I’m starting to get older with such a remastered game. Kain: Soul Reaver’s original legacy was one of the first games to play on the original PlayStation when it was released in 1999.
Certainly I only had five people when it was released (you can do math about how old I am now), but I am proud to own a copy of it until this day. I then played Kain: Soul Reaver 2 Legacy: Soul Reaver 2 a few years after its release on the PlayStation 2 in 2003, and probably preferred it over the original.
Personal history aside, the Aspyr team decided to take cracks in this series and remaster these two Kain: Soul Reaver Games.
There are some themes and mechanics from both games that feel a bit dated by today’s standards, but there is an incredibly clean and well-presented remastered collection that justifies its presence to new modern fans, whilst inviting fans to the fold.
Reclaim your place
The player controls Raziel in both games. An ancient vampire who surpassed his master Kane in both power and potential is transformed into a wraith and is cast into the underworld.
The first game is a relatively simple story of revenge, but Soul Reaver 2 is a bit difficult to follow, as it involves surrounding lore and newer supporting characters, even as a direct sequel.
That being said, I still feel that the series is very relevant and refined thanks to its decent voice acting and clean pre-rendered cutscenes.
Retrospectively, it feels essential to dive into the storylines of both games, given that Soul Reaver 2 has completed the first game or really depends on having a considerable amount of knowledge about these characters and the broader legacy of the Kain series. But either way, both stories are paced well and rarely boring.
Please leave
From a gameplay perspective, both titles combine a solid blend of platform and action elements. Kain: Soul Reaver 2 legacy is built on all the elements of the first game with some additions, so it’s a little easier to talk about the combination experience of the two games here.
In both games, you will be crossing between livelihoods and deaths, aiming to access multiple facets at a particular gate and advance each level.
Normally you’ll need to backtrack a bit to find your way, but there’s a fair amount to keep things fresh and attractive with a mix of jumping, climbing, gliding and light puzzle solutions. The second game is a little more diverse and interesting to navigate, but both games do a decent job of presenting unique levels of design.
Combat is relatively easy as you can hack most enemies with claws. However, most undead enemies cannot be killed by melee attacks alone, they must be defeated in a certain way, and their souls are harvested by Raziel.
Raziels can also wield many weapons in environments that include spears, and can take advantage of the dangers of the environment like spikes to throw enemies or even use fire holes to burn certain enemies.
Reisblade, also known as Soul Reaver, is with Raziel in both games. It can only be used in physical areas if the radiel is completely healthy. The blades are ingrained in upgrades of various elements, and have the ability to throw bolts and turn them into flames. It’s a very powerful weapon and not only is it happy with its use, but it gets deeper as you upgrade throughout each game.
Kain: The legacy of Soul Reaver 1 and 2 generally relies on the original mechanism here, but today’s standards have a little more of a trend to allow for its mechanical simplicity. There are very few modern mechanisms like combinations and parry. This is worth noting.
Please look at the parts
Visually speaking, this is a truly clean and sophisticated attempt to remaster both of these titles. Things clearly seem more detailed and refined, but the overall jump in fidelity is only enhanced by the ability to instantly switch between new and original visuals.
As a result, it is clear that the ASPYR team has placed more than a gloss than existing games, but they have rethinked the lighting system, character models and even the environment.
You can tell that both of these games are from older console generations, but they still feel very relevant and playable on modern platforms.
Also, if things are generally run with uniform clips and things get a little more confusing, the minor frame rate drops. That being said, it is rare enough to undermine the overall experience.
Finally, the collection also includes a bunch of behind-the-scenes merchandise, like interviews, as well as actors from the audio booth and a bunch of incredible concept art. It’s obviously a great presence for existing fans, but I feel it’s a great way to keep these elements alive and can be lost in time without any intention.
Final thoughts
Overall, the legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 brings a lot to the table in 2025.
Following the sequel building and the characters from the first game, there is an interesting story that will help you commit to both games.
Combat is a bit simplified by today’s standards, but it is still very functional thanks to the various weapons and abilities that Raziel uses.
Together, both games are not only cohesive, but also add behind-the-scenes merchandise, but also incredibly refined and create packages related to the latest platform.
4 stars (out of 5)
Highlights: A solid story spanning both games. Sophisticated visuals and updated text models and environments. Enjoy lots of behind the scenes extras
Low light: Slight frame rate drops from time to time. The combat feels a bit outdated by today’s standards
Developer: Aspyr
Publisher: Aspyr
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC
Available: Now
Reviews conducted on the PlayStation 5 Pro are conducted using pre-release code provided by the publisher.
Highly popular images provided by the publisher.