A Sympathetic Polish for a Gothic Classic
As a gamer of a certain age, I can remember the Legacy of Kain games the first time round, as I may have mentioned when I reviewed Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered.
That past history comes into play again with Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, from Crystal Dynamics and PlayEveryWare. Promising to bring not only shiny new HD graphics, but also refined controls and a modernised game camera, it all sounds pretty super on the Xbox store page. But, how will the Remaster work in the flesh, so to speak? Will my fond memories of the original – a game released back in 2003 first time around – stand me in good stead?
The Weaver of Fate
It’s the story of the game which is where we shall start proceedings today, and here the news is largely unchanged since 2003, which can only be a good thing.
The vampire Kain, and his betrayed lieutenant Raziel are both the stars of the narrative this time around, and the story is presented from the point of view of each protagonist, alternately. Each character has their own goals and while they seem to be disparate at first, the genius of the story writers allows the two strands to be woven together, almost seamlessly. Kain is trying to find a way to stop the destruction of Nosgith (that he caused himself in the very first game) and Raziel is seeking to thwart his destiny, which is set to see him become a spirit embedded in the Soul Reaver sword. Can we have a happy ending for both? I wouldn’t count on it…
Gothic Atmosphere Meets the HD Stick
Looking at the presentation next and the best thing about the tickle with the HD stick is that it has been done sympathetically here in Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered. It hasn’t been a case of just making everything shiny, and so the feel of the game, the atmosphere of the gothic surroundings we find ourselves in, have been treated well. The rest of the game also looks as good as I remember, which isn’t saying much when you consider that it is a PlayStation 2 game!
One neat trick is the ability to switch between the original graphics and the new ones at the click of a button, and this is always fun to see. The enemies that we fight, apart from certain memorable ones, are pretty much cookie cutter shapes; all identical. Still, the rest of the game looks good, and the new camera holds up under the vagaries of combat: having it pan behind while we are fighting, making Kain or Raziel transparent is a bit annoying, but it is up to the task most of the time.
The voicework in Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is as good as I remember, with Kain’s growl and Raziel’s whine (in a manly, ex-vampire kind of way, of course!) more than capable. The story telling in the cutscenes works really well too, with the narration done by the protagonists. It is helped that the supporting characters are all very well voiced. All in all, the Remaster is off to a good start with the presentation.
Material vs. Spectral
So, how about the actual gameplay I hear you ask. Has that been updated and tweaked like the rest? Well, the answer to that question is a pretty resounding no, and I will now attempt to explain why this is a good thing.
Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is very much a game of two halves, with combat being one side of the coin, and the exploring and puzzle solving being the other side. And of course, the two characters we control have very different ways of solving problems!
Playing as Kain first, we are stuck in the material world, and even with our vampiric super powers (such as the ability to clear large gaps in a single bound, and move to different locations as a swarm of bats) he is very much the straight man. Kain’s puzzles usually revolve around finding things, pieces of the Balance emblem that adds extra powers to his arsenal, such as the ability to light torches with his telekinesis powers.
Raziel on the other hand has two planes of existence to play around in: the material world and the spirit world, and quite often when progress seems impossible in one, a swift change to the other can open the way. He is constrained in that certain actions are only available in one of the planes; he can’t physically open a door in the spirit world, and yet neither can he pass through a gate in the material world. Being in the right place at the right time, as well as using the new powers that his version of the Soul Reaver gains on the journey are key to making progress.
Puzzles and Protagonists
There are some very involved puzzles too, and quite often you’ll find the problem long before you find the solution, requiring you to remember where that particular door was, or where that piece of equipment you’ve just picked up needs to go. Luckily there is a map to consult, but it seems to be pot luck as to whether the objective you are seeking is marked on it or not.
Combat is another area where each protagonist has a similar, but different move set. Kain is all about brute strength, beating his foes into submission before draining them of blood, refilling his own health into the bargain. Raziel seems weaker but faster, and so needs to use his brain a little bit more: charging in and swinging blindly doesn’t usually end well.
One thing that both combat systems have in common is the slightly numb feel – it is very hard to tell when you are getting hit, and only keeping an eagle eye on the health bar will let you know when you are in danger.
A Timeless Tale Preserved in a Modern Wrapper
In conclusion then, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is a very good game, as long as you go into it knowing what to expect. It isn’t a modern gaming experience, despite the new look, and there is no doubt that gaming has moved on a lot in the last couple of decades. Luckily, there is a charm to things that keeps dragging you forward, desperate to see what is going to happen to two characters next, and this is the big draw. The puzzles are very well designed too.
All in all, as a remaster of an old game, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is well worth playing now.
Important Links
The Legacy Continues In Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered – https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-legacy-continues-in-legacy-of-kain-defiance-remastered/
Buy the Standard Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/legacy-of-kain-defiance-remastered/9NH1WTX8VXCC/0010
Go Deluxe – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/legacy-of-kain-defiance-remastered-deluxe-edition/9MV5GH8GQM8L/0010
There’s a Heart of Darkness Collection too – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/heart-of-darkness-collection/9P9SF1VCFPBD/0010
