Nosgoth searching for the right direction. The collection tracker is another feature unavailable in the premiere versions of Raziel’s adventures. Now, we can check out if there are any glyphs, power-ups, or other items left in the area. It’s a welcome novelty, as it was easy to miss something while playing Soul Reaver back in the day. Trophy hunters will cherish the tracker, too. Players who like making screenshots should also appreciate adding a photo mode.
How long Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is
I assume that the remaster will provide some gameplay enhancements, but they should not affect the time required to beat the games. Both the original Soul Reaver and its sequel required about 13 hours to complete. As a result, beating Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered takes approximately 26 hours. You will need to spend some more time with Raziel if you are determined to find all the optional power-ups scattered across Nosgoth. Aspyr will also enrich the games with achievements. Trophies tend to tempt us to perform additional in-game activities. Thus, getting the sweet 100% completion may take longer than simply finishing Soul Reaver 1 and 2, even finding all collectibles.
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