Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered Review

The Legacy of Kain franchise has been all but dead, with the latest game in the series released all the way back in 2003 with the release of Legacy of Kain: Defiance. The gaming industry has changed in so many ways since then, but one thing that remains a constant is the sweet allure of nostalgia.

That nostalgia surged through the veins of many Legacy of Kain fans that fateful day of the latest PlayStation State of Play event. It was an absolute shock, to say the least. Traveling back to the ruined world of Nosgoth was not on my bingo sheet for 2024, but here we are. Let's dive into the swirling vortex of the abyss and see if Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered Is worth your time.

The Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 were both developed by the acclaimed team over at Crystal Dynamics, which initially started its life developing games for the Panasonic 3DO (remember the 3DO?), such as Crash 'N Burn (1993) and the Gex series. Developer Silicon Knights, in conjunction with Crystal Dynamics, would make the first entry in the series until Crystal Dynamics acquired the sole rights to Legacy of Kain after that.

None other than gaming industry icon Amy Henning directed the Legacy of Kain series all the way up till its final game, Legacy of Kain: Defiance. She is perhaps best known for directing Jak and Daxter and creating the Uncharted series. Needless to say, The Legacy of Kain series was in good hands, ensuring quality in each release. Aspyr Media, Inc. took the reins this time, developing the remaster of these beloved classics.

The announcement that the Legacy of Kain franchise would return came as an absolute shock to many fans. We have not seen the likes of everyone's favorite undead warrior, Raziel, and his arch-nemesis, Kain, since the days of the PlayStation 2. That seems like a lifetime ago now. Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered is hot off the trails of many legacy series, seeing revivals from days of gaming past, such as the classic Tomb Raider trilogy.

Long gone are the days of pixelated faces and warping walls to newly enhanced versions of hidden gems like Soul Reaver 1-2. You may remember playing the demo for the first Soul Reaver in Crystal Dynamic's other action title, The Unholy War, and being entranced by its ghoulish mystique. It is no wonder Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered was able to stir up all sorts of emotions in longtime fans of the series with its macabre atmosphere and cool-looking protagonist, Raziel.

Almost cosmetically straight out of Todd McFarlane's Spawn (I mean that as a compliment), our glowing white-eyed, vampire-turned-wraith Raziel is back again to exact his revenge on his former mentor, Kain. After evolving past Kain in vampiric abilities, Kain betrays Raziel and sends him to the depths of The Lake of The Dead. Raziel suffers for almost an eternity to then be revived by an omnipotent force known as the Elder God to exact his revenge on his former mentor.

Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver Remastered 1-2 gameplay remains untouched from its original releases, just as it should be. Legacy of Kain veterans will have no problem picking up right where they left off all those years ago. If you are curious about getting into the series for the first time, no worries, as The Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 is an excellent starting point.

The gameplay is incredibly simplistic and easy to understand. Soul Reaver 1 & 2 are both action puzzle games with some platforming sprinkled in. As you traverse the crumbling world of Nosgoth, Raziel will learn new abilities to aid him in his quest for vengeance. Acquiring new abilities adds to the fun factor, giving players access to previously unattainable items and blocked-off areas.

Combat starts off a bit dull, fighting bare-handed until you acquire the soul reaver, which allows you to slay demons with ease. As I said, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered leaves the core gameplay intact for better or worse, so both titles certainly play like a PS1/PS2 game, respectively. Young gaming historians and old fans alike will have a field day exploring Nosgoth with a fresh coat of paint.

The retextured models and environments are absolutely gorgeous and do not compromise the heart and soul of the originals in any shape or form. However, if you prefer the retro aesthetic of the original release, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered features an instant toggle of retro/modern graphics with the press of a button!

It doesn't matter where you are in the game either; whether in mid-combat, a cutscene, or the pause menu, you can instantly switch back and forth between both styles. More remasters should take a page out of this book, as that is an oft-forgotten feature in most remasters. Nostalgia is a big business, and there is no reason not to include such a simple feature that goes a long way with fans looking to scratch that retro itch.

The celebration does not stop there either, as it is far from it. In fact, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered is packed to the brim with extra content that is all available from the start! Where do we even begin? I was actually astonished by the sheer amount of legacy content in Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered. Most remasters will give you a gallery of concept art and the ability to listen to the game soundtrack, but this just takes it a giant step further.

In addition to staples such as concept art and original soundtracks, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered features fan-made entries to celebrate the historical legacy of these games. From cosplay to fan art, Aspyr Media, Inc. went the extra mile in not only celebrating the games but also the fans who enjoy the series so much. That earns massive amounts of respect for the developers to include this.

Not to mention, all the gorgeous 3D renders from back in the day are still just as marvelous to gawk at in 2024 as they were in 1999 (Soul Reaver) and 2001 (Soul Reaver 2), respectively. You can easily spend a large portion of time in these sections, just as much as playing the games themselves. If you are confused about any plot points or game terminology, no problem!

Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered features an extensive section that tells of each game's story beats, locations, and more to fill in the gaps of aspects you may need a refresher on. Although the Legacy of Kain franchise was short-lived, there is plenty of lore for you to engorge yourself on to become immersed in the world of Nosgoth and its inhabitants.

Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered also has content from the cutting room floor of Soul Reaver (1999) that you can actually access! There are multiple areas that were intended to be released in the retail version of the game that just did not make the cut for various reasons. All of these points are explained in each cut level you want to select, so I will leave that for potential players to discover on their own.

My jaw hit the floor when I first saw that feature. Not many compilations include content like this, and it is honestly to be admired, especially given the price of admission. For only $29.99, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered is an absolute steal for the number of offerings that stretch beyond the games themselves.

There are even bios of the voice actors involved, with respect to their legacy, that stretch beyond Soul Reaver 1-2. You can even listen to all your favorite tunes from Soul Reaver and Soul Reaver 2. There are only a few gripes I have about Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered, and it is minor.

While Soul Reaver 2 looks good in its remaster, I can't help but notice the colors were toned down a bit when compared to the retro graphics. It's not much of a detractor, but it was a bit odd to see. Quality of life staples such as save states and the ability to rewind would have been a nice inclusion. When it comes to retro games, these are usually a given but nowhere to be found in Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered, which is a bit of a bummer.

Minor pet peeves like that do not take away from what might be one of the biggest love letters in the history of game compilations to a legendary franchise such as Legacy of Kain. A series that seemed like it'd never see the sun again (this is a series about vampires, after all), only to return spectacularly with plenty of action and puzzles to solve, an extensive section of extra content, and much more.

At $29.99, you can't ask for much more with an attractive price point like that. You won't find gameplay enhancements, but good old-fashioned fifth/sixth generation gaming goodness packed with silly animations and an incredible story for the ages.

Not to mention, all the original voice-over work remains untouched, with brilliant performances by Michael Bell as Raziel and Simon Templeman as Kain. Dust off your wraith blade and honor 25 years of these gothic classics in Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered.