Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

by Bryony Harrison (follow)

1 player (236)      Single Player (126)      Playstation (40)      PS1 (37)      Video Game (19)      Sequel (1)      Playstation Network (1)      Series (1)     

Summary


After being executed by Lord Kain, Raziel was sent to the spectral realm. Now he wants revenge on his former vampiric master.

Description
Type: Action Adventure
Platform: Playstation One, Dreamcast, Playstation Network
Players: Single Player
Age: 15
Game Time: 24 hours plus
Developer or Designer: Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Eidos Interactive

Pros

Cons

Review


The Legacy of Kain is a gothic video game series that began in 1996 with Blood Omen and is currently awaiting the release of its sixth instalment. The series is set in the fictional world of Nosgoth, in which humans have fallen and the land is dominated by vampires, wraiths, and other spectral beasts.



Soul Reaver is the first sequel, which was released in 1999 for the Playstation One and later the Dreamcast. It is also now available on Playstation Network.



Although I have not played Blood Omen, it was easy to follow what was going on, and pick up halfway through the story. This is because the cutscenes are very thorough at explaining things in an interesting way and providing all the background information. The game has a very in-depth plot, which I could easily see working as a film; this is helped by the great graphic and eerie music, which make the game cinematic, creepy, and immersive.



As a player, you take on the role of Raziel, a former vampire who was killed by Lord Kain for evolving wings before he did. After a century in damnation, Raziel was finally resurrected by the Elder God, an omnipresent creature who instructs Raziel to kill Kain. Killing Kain will restore Nosgoth, but Raziel is more interested in revenge.



The main gameplay in Soul Reaver involves passing between the spectral and material realm. Raziel must enter the material realm to manipulate objects, but maintaining a physical body drains his energy, which means he has to devour souls along the way.



Raziel faces many enemies on his journey, including vampires, wraiths, slaugh (scavenging creatures), and human vampire hunters. At first, Raziel can only attack with his claws, but he will later wield the mighty Soul Reaver sword, and as he devours more souls, he will absorb new powers.



Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver is not the typical type of game I would go for, but I was surprised to find myself enjoying the gameplay. That is because it is about more than just mindless killing; it also involves thought - solving puzzles/ figuring things out. The graphics and music also add real atmosphere that makes Nosgoth an interesting place to explore.

Categories
#Sequel
#Video Game
#1 player
#Single Player
#Playstation
#PS1
#Playstation Network
#Series

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