Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered Reviews
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered feels a bit archaic by modern standards, but it still tells a compelling tale of vampires and vengeance.
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is what I expect a remaster to do. Not only did they make the main games playable with upgraded graphics, but they added so much bonus content that has never been released before that it makes the game worth buying for that bonus content alone. While the gameplay and camera is unfortunately locked into the by-gone age of the PlayStation 1 & 2, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is well worth the return from the afterlife.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is a package that intends to preserve and update rather than reconstruct. While it remains a 20-year-old series, the improvements and bonus content only prove how forward-thinking Soul Reaver was.
Aspyr continues their recent but crucial work of restoring legacy games with Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered, and it's arguably their best work yet. The visual fidelity and style upgrades are meaningful, only touching the fundamentals minimally so the twenty-plus-year-old cult classics remain the historic ventures they always have been. Though the untouched level design will feel at times dated with players, it's a janky and charming pair of games that are dripping with edge. Nostalgic fans and lovers of 2000s broodiness and creative design won't want to miss this one.
The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered brings back two cult classics with great care and attention to detail – sporting enhanced visuals, modern controls and improvements that only improve the pacing of the games. Everything great about these games is still great today. But while some aspects of both games still persist, these remasters are fitting tributes, offering a captivating revisit to Nosgoth that fans have been pining for for years.
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is an old AAA title from the PlayStation 1 era with such strong core design elements that just a facelift using HD textures and refined character models turns it into a decent modern indie title. It is a must-play for those who take video game history seriously and want to understand the evolution of this young art form throughout its history.
In a generation dominated by often superficial games, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered reminds us how video games were capable of telling profound and engaging stories even over twenty years ago.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered are the definitive versions of two awesome but flawed games. One game surpasses one in another aspect and vice versa, but between them both you’re going to get a superbly gothic and atmospheric epic backed by some of the greatest and moodiest dialogue in any game ever.
As a modern-day gamer, Soul Reaver Remastered might not be significant for you. But for an old-school 40-year-old gamer, it brings back memories of a golden era of gaming and legendary titles. While the remaster sparks nostalgia, it falls short of addressing the gameplay mechanics-especially in the sequel-leaving the experience somewhat dated. For those who cherished the original, the remaster is a bittersweet reminder of a time when storytelling and atmosphere were king, even if it struggles to fully modernize itself for a new generation.
Review in Persian | Read full review
A great way to revisit two classics on PS5
The Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is a lovely collection of two classic titles that allows them to shine. There's still roughness that comes from age, but the areas of the game that shined the most, including its atmosphere, script and voice acting, remain as excellent as ever. Most of the adjustments to the two games make the rougher parts more palatable to modern gamers. You still need to have some patience for the PS1-era of action/adventure games, but if you do, it's well worth it to see one of the greatest cult classics in video game history.
As seen in other similar releases, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is a great way to kill the nostalgia or to get to know the franchise for the first time. However, the game makes it clear that it doesn't intend to go much further than a port with softer visuals and extra behind-the-scenes content from the production.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Lots of bonus content, and seeing Raziel was very exciting all over again, but sadly I found the frustrating parts of both games still just as frustrating.
It's refreshing to play the Soul Reaver games again after so many years in one big, beautifully enhanced package. So you have a new opportunity to (once again) play a pair of games in a unique and mysterious world with a wonderfully interwoven story and charismatic characters. Whether you're a newcomer or a veteran of the originals, there's something here for everyone.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered embraces nostalgia with excellent visual enhancements and plenty of extra content. However, its dated gameplay and rough edges make it far more suited to longtime fans than younger players.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While I’m personally getting bored with the remaster/remake fad, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is how a remaster should be done. Aspyr did a great job giving these games a beautiful visual update while keeping the core of the game intact. The combat is solid, the realms navigation adds a unique layer of gameplay. But despite Aspyr’s visual work, lots of areas still remain way too dark; making these levels unplayable if there’s light in the room. Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is highly recommended for some 3D action good time. But newcomers, be warned, a guide (if you can find it online) or an online walkthrough is borderline necessary to progress.
I am delighted that during my adult life, I was able to return to Nosgoth once again. However, this nostalgic journey wasn't perfect due to the presence of both technical and visual bugs in the game. Nevertheless, one can overlook these issues because the game's atmosphere, world-building, and story more than make up for it.
Review in Polish | Read full review
I have a lot of pure nostalgia for these games, but I also feel that maybe Soul Reaver 1 aging so damn well carries the package here. While not a flawless ride by any stretch of the imagination, the world-building, the writing, and the atmosphere are still unrivaled. Aspyr has developed the ideal way to play a stone-cold classic (and the sadly lacking follow-up).
Even with its banal issues and marks [left by the passage] of time, Legacy of Kain is a unique and powerful adventure. Charismatic characters, a rich story and immersive universe, along with excellent ambiance and a fantastic soundtrack, are products of a bygone era that left its marks with somber narratives, but with a dash of hope.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review