It’s good to see another action-adventure classic make a glorious comeback.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered continues the trend of successful remasters bringing old hits to next-gen platforms. Let’s take a look at all the new features.
In case you’re unfamiliar with either Soul Reaver or the Legacy of Kain series in general, here’s a quick primer. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver is a sequel to the 1996 Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. You play as Raziel, Kain’s lieutenant, who ends up killed by his former master out of jealousy. Resurrected by the Elder God, you set out to exact revenge.
The game mixes platforming, combat, and transitioning back and forth between the material and spectral realms to solve puzzles. You get to fight vampires, monsters of all sorts, and humans. The sequel, Soul Reaver 2, improves on all that and adds new features to the gameplay. Both titles are known for their amazing design and atmosphere.
So, what changed in the remaster? What was improved? Let’s take a look:
Modernized Visuals
This is the most visible and significant change after all. Textures, lighting, models, special effects – all that was redone. After all, the originals, with all their charm, unfortunately didn’t age well, especially now that they’re PS1/early PS2 era games.
Anyway, character models were remade. In-game Raziel and Kain look more like their cut-scene counterparts. Enemies and bosses also received that treatment. There are new skyboxes made specifically for the remaster. Real-time shadows have also been introduced. Day and night cycle, cut from the original, has been restored.
In general, the goal was to give fans the feel that this is what the games looked like in the past, maintaining the spirit of the originals, but also modernize the visuals for this generation of players.
Naturally, if you want the old-school experience, you can revert all that back to original visuals with a press of a button.
Gameplay Enhancements
The original games might be a bit cumbersome and janky to play these days, so a new, modern control scheme has been introduced, adjusted to current controllers. Naturally, you can always return to the old one, no problem.
There’s an in-game map and compass to help you navigate the realm of Nosgoth and not get lost in the process. The developers also added a Photo Mode and a whole slew of trophies and achievements.
Bonus Materials for Die-Hard Fans
This is probably mostly for long-time aficionados of the series, as they’re the ones who might be interested in behind-the-scenes content the most. Still, it’s a great opportunity to take a peek behind the curtain and see how games used to be made.
The package will contain an interactive lore map, a concept art gallery, and an overview of the so-called “Lost Levels”, i.e., legendary locations cut from the complete game. This might definitely be a lovely little stroll down memory lane!
Comparison Table
| Feature | Original | Remastered |
|---|---|---|
| Visuals | PS1/Early PS2 era graphics with limited textures and lighting. | Modernized visuals with updated textures, enhanced lighting, and advanced special effects. |
| Character Models | Less detailed models limited by original technology. | Remade character models for Raziel and Kain to closely match their cut-scene counterparts with improved detail. |
| Skyboxes & Shadows | Original skyboxes with no real-time shadows. | Introduced new skyboxes, real-time shadows, and restored the day and night cycle. |
| Control Scheme | Original controls which may feel cumbersome on modern controllers. | Implemented a modern control scheme optimized for current controllers, with the option to revert to original controls. |
| Navigation Tools | No in-game map or compass. | Added an in-game map and compass to aid navigation through Nosgoth. |
| Additional Features | Limited features based on original release. | Includes Photo Mode, trophies, and achievements for enhanced gameplay experience. |
| Bonus Content | No additional bonus materials. | Features an interactive lore map, concept art gallery, and an overview of “Lost Levels” with legendary locations. |
| Game Package | Soul Reaver 1 and 2 sold separately. | Both games included in a single remastered package, offering convenience and value. |
As you can see, the developers are working hard to make sure that while modernized, these remasters are made to keep your memories of the games intact. So, no revolutionary changes, just overhauled visuals and modernized controls to make the game more fun to play and quite a treat to look at while keeping its personality intact.
Naturally, if you’re a retro purist, you can totally just switch off all that for an old-school experience.
One more thing: this package contains both games, Soul Reaver 1 and 2, so don’t worry, you won’t have to buy them separately. Anyway, it’s great to see another classic of the old make a return.
Release Information
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 premieres on December 10, 2024 on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch