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A worthy conclusion to the Legacy of Kain series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 25, 2006
Author: Amazon User

As a long-time fan of the Legacy of Kain series, I have played every game in the series to date. As of right now, the series has been shelved by Eidos in favor of Tomb Raider, making Defiance the last entry in what is truly an epic story.

Going into this fifth LoK game, I had rather high expectations. Blood Omen 2 was a letdown in several respects, having been developed by a new team inexperienced in with the series. Based on the previews and assurances from the team, this game promised to make up for its predecessor. After playing through the game numerous times, I firmly believe it succeeds in that goal.

The game returns to the story of Raziel and the future Kain. After the events of Soul Reaver 2, Raziel is trapped in the Spectral Realm by his former benefactor-turned-adversary, the mysterious Elder God. After escaping from his master's grip, he seeks to uncover the mystery behind the terrible destiny charted for him in Nosgoth's ancient past. Meanwhile, Kain is also seeking the truth behind his own destiny, which is inescapably tied into Raziel's.

The LoK series is famous for its complex storylines, and this entry into the series is no exception. Nosgoth's mythology is once again finely explored as Kain and Raziel make several startling discoveries not only about their fates, but also the true enemies that seek to destroy them and conquer Nosgoth. Locations such as the Pillars and the Sarafan Stronghold make their return, along with a few surprise areas which should please those familiar with the first LoK game, Blood Omen.

All the central characters are here too. Kain, Raziel, Moebius,
Ariel, Vorador, and the Elder God return once again, along with a few surprises I won't spoil for you. I will say one of them solves a long standing mystery from Soul Reaver 1, and another gives further insight into a plot thread from Blood Omen.

As with Soul Reaver 2, the story is told through interactions between the characters and through murals that tell the history of Nosgoth's ancient past. The voice acting is as good as ever. LoK has always been known for excellent voice acting and Defiance doesn't disappoint.

But what about the gameplay itself? Well, I'd say it's a definite improvement over the previous games. The puzzles are less elaborate than in Soul Reaver 2, but the combat more than makes up for this. In the vein of games like Devil May Cry, the characters can now perform devastating combos. Kain wields the physical version of the Reaver, while Raziel has the wraith blade. Both characters have the ability of telekinesis, which they can use in conjunction with hack-n-slash attacks and a multitude of Reaver spells. The only downside is that the open-ended nature of Blood Omen and Soul Reaver 1 is still missing. Hopefully Crystal Dynamics will address that next time if another game is put into production.

Boss battles also make their return to the series, albeit with mixed results. On many occasions, Raziel will have to face the spirits of former Pillar guardians, which can get tedious after the first two. However, the three major boss battles are better executed, especially the final battle that you'll never see coming.

Graphically, the game is slightly more refined than Soul Reaver 2. The characters all look great and have even greater detail to them. Admittedly, the architecture isn't quite as compelling this time around. There are a few notable exceptions, especially a certain mansion you explore later on as Raziel.

Overall, Defiance is a great game that is a worthy entry into the Legacy of Kain series. There are a few flaws that could use improvement, but its strengths are definitely greater than its weaknesses. The gameplay is fast paced and exciting, and the story sheds light on many questions left over from the previous games, including the true enemy at the heart of Nosgoth's bloody history.

Incidentally, it's a well known fact that the first game in the series, Blood Omen, was largely developed by another company called Silicon Knights. There are some hardcore fans of that game who will seek to convince everyone that the sequels by Crystal Dynamics are completely worthless. That Blood Omen is an unparalleled masterpiece and that the sequels somehow shame its status. They're entitled to their opinions, of course. But for those who are undecided, perhaps you should look at Silicon Knights' intentions for Legacy of Kain after Blood Omen. In a word: NONE. SK had no intentions whatsoever of making a sequel. It's true they introduced us to a fascinating world, but they had no intention of ever exploring that world any further, or settling the numerous plot lines left open by the writers. Things such as the next phase of the Dark Entity's plan (he admitted to Kain that there was one), the origins of the Circle and the vampires themselves, what the Dark Entity truly was, and the true nature of the Pillars. It's one thing to leave a couple things a mystery, like the series Silent Hill does frequently. But so many unresolved plot threads were just screaming for a sequel, yet they were completely ignored in favor of projects that proceeded to languish in development hell.

I understand how some fans may feel cheated that Crystal Dynamics' games do not fall into the same genre of Blood Omen. But that's precisely the point. CD was not trying to create more carbon copies of Blood Omen. Because SK themselves held very little interest in LoK anymore, CD did not owe it to them to create sequels that were exactly like Blood Omen. What they owed SK was to treat the story with respect, which they did. Even Blood Omen 2, the worst of the series, still makes the effort to expand on Nosgoth's history and terrain.

What CD accomplished was to create a fascinating story from the plot threads left unresolved in that game, and in the process, expand greatly on the world of Nosgoth. Nosgoth is now one of the most remarkable worlds in gaming, with a history that is intruiging and complex, yet still holds an air of mystery to it.
The series isn't perfect; several things could be much better. But in the end, doesn't that apply to every other series as well?
Ultimately games are about having fun, and for gamers who like a well thought story set in a fascinating world, LoK will provide many hours of enjoyment.

Oh dear oh dear...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 5 / 10
Date: August 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User

How disappointed can you be in a game?

Like many I was a big fan of "Soul Reaver" however this installment of the series just didn't cut the mustard.

Good points:

1. The TK stuff is a neat extra, it's nice to throw you enemies around.
2. Fighting as Kain had a nice feel to it.
3. Excellent voice talent.

Bad points:

1. The story is far too complex, even Kain and Raziel are constantly going "What does this mean?"... How the hell am I supposed to keep up? There are too many twists and turns that make no sense. There are too many protagonists and too many loose ends.
2. Linear gameplay. This game consists of: warp to dungeon, get locked in a room, fight bad guys, room opens, goto another room, get item, warp to another dungeon, then repeat with either Kain or Raziel (in the same dungeon mind...). I was bored stupid by the endless hack-n-slash and running around the same dungeons.
3. The bad guys just aren't bad. I was only killed once in the game, the bad guys just aren't bad enough. They have very virtually no AI (the giant stone guys with a big sword are so stupidly easy to kill it's laughable).
4. Pointless "reaver" collecting that is never developed. For Raziel you collect various types of reavers, however all you wind up doing with them is opening doors.
5. The "spirit world" was woefully under-used. In "Soul Reaver" there is excellent use of the spirit world, however in this installment you only use it about 3 times to help you progress.
6. Camera... at first I was quite pleased by the new camera action (instead of roaming around the camera takes a more fixed "corner of the room" approach). Trouble was I frequently found myself being "hidden" behind blocks and towers whilst fighting this just led to frustration. Also, sometimes you need to do some tricky jump-n-glides and with the fixed camera angle there was no way to judge how far you had to go.
7. Combat, you also have pointless power-ups that are really hard to activate and use properly. Eventually you'll just hack-n-slash without trying to have any strategy when fighting.
8. Length, the game is far too short (and coupled with the over-complex story) leaves you with a similar feeling to that experienced at the end of Matrix 3 (anyone who has seen it will know what I mean). I found that I completed the game within a week (playing it about 2hrs a night) and for the money I paid I felt decidedly ripped-off, especially since the game has no replay value at all (you can see all the cut scenes that make up the baffling story once you've completed the game, so there's no point re-playing).

Overall, this is a poor sequel to "Soul Reaver" which is a shame. It leaves the door open for further sequels however they need to be much more non-linear for me to part with my cash again.

First impressions after release

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 04, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I've played it for a total of 6 (in-game) hours and here's my thoughts.

It's a VERY beautiful game. I broke down and got the Xbox version ( personally don't like the system) because I had to have the system give the game's graphics justice. The combat system is so much more fun than it has ever been. It's more involved, but it's moves come off pretty smoothly. You get to earn new combos (just a few, and I'm not sure what prompts you learning the combo) - they're also fun, but it seems people are having a difficult time pulling them off consistantly.

They had mentioned that there would be more combat, a little less story and the puzzles would be more game related. There is much more combat (but it's just the right amount), I am loving the story (it doesn't feel less at all) and the puzzles feel about the same as they were in SR2, and sometimes just as obtuse. IMPORTANT - they don't tell you this, but ulike the other SR games, Raziel can actually climb walls in the spectral realm - I got stuck for about an hour just because I didn't know this. It was annoying, but I'm over it. You also have to re-forge Raziel's reaver to the elements, but you don't need to embue them on fonts like before, you can select them at will. Each reaver for both characters also casts spells when charged. The camera is both very cinematic, and very annoying at points. You can't free-roam view like the previous games and sometimes you really want to look around the room - but they do a good job of not putting anything important out of your view. Also slightly annoying are some invisible walls they have in certain areas - it looks like you should be able to go to certain platforms but they force you to go around. Like I said, slightly annoying, but nothing has taken away from the fact that this so far is the best installment in the series (and force powers are SO much fun). They also finally make it so you can re-view any cut scenes that focus on the story. SR2 gave us the Dark Legacy that let you read transcripts of scenes, bur that's not enough for me when they have such great cinematics and voice-acting.

The enemy action is more fun too. I'm a roleplayer, and my friend and I noticed the human enemies act more like a well rounded D&D group - they have spell-casters that suplement the fighters, forcing you to modify your order of attack and techniques.

This is still a preliminary review because I'm not done with the game, but I highly recommend this as a solid game that's fun and intelligent - LOTS of style. They do a pretty good job summerizing the previous games as well. But like the other Legacy of Kain games, I'd recommend having a strategy guide/walkthrough near you for those times when you get hung up on a puzzle (other than the rule changing on the wall climbing - I haven't been completely stumped by any yet, but they can be a bit obtuse at times and I'd hate to miss out on the story just because one puzzle tripped me up).

Great game - excellent story - wonderful characters - 5 stars!

Legacy of Kain:Defiance.....

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Nothing much has changed in the land of Nosgoth as of late. But, one thing is evident, this ain't your same ol' Legacy of Kain game. Defiance redefines the series with its' new combat system and 'Devil May Cry/Castlevania:Lament of Innocence' camera-style. Those two things, alone, add so much more depth to things that I hope they keep them for future installments. Admittedly, the camera could use a lil more polish in areas where the environment stands in your way but, for the most part, it works. Working in chapters and following them alternately through their quest, the story begins with Kain hunting down Moebius for answers and, then, with Raziel trying to find his way out of the Spectral Realm. Those expecting another game filled with more questions than answers will be genuinely surprised. This game answers every question you've had since Soul Reaver 1. So, you definitely know who's friend or foe in this installment. Sadly, though, with that apparent-it would seem as though the series is drawing to a close. Rest assured, though, it's not. It's just bringing this saga to a close and readying us for the next. One thing most LOK fans know is the storyline of Kain, Raziel, and Nosgoth is Epic.
I'll have to agree with the majority on this one. This is the best Legacy of Kain installment yet. One not to be missed by the masses.

Defying my fears for the game.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

When I first looked into this game, I heard that it had an awesome fighting engine --which it does-- and feared instantly that it'd be a repeat of the atrocity that is Blood Omen II, which I felt lacked the story and dialogue that's become the defining element of the Legacy of Kain series.

This one returns to the brilliant surreal dialogue of older days, every word catching in your mind like poetry. Some of the lines even repeat in your head -- like the flipping coin analogy of Soul Reaver II.

The gaming elements are right on par. The puzzle part of the game is there ,yet in a smaller way than before; not nearly as annoying or as difficult, so for those of you who enjoyed completing these things and patting yourself on the back with a congratulatory "I'm so damned smart", you might not be so very pleased with this one.

As I mentioned earlier, and others have mentioned too, the fighting engine is simply awesome. Think about the others, great ~vampire~ games, right? Well take the pleasantries of the story and add the ability to levitate for moments, juggling your opponent around using telekenesis to suspend them in mid air or bounce them down into the ground and then back up to you to continue your assault. There is also the niftiness of floating above your enemies, telekeneticly guzzling their blood while you declare yourself dark god of these pathetic mortals. -insert maniacal laughter-

Aside from that, the camera isn't the good ol' "follows you around right behind you" anymore-- which has its ups an downs to it. In what remains of the puzzles in Defiance the camera tends to focus towards the areas of interest. Othertimes it makes for great views and fight scenes. The downside is that you sometimes get lost just because you missed a passage that the camera was facing away from.

The sounds are okay. It's missing a few things, but I'm very pleased to hear Kain yelling "Woe to the defeated" in Latin again (( it happens to have been added back into a pleasant dialogue between Kain and Raziel )), and the new eerie sounds that haunt Raziel while existing in the spectral realm.

The extras are nice as well, including the openings of Soul Reaver and its sequel and various outtakes and videos of the voice actors doing their jobs. There's also a subtitle option for the hearing impaired... or those who just love listening to blaring rock music (for me it was Beethoven's Ninth) while kicking hordes of men around as if they were toddlers.

All around, it's a bloody (pun intended) awesome game.

The Legacy recieves a breath of life

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: March 25, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I have not beaten this game yet. But it is SO fun I wouldn't care if the rest of the game was stick figures with twizlers for swords! I cannot express myself how fun this game is! Great camera angles, graphics, voice work, combat controls, sound effects and everything. I borrowed this game from my friend for 1 day and immediantly bought it the next. This is a must buy for: fans of the series, action gamers, anyone who even remotley likes either of the Devil May Crys, and average Joe Gamer. MUST BUY

excellent game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: December 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

As with the other games of this series I have to say that this is a masterpiece. Eidos has outdone themselves again with Defiance. Graghically this game puts others to shame. Everything from the characters to the enviroment are very lush and full of detail. One could walk around and explore the level of depth put into making the scenary for the game. The voice acting with no suprise is superb. This series sets the standard for other games to reach.

For those first entering the series at this point, the story is unfolded for the period you're in. It is highly recommended that if you want a better grasp of the story get Soul Reaver 1 & 2. Fortunatly the story can somewhat be ignored so if your just looking for action there is no loss in the games depth. Unlike before the story moved the game along directly. Here you can skip the dialog and just check the objectives. Making this playable for vets and newcomers.

The gameplay is where this game shines and faulters slightly. The new more action oriented fighting is a nice change from the other games but will take a little time to get used to for vets of the series. The use of telekenesis and being able to combo attacks with it makes this game stand out combat wise. As you battle, you gain new attacks and new abilities for your weapon. The only problem lies with Kain and Raziel's similarity in attacking methods. Though they are disguised fairly well you can see a familiar pattern between the two. The swtching between the two characters to progress the story may annoy a few but for me it adds more to the depth to the game and is welcomed.

Overall this game is better than most and is a welcomed addition to an already superb series.If your looking for a nice melee game this will work but can get repetitive if you don't follow the story to break the monotany. Everyone else that is familiar with story it is a must have.

This game owns my soul!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 23, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Well, the fifth installment in the Kain series. What an excellent game, the new fighting engine is great, and the story is even better.

The only thing that i see wrong with this game is the camera system, and the fact that there are almost thirteen reavers!

But i guess that the new reavers are a good thing.. Since you can now attack underwater with the Earth reaver,
Kain is more of the Gung Ho character, youll see that fighting with him is easier than with Raziel.

On the other hand, Raziel's ability to shift plains will come in handy when solving puzzles. Also he can survive in water, when Kain dies in it.

The spectral plain blows in this game though. My friend came ovwer and he got sick after playing in the spectral plain for five minutes because of the blurrry effect there.

But all in all im gonna stick with my love for Kain and Raziel and im not gonna turn my back on them because of a little glitch...
-Bob

Epic tale and fantasically fun!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Few games have effected me the way the installments of the Legacy of Kain series have. I was not too impressed with Blood Omen 2, it was not a bad game though just substandard for the quality expected from this series. I will also get out of the way the belabored, yet true, comments about the camera angles. They are completely terrible and I dunno what the development team was thinking. You'll get used to it though and hopefully go on to appreciate this game and the awesome tale your rewarded with for your hardships. I know I should knock off a star atleast for my compliants about the camera angles, but I can't bring myself to do it. The storyline starts off slow, but when things start to develop you'll be glad you stuck around. I think the ending is great and we visit with our favorite characters from throughout the series. I've heard rumors this will be the last Legacy of Kain game. Despite what people may expect me to say in response to that I wouldn't really be bothered if it is. I would like LoK to end with something like this. I think it is good to end while your hot and leave a legacy (no pun intended) rather than play this story out until fans are saying nasty things. I think the developers were respectful to the history and the characters and I'm pleased.

Slaughter Mercilessly

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 16, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Being the Legacy of Kain fan that I am, I went out and bought this game the day it came out. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed. This game has some of the best graphics ever and the music and sound effects are supreme. Of course, this is not enough to make a great game. Luckily, the fighting system has been revamped and resembles that of Devil May Cry. You can literally keep a combo chain going until an enemy dies if you wanted to. However, you don't necessarily have to be to skilled at combos to enjoy this new fighting style. If you are one of those people that has a hard time doing combos you can always do the typical hack and slash type fighting from the first Legacy of Kain game (Blood Omen). The storyline in this game is vintage Legacy of Kain genious. How the writers came up with some of the stuff in this game is beyond me, but I'm glad they did! Plus, this game ties up a lot of the loose ends from Soul Reaver 2 and has one of the most climactic endings ever. Plus, the ending doesn't leave you going "so what happens next?" Don't worry though, it still has been left open for, I hope, another sequel. The only problems with this game are the camera can be a little problamatic, and it is a little to short. I beat it in under six hours. Other than that the game is pure genious and makes up for the "glitchtacular" Blood Omen 2.

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