Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2

If one loves Soul Reaver - or, really, any Legacy of Kain game - it's because of the story. Gameplay is tiresome. Graphics are fine for the time. Music is so-and-so. The voice acting and the story carry this game in the same way they carry the entire series. The gameplay, as far a I'm concerned, is a vehicle to cary you from one FMV to the other just so you can experience the rich dialogue, amazingly convoluted story, and incredible voice acting. That's it. There's really not much more to be said about this except that.

The Legacy of Kain series has developed into a complicated story in the hands of Crystal Dynamics. A story that rewards those who have the patience to follow it through. But I got into it medias res, with Soul Reaver 2. And SR2 stands on it's own. There are games that offer better gameplay, but few that can rival the voice work of Michael Bell And Simon Tempeman. And fewer still that can boast the crafted soliloquies and dialogs that drive this almost Shakespearean tragedy. Above all, SR2 is the story of Raziel. A Hamlet like figure who chases after the Mcbethian Kain for revenge. Raziel blames Kain for his personal loss as well as the grim fate of the world, and now a millenia in the past, that loss becomes all too clear. Raziel sees for the first time both Nosgoth and himself at their full glory. Nosgoth, before the corruption that would lay her low, and himself as a martyred crusader and both prey to Kain's ambitions. But he is about to embark on a journey that will cast doubts upon these convictions. His burning hatred for Kain clashed with his curiosity. And his discoveries will bring him full circle.

I love the Legacy of Kain series and the Soul reaver games especially. They encapsulated my childhood gaming experience. So my criticism comes from a place of love. The dialogue, voice acting and world events are spectacular. The poetic prose, the engaging and deep characters, all come together to weave a story that will, if you give it time and attnetion, capture your imagination. Graphics and sound design are also really good. This game was beautiful for the time and the music always fits the mood of the game. With wistful, airy pieces during moments of exploration and tense, battle sequences accompanied by energetic, tribal movements that really make combat feel punchy. Sadly, the area in which this game and subsequent games in the franchise fall flat, is the gameplay, which becomes increasingly limited in scope and interest from this title onwards. Combat doesn't really change throughout the game and it can become boring and bothersome. Puzzles are simplistic, with little real thought required and the 3d platforming is hampered by camera issues that plagued games of the time and make those elements, more often than not, frustrating rather than enjoyable and rewarding. Soul Reaver 2 is carried on it's writing, storytelling and out of this world voice acting. When it comes to the gameplay loop, well, it's about as interesting as "loops" tend to be. Stick it out if you can, to enjoy those things it does better than even modern fare can manage.

Brilliant. A true classic and not at some stupid $9.99 price point. Well done GoG.

First things first, be sure to install Peixoto's and the Widescreen patches and you'll be fine. Also, there is a troubleshooting guide over at PC Gaming Wiki if you still have some issues. That being said, Soul Reaver 2 is probably my favorite in the Legacy of Kain series. The story and the plot twists and the revelations... my God this is the pinnacle of storytelling! And the way that they incorporated plot points from Blood Omen is phenomenal! The game is linear, however, the story is densely packed in the game. Unlike the first Soul Reaver, every 10 minutes or so, you'll get to a story point and something new happens as the mystery unravels. This is probably the reason why I love it so much. The gameplay and the combat are a bit dated, but remember, this game came out 22 years ago. Even still playing it doesn't feel like a chore. The graphics are excellent for a game this old and the music and the atmosphere are well done, though nothing beats Ozar Midrashim. If anything, this game deserves to be played for the story alone! Well, off to continue my journey through Nosgoth in Blood Omen 2. Cheers!