Souls and the reaving thereof: Only the jawless need apply

Ceno

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver chronicles the journey of the vampire-turned-wraith Raziel, lieutenant to the vampire lord Kain. Raziel is killed by Kain and returns from the dead to exact revenge, revived by The Elder God to become his "soul reaver". Raziel shares this title with Kain's sword, Soul Reaver, which he acquires during the game.

Gameplay in Soul Reaver relies largely on shifting between the physical material realm and the ghostly spectral realm. Although the player's interaction with the environment is limited in the spectral realm, they are able to use this to their advantage by passing through water like air and phasing through otherwise impassable gates. However, blocks, doors and switches can only be interacted with in the material realm, forcing players to explore both. Many puzzles are based on the differences between the spectral and material realms, such as various platforms and environment features shifting form to open new paths. Block puzzles are also common and require the rotation and flipping of large blocks and pushing them into place to progress, often while avoiding other obstacles like enemies or a timer.

Combat includes the usage of combinations of various different attacks before using a finishing move to kill vampires through impalement or other means. Players can also use the environment to their advantage and throw enemies into beams of sunlight, wall-mounted spikes or pools of water. Upon being killed, enemies leave behind a soul that players can consume to replenish their health - while in the material realm Raziel continually loses health, and he regenerates in the spectral realm.

Raziel's enemies are grouped into humans, spectral creatures, and most commonly, vampires. Humans include peasants, vampire hunters and vampire worshippers. In the spectral realm, players fight minor enemies called Sluagh as well as the souls of dead vampires that have become wraiths. Vampire enemies each have powers unique to their brood, and progress in strength from the Dumahim to the Turelim, each brood having powers reminiscent of their clan leader. Human and spectral enemies can be beaten to death using any weapon or Raziel's claws, but vampires must be bludgeoned into a stunned state then destroyed by either impaling them, lighting them on fire or throwing them into a hazard (sunlight, water, etc.).



Players begin the game with the ability to jump, glide using Raziel's torn wings, move blocks and pick up and throw enemies. Raziel is initially unarmed and fights using his claws, and can acquire various weapons, such as rocks, torches, spears and staffs (each variety of spear/staff functions identically despite varying appearances), and the Soul Reaver, a sword of spectral energy. Raziel can either fight with these weapons in melee fighting, or throw them at enemies. Raziel is also able to shift from the material realm to the spectral realm at any time, but he may only shift back to the material realm when at full health, and when a special portal has been located. Raziel also automatically shifts into the spectral realm when he runs out of health.

As players progress through the game, they acquire numerous other abilities. Players can acquire the ability to phase through gates in the spectral realm, climb walls in the material realm, swim (in turn removing Raziel's vulnerability to water), and constrict enemies and objects with bands of telekinetic energy. Players can also acquire the power to fire bolts of telekinetic energy, which do little damage but can knock enemies into hazards and push objects from a distance. After acquiring the Soul Reaver sword, Raziel's health never deteriorates in the material realm as long as he possesses the sword, but if he takes damage he loses it instantly and can only regain it by restoring his health. The Soul Reaver can later be baptized in holy flame and transformed into the Fire Reaver, allowing players to set enemies aflame instead of impaling them and enhancing Raziel's telekinetic bolts with the same power. Players can also find magical glyphs that allow them to attack groups of enemies at once at the cost of magical energy.



INFO UNABASHEDLY TAKEN FROM WIKIPEDIA

Dear Crystal Dynamics,

It'd be swell if you guys would put together some sort of compilation disc that contained this whole series with updated graphics and the like and put it out on the current platforms. I'd be your bestest friend forever.

Love,
Ceno

This game really stands out when I look back on games I played that left a big impact on me. The production values (specifically stellar voice acting), the atmosphere, fun gameplay, and a solid mythology made me revisit it time and again. I never really got to play the sequel or Defiance, which is a shame and why I want a rerelease of the games.

Dartboy

The Legacy of Kain games are so good. The entire ending part of Defiance is one of the most fuckawesome parts of a game ever.

"And I-- am not your enemy, not your destroyer-- I am, as before, your right hand. Your sword.

xWonderboyx

I started playing through soul reaver on the dreamcast the other day. It has aged well. Not a lot going on in the environments, but a good looking game overall.

Jubeh

I remember not being able to beat the game due to some weird glitch on my Dreamcast copy. ):

august

Those souls will remain unvreaved until we have a comprehensive soul-reaving strategy in place.

yalborap

This series has been with me since I was a little kid. I still remember getting my own copy of Soul Reaver for the DC.

Vae Victis practically became a catchphrase for me for a few years. It's still on my xbox live account.

I would kill SO MANY people for a game to really wrap everything up truly and utterly, even if we know more or less what's going to go down already.