Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered – PS5 Review

Aspyr’s been working hard at remastering Crystal Dynamics’ back catalogue. After the success of the Tomb Raider Remasters, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is next in line. It’s one of those series I’ve merely glanced at over the years. Playing them in 2024 has made me realise some of the reverence is absolutely warranted. Yet this new package also remains authentic to those originals.

Soul Reaver‘s story is where the substance really seems to lie. Nosgoth has a long, tumultuous history. As a newcomer, the lore can tough to digest and the main conflict is well under way when Soul Reaver begins. Raziel is our protagonist and he awakens from a period of torment to seek revenge against his former brethren. I’m incredibly oversimplifying this but, even as a man mostly in the dark, I can be drawn in by it.

It’s a narrative that takes itself very seriously and the writing works wonders to really sell it. Nosgoth’s mythology is fleshed out and a lot of the conversations carry a real weight to them. I can see why the series caught on with so many people. There’s a great sense of strings being pulled and Raziel not being sure who to trust. Aspects of it are left to interpretation and that works to the game’s benefit. As theatrical as it can appear, it never digresses into hammy territory.

The remastered visuals show better in the first game. Aspyr look to have to used the PC version as a base and given it some era-appropriate Playstation touches. As such, the resolution is low and textures can appear jagged. Thankfully, the updated visuals apply sharper textures and generally push it closer to the Playstation 2 sequel. It comes out looking polished, barring one very specific instance of a missing texture.

Lighting is improved with soft shadows being implemented. Differences are a little harder to spot when it comes to Souls Reaver 2. You can flip between original and updated graphics on the fly, giving you an immediate comparison. In some instances, the original assets have been kept and it does intend to evoke and remain authentic to the older releases. For the most part, the updates give the games a crisper look and there’s no problems with performance. Models are well done with enemies and characters alike given special attention.

There’s more detail to them, particularly with faces and things like armour. Level geometry remains as it was previously. It’s a cohesive mix of old and new that ensures the two games fit together nicely. Controls are updated to allow for full-ish camera control. Consider that a quality of life change when, originally moving perspective required use of the shoulder buttons. Now, it’s more conventional and the scheme translates well across both games.

That said, the camera does present an initial problem. It respects geometry so any tight spaces sees the camera transition into an up-close position. Typically, it’s not an issue with most encounters being held in spacious rooms. Just know that staircases will play havoc with your viewpoint. It also took me a little time getting used to another camera quirk. You don’t have 360 degrees of movement. Wherever Raziel is facing will determine where you can point the camera. It’s not a major problem but I can’t tell you the last time a game handled camera movement that way.

The outstanding voice cast remains. It brings a real touch of class and gravitas to the series. Considering the time these games were made, it could’ve been so easy to undercut the narrative with lesser performers. As it is, the effort behind the mic is fantastic and helps the cement Nosgoth as a serious setting.

As for the rest of the package, it’s very faithful to the series. Gameplay remains untouched and, whilst it does show its age at times, there’s a lot to admire. Shifting seamlessly between realms is always fun to watch and it serves a purpose in solving platform puzzles. Raziel’s mobility is slick and reliable.

Combat feels more cumbersome. You have a standard mix of light and heavy strikes to work with. There’s also a lock-on system which does draw focus but can make fights feel more like a chase. It also has the habit of switching between enemies. As encounters advance and the opposition numbers increase, it can be a nightmare to remain locked on one enemy. That said, the AI’s not that aggressive. They’re more than willing to give you space whilst you gobble up souls or just avoid them entirely. If you do manage to take enough hits, heading into the shadow realm usually gives you a convenient soul to devour. It’s a lenient, linear experience.

Saves are handled across the two games. It might initially appear that Soul Reaver allows you to save anywhere but this is misleading There are special rooms you can discover that contain warp gates. You can use these to travel between previously found areas. When you die, you’ll repawn at the start of your journey but can resume near to where you left off by activating the gate. It’s a very ambitious system that comes as being a little confusing. Soul Reaver 2 opts for something more conventional with dedicated places to save your progress.

Lastly, this compilation includes some nifty extras. Aside from text logs of lore and script passages, there are some unfinished levels that are playable. These are great to walk around retrospectively and you can see some areas that have previously been lost to time. There’s outtakes from the recording sessions which are a real joy to watch and a lot of fan art to mull over. The latter doesn’t interest me but it’s nice to see the community given that kind of recognition.

Whilst these two games have modernised, there’s a faithful approach that doesn’t shy away from the era these games were made in. If think these two games still work in the current day, as long as your willing to overlook a couple of design choices. The narrative is top notch and it’s told in such a masterful way with a stellar cast of voices. The extras help shed some light on development and help make this feel like an apt celebration of a beloved series.