Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Reviews
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance follows the storyline of a brand new character, who has been retroactively insterted into the main canon in a minimalistic and repetitive side-scrolling game. With strong spin-off vibes, it might not be a good indication of the revival of a classic franchise.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Is this a worthy addition to the Soul Reaver cannon? The retro action platformer design is a strange choice for a game world that inherently screams Metroidvania and the tacked on backstory is one I’m not sure we needed as much as we did a continuation. Don’t get me wrong, as a massive fan of the Soul Reaver franchise I feel like Nosgoth is one of the most underutilised game settings and, as with most fans, I’ve always wanted more games set in this universe. The Soul Reaver games has some of the best writing, music and voice acting in gaming and who wouldn’t want more on that level. And as much as I would love to continue immersing myself in Nosgoths fantastic world, I’m not sure this was the best way in which to have done it.
Bold as a reinterpretation, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance respects the saga’s dark tone and restores its theatrical flair, although its platforming formula ends up feeling too limited.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
This is not how you treat a beloved treasure, and even if another installment of the highest quality were to arrive, it would have a much harder time winning over disappointed fans.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
A lot of this could probably have been forgiven if Ascendance had delivered a stronger story. It wouldn’t magically fix the wildly inconsistent gameplay, but at least it would have given me a reason to come back for a second playthrough and really sink into the narrative. Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case, and good voice acting alone isn’t enough to carry a replay for me. This isn’t an interactive story where the narrative is the main attraction, like a Telltale game, nor does it have the storytelling weight of something like The Last of Us. When both the gameplay and the story stumble, all that’s left is the lingering question of why this needed to be a Legacy of Kain game at all.
Legacy of Kain Ascendance successfully brings players back to Nosgoth through its strong narrative focus, atmospheric pixel art and the return of the series’ iconic characters. While its combat and level design lack depth, it remains an enjoyable tribute for longtime fans.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is an excruciating disappointment that won’t satisfy fans or appeal to newcomers. There could be a good game within the prequel setting but what we got isn’t even close to that. Even if you could excuse the confusing story with it’s baffling choice to retcon certain plot points, it still doesn’t make up for the terrible gameplay, horrendous level design and bizarre presentation choices.
Having become a fan of the series relatively recently, I can say that Legacy of Kain: Ascendance disappointed me. I admit it's bold in expanding the franchise's horizons into new genres and further exploring its universe. The soundtrack is very good, imposing and captivating, the voice acting is respectful, and it's good to see Raziel again. However, the game lacks the strength to attract new players based solely on its name and may alienate fans with its poorly developed story, amateurish gameplay, and, frankly, the emptiness of its existence. It's effectively a useless title for the series, and only the most bloodthirsty fans might be interested.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
For players who want to delve a little deeper into the Legacy of Kain universe, this is a great opportunity to explore its lore.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A masterful return for the franchise that honors its dark lore while introducing modern mechanics. It’s the gothic experience fans have been waiting for.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ascendance brings us back to Nosgoth without reinventing it, but rather by expanding on its legacy—with strengths and limitations that make it as intriguing as it is inaccessible. Legacy of Kain: Ascendance exists in a constant tension between what the series was in its heyday, what it offers now, and what fans expect. It has interesting ideas, memorable moments, and a soundtrack that borders on exceptional, but it also suffers from limitations that affect its overall impact. It’s not the return I was hoping for, nor is it a viable entry point.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a game that frankly doesn’t just tarnish the franchise but outright hurts it. It feels like a cheap cash-in based on a polarizing graphic novel with no love and care for the series it’s representing. Waiting twenty-three years for this to be released feels like a massive slap in the face for fans. There’s only a boring and trite time to be had with this title, where the only good aspects are the soundtrack and the voice acting. The only other accolade I can gift Ascendance is that it has managed to dethrone Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2 as the most dislikable title in the franchise. Hopefully, the fanbase can just emulate Raziel and forget this ever happened.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a decent return to Nosgoth that looks great, but it’s bogged down by repetitive levels and a story that talks way too much without saying half as much as the classics. It’s got the grit, but the flat narrative and annoying platforming stop it from being truly legendary.
I can’t wholeheartedly recommend this game to everyone. It simply doesn’t offer enough content to be a worthwhile choice for platformer fans. For fans of Legacy of Kain, however, it may be interesting, especially considering the role assigned to Elaleth. From my perspective, it’s worth checking out if Nosgoth drew you in with its dark atmosphere. In that case, Ascendance might turn out to be an enjoyable diversion for a few hours.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a solid effort that will likely resonate most with hardcore fans and completionists.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance allows players to experience the events of previous games through a different lens in an entirely different genre than they’re accustomed to. Unfortunately, the combat is boring, and the story is winding and doesn’t pay off. As the game ends, we’re shown Raziel being thrown into the void, leading into the Soul Reaver games, left wondering why this game was even necessary.
My final thoughts, in simple terms, are that Legacy of Kain: Ascendance does not do this long-standing series justice. Not in voice acting, not in story, not in graphics, in gameplay, or any other metric by which games are judged. I hope that game developers and publishers realize that there is a passionate fan base out there eager for more Raziel and Kain adventures, unveiling Nosgoth’s misty past, present, and future. Legacy of Kain: Ascendance gets the Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a linear 2D action platformer that is fun to play through, but some will call it a missed opportunity. The simple slash-em-up gameplay is addictive, but it is all a bit mindless.
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance presented us with a difficult dilemma. On the one hand, our passion for the Nosgoth universe led us to appreciate the franchise’s first original title in over twenty years, thanks above all to a bold reinterpretation of the narrative canon, a refined art style, and simple, fast-paced gameplay. On the other hand, viewed through the lens of players less captivated by Crystal Dynamics’ vampires, we found ourselves with a two-dimensional action game that is far too linear and repetitive, betraying Bit Bot Media’s inexperience. What was meant to be an attempt to revive the franchise thus ends up being a product aimed solely at the series’ most die-hard fans, who might even be annoyed by the lack of consistency with the past.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Legacy of Kain: Ascendance offers a fantastic prequel story with the iconic original voice cast, finally answering decades-old questions for fans of the series. However, the disjointed art style, repetitive combat, and frustrating level design make the actual gameplay a struggle to enjoy. It is a vital piece of lore for fans, but playing on Story mode is the best way to experience it.