The Legacy of Kain series always stands as a monolith of narrative complexity and gothic storytelling. With Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered from Aspyr, fans and newcomers alike can revisit Nosgoth, a world of decayed grandeur and twisted destiny.
But do these classics still hold up in their revamped forms, or do they serve as relics best left to the sands of time? Short answer — yes. For this long-time Legacy of Kain fan, anything that brings me back to this world is as precious as blood to a vampire.
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Storytelling That Transcends Time
The storytelling in Soul Reaver and its sequel remains second to none, a testament to the creative brilliance of Amy Hennig, whose work here laid the foundation for her later successes in the Uncharted series. The narrative is an epic gothic drama, weaving themes of betrayal, vengeance, and existential torment into a richly layered tapestry. Raziel’s transformation from a vengeful wraith to a seeker of truth is as compelling now as it was upon release.
Voice performances are equally stellar, with Michael Bell’s classic and haunting Raziel and Simon Templeman’s imperious Kain delivering iconic performances that elevate the dialogue’s philosophical weight. To this day, I believe, no other game comes close to the voice work presented in the Legacy of Kain series.
A Mixed Blessing of Visuals
The character models showcase significant improvements, rendering Raziel and Kain in stunning gothic detail that has never looked so good. Enemy models have also undergone substantial enhancements, highlighting their true grotesque nature. In the first game, the Dumahim looked better than ever; as a child, I never realised they wore armour, but I can clearly see how the designers envisioned them now.
However, the environments, particularly in Soul Reaver 2, fall short of expectations. While staying true to the original’s design is admirable, the lack of substantial updates to the world feels like a missed opportunity. Many areas retain their atmospheric charm but could have benefited from more ambitious overhauls to better capture Nosgoth’s grandeur.
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The game lets you switch between original and remastered graphics at the press of a button. If it weren’t for the character models, you would often have a hard time guessing which was which.
Whilst I do wish that the enviroments saw some more love, I think I’m just being a greedy fan desperate to see these worlds in a modern light. Aspyr has done a stellar job at retaining the dark, gritty atmosphere of the originals. Their added skyboxes — now that we can look up with the camera — all fit the games theme and vision.
Gameplay from a Simpler Time
Both games feature basic combat by today’s standards, offering limited depth that may frustrate newcomers. While many believe the second game’s combat is superior, I find the first game more inventive. This holds true for the remasters, as the developers made no changes to the combat. Since this isn’t a remake, the lack of updates does not diminish the original experience.
The first game’s combat, whilst simpler, requires you to impale, burn or drown your enemies to permanently kill them, inviting out of the box thinking. Throwing a spear across a room to impale an unsuspecting vampire brought me as much joy as it did all those years ago.
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The second game sees this inventiveness removed, despite the addition of a block mechanic, air attacks and quicker combat. The need to burn, impale or drown your enemies is no longer required, primarily because you aren’t fighting vampires. Whilst narratively it makes sense, I always enjoyed the first game’s more basic combat, and that is still true here.
The combat does feel dated though, which newcomers to the series will likely find off putting. For fans, however, the nostalgia hit is undeniable, evoking fond memories of simpler times.
Sometimes, we take the simpler things in life for granted, like not having to drink blood and being able to touch water.
A Flipping Good Time
The puzzles in Soul Reaver can grow repetitive, as 90% of them involve flipping and moving boxes around, they are however still enjoyable. In contrast, Soul Reaver 2 introduces more variety in its puzzle design, providing a more engaging experience overall despite all of the game’s backtracking.
Raziel’s ability to shift between the spectral and material realms continues to shine, offering unique gameplay moments that remain impressive.
A Fan’s Delight
For longtime fans, the remaster offers tantalising extras, including the abilty to explore lost levels from the original Soul Reaver. These additions are a treasure trove for those who have cherished the series, providing new insights and content to explore.
Concept art, lore and even outtake videos are all offered up, like a delicious soul just waiting to be devoured. While both games hold their merits, the first remains a personal favorite for its raw ambition and world design, making it a standout in the series and to get so much background insight into the first game here, makes this fan very happy.
The below are all reaver forges removed for the first game, this kind of behind the scenes insight is exceptional for fans:
The remasters also offer some minor quality of life improvements, including a map and compass to guide you on your journey. I’ll admit, I never used them, but I have played these games so many times I could do it blindfolded. The camera controls and a photo mode are welcome additions though!
The Future of Nosgoth
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is more than just a nostalgia trip, it’s a testament to the enduring power of bold storytelling and atmospheric design. While the remaster’s enhancements breathe new life into Nosgoth, certain aspects, particularly environmental visuals and combat mechanics, leave room for improvement. Yet, for fans and newcomers alike, this is a journey worth taking — a haunting return to a world unlike any other. The story and voice work alone is enough for me to recommend everyone play these games.
To me the Legacy of Kain series deserves a revival, this remaster — along with the excitement generated by recent Kickstarter campaigns — offers a glimmer of hope.
The gothic world of Nosgoth and its rich, character-driven storytelling have the potential to captivate modern audiences in a brand-new adventure. A fully realised remake or new story, leveraging today’s technology, could finally do justice to the grandeur and complexity of this legendary franchise. Here’s hoping that we aren’t done with Raziel and Kain or the world of Nosgoth just yet.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Quest Daily scores Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered:
9/10
A review copy of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered was supplied to Quest Daily for the purpose of this review.
