Legacy of Kain Series

[Tepes Thot]

I’ve been replaying the series, and I finally stopped fighting the urge to want to discuss it. So, I went to Reddit, and I got what I fucking deserved when I saw a ‘Legacy of Kain through a queer lens” post. I said “Fuck that. I may be an autist, but I still have class.”

So, fellow country club autists, can we talk about one of the most brilliant video game series ever?



"Legacy of Kain is a series of dark fantasy action-adventure video games primarily developed by Crystal Dynamics and formerly published by Eidos Interactive, then Square Enix Europe after 2009. The first title, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, was created by Silicon Knights in association with Crystal Dynamics, but, after a legal battle, Crystal Dynamics retained the rights to the game's intellectual property, and continued its story with four sequels. To date, five games comprise the series, all initially developed for video game consoles and later ported to Microsoft Windows. Focusing on the eponymous character of Kain, a vampire antihero, each title features action, exploration and puzzle-solving, with some role-playing game elements." - Wikipedia

The series is split down the middle between Kain's own titles, and the parallel protagonist Raziel's titles.

Blood Omen:

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver:

The series may be revived. Crystal Dynamics sent out a survey of what fans would want to see in a revival, and got over 100,000 responses back. (llink) (archive link)
Predictions?

 

[Just A Butt]

last time i tried to play Soul Reaver the steam version wouldn't map the fucking buttons correctly so i ragequit

 

[ce gars]

Legacy of Kain is a series very near and dear to my heart, even despite all its issues, so it's nice to see other people who love it as well. That being said, I dread a series revival, personally. All the original talent is gone and the IP was heavily mishandled after Defiance, and I just don't think the modern games industry would be able to give it the time and effort it deserves, let alone respect. If we could get proper fixed re-releases of the series on PC and modern consoles though, that'd be swell. Blood Omen with the GL patch on PC is an excellent way to play it these days and I know Soul Reaver has a lot of fan patches as well. Soul Reaver 2, Blood Omen 2, and Defiance haven't fared as well though if I remember correctly.

 

[AgendaPoster]

I played them all when they came out, Soul Reaver I think on Dreamcast, rest on PC.
It's true the mechanics are really dated by 2023 standards, and the camera can be horrific, but the story and voice acting remain stellar. The first game from 1996 and maybe Defiance aged better IMO, although Defiance has other issues. Soul Reavers are from that era when 3D just started and textures and graphics are really bad, camera angles atrocious, combat simplistic etc.
The atmosphere, probably unmatched. My brain can easily remember the sound FX from the first game. Kain and Raziel are great characters, impossible not to appreciate their seething anger and disgust at pretty much everything lmao.
We won't get games like these anymore. We don't have devs and publishers able or willing to replicate the dark atmosphere, and the writing in 2023 would make for some real cringe instead of true anti-heroes.
If you lived to play these games when their mechanics and graphics were current and represented the best of gaming could offer, you're quite privileged. Enjoy your nostalgia. The devs and actors have a lot to be proud of for sure.

 

[Mr.Miyagi]

I think it'd be better if the series stayed dead than scooped out of its grave so that the development team behind the nu-Tomb Raider series can try resurrecting it. I doubt they'd be capable of writing anything compelling, and Amy Henning is too busy working on Marvel/Star Wars shit to be involved (if she even has the touch anymore. Having your name tied to Forspoken's writing, even if it's only original story concepts, is an unfortunate black mark.) If they're going to do it anyway, though, they should work on some good remasters of the old games to help generate hype and fans beforehand.

 

[Tepes Thot]

last time i tried to play Soul Reaver the steam version wouldn't map the fucking buttons correctly so i ragequit

Emulator is probably the better way. I’ve been playing it on Steam Deck through Emudeck. Didn’t even have to touch the controls.

 

[Kheapathic]

Blood Omen was my first real PS1 game (in package demo disc was the other first "game disc"). I got a PS1 because I heard that's where Final Fantasy was going to go and didn't want to miss out; but I also remember reading about a game where you play as a vampire, there's a day/night cycle, you drink blood to heal, and so much other cool (see: edgy) shit. I remember the one guardian guy being a fight you literally cannot win and so you have to retreat, and having a choice to heal or destroy the world... cannon ending is you destroy it. I enjoyed the first one, and while I found the story to be okay, I didn't like the gameplay of what came after; I wanted a return of the more top-down view with more RPG stuff in it.

 

[Tepes Thot]

Blood Omen was my first real PS1 game (in package demo disc was the other first "game disc"). I got a PS1 because I heard that's where Final Fantasy was going to go and didn't want to miss out; but I also remember reading about a game where you play as a vampire, there's a day/night cycle, you drink blood to heal, and so much other cool (see: edgy) shit. I remember the one guardian guy being a fight you literally cannot win and so you have to retreat, and having a choice to heal or destroy the world... cannon ending is you destroy it. I enjoyed the first one, and while I found the story to be okay, I didn't like the gameplay of what came after; I wanted a return of the more top-down view with more RPG stuff in it.

That’s something I’ve really noticed about these games. The early ones were really innovative for their time. I didn’t get to play BO as a child, just the first Soul Reaver, but I was pleasantly surprised it’s aged well. It isn’t hard to go back and play at all.

I also have to echo the other posts here. A remake/modern continuation is concerning. When not even Amy can be trusted (Forspoken), it’s probably going to be dumpster offerings. The story is really complex with dialogue that just skirts pretentious, but manages to avoid it and stick the landing. Who could they tap in the industry to do that now?

They’d also have to find some really competent VAs since I believe both Kain and Raziel’s VAs are dead.

 

[Molesting the Decapitated]

Soul Reaver used to scare the absolute shit out of me when i was an elementary school kid. thought i was playing some satanic shit

 

[Inside your walls]

I played a bit of Soul Reaver: LoK back few months ago and I feel in love in it. I was genuinely amazed at the ideas this game had, both gameplay and thematically/writing wise. Raziel became one of my favorite fictional characters in media, he's what I'd describe 90s edgy but in a cool and endearing way. Even if in today's standards the game and it's mechanics appear to be outdated, playing it I could see why it got so much praise and was thought to be ahead back in the day. Figuring out puzzles and realization that you can impale or torch enemies as a finishing move, made me feel that pleasant feeling of discovering what things click on your own, a feeling I can't really find in modern video games.

On one hand, I'd love to see a remaster or remake for it, because I believe LoK as a series shouldn't be forgotten. But on the other hand, I would dread it because I feel
like executives would force the writers and development team to throw everything what made the OG loved and praised, so they can somehow find a way to make it political or "hip" with zoomers.

The soundtrack for the game is great. These two songs are my favorite because they are a perfect
example of a game getting you pumped up and then keeping your tempo by playing a soundtrack that goes hard.

They’d also have to find some really competent VAs since I believe both Kain and Raziel’s VAs are dead.

Michael Bell, the voice of Raziel is still alive and well. Same with Simon Templeman, the voice of Kain.

 

[Wesker]

I tried really hard as a kid to get into Soul Reaver and couldn't do it. I really should revisit it. I ended up impulse buying the sequels to it too and never ended up playing them.

 

[Tepes Thot]

I played a bit of Soul Reaver: LoK back few months ago and I feel in love in it. I was genuinely amazed at the ideas this game had, both gameplay and thematically/writing wise. Raziel became one of my favorite fictional characters in media, he's what I'd describe 90s edgy but in a cool and endearing way. Even if in today's standards the game and it's mechanics appear to be outdated, playing it I could see why it got so much praise and was thought to be ahead back in the day. Figuring out puzzles and realization that you can impale or torch enemies as a finishing move, made me feel that pleasant feeling of discovering what things click on your own, a feeling I can't really find in modern video games.

On one hand, I'd love to see a remaster or remake for it, because I believe LoK as a series shouldn't be forgotten. But on the other hand, I would dread it because I feel
like executives would force the writers and development team to throw everything what made the OG loved and praised, so they can somehow find a way to make it political or "hip" with zoomers.

The soundtrack for the game is great. These two songs are my favorite because they are a perfect
example of a game getting you pumped up and then keeping your tempo by playing a soundtrack that goes hard.

Michael Bell, the voice of Raziel is still alive and well. Same with Simon Templeman, the voice of Kain.

This is one time I'm glad I had geriatric brain. I don't know why I thought they were dead. That's half the problem solved, now if the trogs that run the modern industry are avoided, they just might pull this off.

 

[ce gars]

This is one time I'm glad I had geriatric brain. I don't know why I thought they were dead. That's half the problem solved, now if the trogs that run the modern industry are avoided, they just might pull this off.

You might've been thinking of Tony Jay, the voice of the elder god. He died a while ago unfortunately. He was also Mortanius in Blood Omen.

 

[Inafune Fanfiction]

So I wasnt the only one who found the lolcow den of that subreddit and discord.

The faggots never released the leaked soul reaver alpha builds.

 

[ShitLurker]

I played a good chunk of the original Legacy of Kain, but was rented and never finished it, Soul Reaver was a pirated cd that started acting hard after a point, so same deal... I do have Blood Omen on the deck to play on psx, though don't know if the PC version would be a better plan? As for Soul Reaver, what is the "best way" to play it?

 

[Tepes Thot]

So I wasnt the only one who found the lolcow den of that subreddit and discord.

The faggots never released the leaked soul reaver alpha builds.

Yeah, I got out of there quick. I can’t even imagine the discord situation.

And I didn’t even know such a thing existed, now I want to play it.

I played a good chunk of the original Legacy of Kain, but was rented and never finished it, Soul Reaver was a pirated cd that started acting hard after a point, so same deal... I do have Blood Omen on the deck to play on psx, though don't know if the PC version would be a better plan? As for Soul Reaver, what is the "best way" to play it?

Like I said up thread PSX is pretty good for it. To be fair, that’s the only way I’ve ever played it, but it seems the easiest.

 

[BadGoy1488]

 

[TVB]

I think it'd be better if the series stayed dead than scooped out of its grave so that the development team behind the nu-Tomb Raider series can try resurrecting it.

Squeenix was responsible for ruining Tomb Raider. Crystal Dynamics purchased the IP in 2003 after Angel of Darkness failed and they came out with Legend, Anniversary and Underworld, and they were great. Squeenix then purchased Crystal and Eidos in late-2007, and by the time Tomb Raider was set to reboot in 2011, Squeenix ruined it. Sure in 2022, Embracer purchased Crystal and Eidos from Squeenix, but the soul of Tomb Raider is still gone because of Squeenix

 

[Gravityqueen4life]

 

[TheHarbinger]

On one hand, I'd love to see a remaster or remake for it, because I believe LoK as a series shouldn't be forgotten. But on the other hand, I would dread it because I feel like executives would force the writers and development team to throw everything what made the OG loved and praised, so they can somehow find a way to make it political or "hip" with zoomers.

The first game had a much different story than the others at least from what I remember. Kain basically embraces vampirism in the first and goes from seeking vengeance to using his new powers to control an army of vampires and rule over Nosgoth. And in subsequent games it is him and Raziel trying to fight against an Elder God that wasn't even present in the first game. They went from being villains to heroes. It was a retcon that basically ignored or just re-imagined most of the first game.

The atmosphere of the first game is also far more brutal and different than the other games as well. Where you are killing innocent people constantly yet in the sequels they have you killing monsters and abominations to soften the image of the main character. Instead of draining people of blood you are killing foul creatures for their energy. Basically making the game PG-13.

The atmosphere, probably unmatched. My brain can easily remember the sound FX from the first game. Kain and Raziel are great characters, impossible not to appreciate their seething anger and disgust at pretty much everything lmao.
We won't get games like these anymore. We don't have devs and publishers able or willing to replicate the dark atmosphere, and the writing in 2023 would make for some real cringe instead of true anti-heroes.
If you lived to play these games when their mechanics and graphics were current and represented the best of gaming could offer, you're quite privileged. Enjoy your nostalgia. The devs and actors have a lot to be proud of for sure.

The sound in the first game is easily top ten of all games in history in my opinion. And you could argue is better than probably all but a handful of movies and shows as well. The acting, the effects of the weapons and spells, the music and ambient noises. Everything feels both powerful but also oppressive and defeatist and just grim.