A Surprising Shift in the Nosgoth Saga
Every now and again, this reviewing lark throws up a few surprises. Take as an example the subject of today’s review, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, from Bit Bot Media and Crystal Dynamics. I’m pretty sure I have waxed lyrical about my love for the Legacy of Kain series previously, from the first one on PlayStation through to the 3D extravaganzas that they became. However, if someone had said to me that the next game in the series would be a “fast, 2D action platformer, built around vertical movement, fluid combat and skill-based play” I’d have probably not believed them.
But Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is just that! So, can the promise of the returning voice cast, and a story that wraps around all the previous games be enough to drag me in?
Retro Aesthetics
Kicking off with the presentation of the game, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a kind of retro styled side scrolling platformer that works very well as a premise. The action is well depicted, and finishing off foes is always good fun, as each of the characters that we play as have their own way of dispatching foes. The levels that we explore are a varied bunch, from dark swamps where the action is in silhouette to castles; every level has a plethora of secrets to find, so exploration is always a good pastime.
There are no end of enemies to fight either, and while they have definitely come from the cookie school of design, it all works pretty well. The camera has no difficulty in keeping up with the action, and all in all it looks fine.
Echoes of the Past
It is in the sound where the game comes alive, for me at least, as while we can play as Elaleth, Raziel’s sister (I never knew he had one, but what the hey) for me, playing as Kain and Raziel is where the action is. It’s even better than that, as the original voice actors have returned to reprise their roles, and I for one am in fan boy heaven. The rest of the sound effects are also up to snuff, with the wing beats of Raziel and Kain’s sword whooshing through the air all in order.
Now, the story of the game is a lovely bit of fan service, as it ties together previous series elements, and acts as a back story to not only Elaleth, but also to Raziel and Kain. There’s not a lot that I can tell you about the story without spoilers, as each chapter seems to bring a new revelation, and following Raziel from Sarafan Inquisitor to his downfall at the hands of Kain is great. The way that the story twists around the main entries in the series is amazingly well done, and I really didn’t want the game to end. Trust me, if you are invested in the story arc of the series, this is great fan service.
Fast and Furious Gameplay
Moving on to the gameplay, the news here is pretty much as you would expect. We move from left to right, by and large, as well as up and down through the levels, and at the end of each chapter there is usually a boss fight to contend with. The gameplay is fast and furious, and luckily the controls are up to the job: they are tight and responsive in a combat situation.
That said, there is a bit of an issue with the gliding controls for Raziel and Elaleth. You see. They have the typical “hold A” to glide” approach, but it is difficult to get the timing for some of the more tricky sections. I found some bits frustrating, but that may be down to a lack of skill on my part! Otherwise, the rest of the exploration is pretty good fun, and while there is nothing in the gameplay that is going to revolutionise platformers forever, it is accomplished enough to make playing through challenging.
An Essential Backstory for Franchise Fans
The rest of Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is fairly standard platforming stuff, something we’ve seen a million times before, but what lifts this game above the run of the mill platformers is the attention to the narrative. Whether it be Elaleth and her preferred method of fighting, or the opportunity to join Raziel both pre and post his vampiric transformation, it is all driven along at a breathless pace by the narrative.
If you care even slightly about Kain, Raziel and the world that they inhabit, then you owe it to yourself to play Legacy of Kain: Ascendance. It really fills in gaps in the back story that I, for one, hadn’t noticed before.
Important Links
Legacy Of Kain: Ascendance Awakens – A Classic World Reimagined In 2D – https://www.thexboxhub.com/legacy-of-kain-ascendance-awakens-a-classic-world-reimagined-in-2d/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/legacy-of-kain-ascendance/9MT815CRGDQZ/0010
I thought the story was the worst part of the game. Just retconned the entire series. I didn’t feel like the gameplay was all together that good either, and although the music was good, I didn’t think it fit the series well. A 4 hour $20 game with no replay value, janky enemy AI, repetitive gameplay, and an atrocious story. I would recommend people avoid this game.