Conceived in an alliance between Crystal Dynamics and Silicon Knights, theLegacy of Kainfranchise debuted with adark fantasy action RPGknown asBlood Omen. Initially part of multiple potential projects inside Silicon Knights, the one known internally as the “Pillars of Nosgoth” was seen as the one with the most potential. Chronicling the rise and fall of a noble-turned-vampire named Kain, this lore-heavy franchise has consistently been one of the industry’s most fascinating and influential series.
Its commitment to deep, complex mythology and spectacular writing is to be commended, as it was one of the early vanguards of cinematic action games. Despite the fact that a mainline entry hasn’t been seen since 2003’sDefiance, the long-standing conflict between Kain and his former ally Raziel has been one of gaming’s most iconic rivalries. A remaster of the first two games has brought the series back into prominence, and now is the best time to take a look back at the franchise and how the games stack up against each other.
In an effort to split the series into two distinct entities, that ofSoul ReaverandLegacy of Kain,Blood Omen 2was poised to star Kain as its protagonist. Focusing on a young Kain prior to the events ofSoul Reaver, the events ofBlood Omen 2are triggered thanks to the end ofSoul Reaver 2, creating what is known as the fourth timeline. In this universe, Kain’s bloody ascent to the top and conflict with the Sarafan Lord drives its outstanding narrative.
In what may be Simon Templeton’s best performance as Kain, he truly embodies the character. Watching the conflict escalate from the dark streets of Nosgoth all the way to the Hylden City is just part of what makes this 3D action game as good as it is. Combat is suitably gory, withsword swings that feel excellentand some fun powers, known as Dark Gifts, for Kain to use. Using Mist to hide in fog, then stealth killing an enemy, or the satisfying Jump to clear great distances, adds variety toBlood Omen 2’sdesign. Recently,Blood Omen 2was made available on the PS4 and PS5 through backward compatibility, making it easier than ever to jump into this entry.Blood Omen 2is divisive due to being quite a departure from its predecessors, but its gameplay has aged a bit better than its predecessors, even if its story leaves something to be desired compared to the rest of the franchise. While not as highly regarded as something likeSoul Reaver,Blood Omen 2is still an impressive achievement in its own right, and well worth a playthrough.
Born from the ambitions of both Crystal Dynamics and Silicon Knights,Blood Omen: Legacy of Kainis the debut of nearly everything that fans hold dear about this franchise. Kain, voiced by the stupendous Simon Templeton, makes his first appearance and brings a sense of gravitas and class that would define the character for decades. Set in the land of Nosgoth,Blood Omensees the noble Kain murdered in its opening moments, then reborn as a vampire as he sets off on a quest for revenge.
Driven by selfish desires, Kain’s journey across Nosgoth brings him into conflict with various clans in the vampire world, as well as the Hylden Lord. Many of the aspects that the franchise would become known for, like its deep lore and complex storytelling, startedin this 2D action RPG. Combat is bloody and fast-paced. It is one of the PS1’s most underrated RPGs, with excellent music and a voice cast that is absolutely stacked.Blood Omencan be a touch difficult to revisit in this day and age, with the campaign becoming quite a grind during its second half; that said, the storytelling is generally top-notch, and it is worth experiencing just to get a full understanding of Kain’s history.Blood Omenis available on the PS4 and PS5 through emulation.
Honestly, if its old-school combat hits the mark with a player,Blood Omencould arguably be the best game in the franchise. The writing is just that good.
Following a legal battle between Silicon Knights and Crystal Dynamics, theLegacy of KainIP found its way into the hands of the latter, and they began work on a sequel. It was later combined with a project directed by Amy Henig,known as Project Shifter, and resulted in what is still one of the finest early 3D action games of the era.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaverintroduced the character of Raziel, situating him as a primary rival to Kain, and one of the key protagonists of the franchise. Betrayed by Kain for surpassing him, Raziel climbs from the depths of the underworld on a mission of vengeance, guided by the Lovecraftian entity known as the Elder God. The game’s lush, open-ended 3D environments are impressive to look at, and its unique mechanic of shifting between worlds is still one of the most innovative mechanics of the era. Thanks to a recent remaster by Aspyr, this timeless classic is available on all modern hardware.
The early 2000s were goodfor theLegacy of Kainseries, as it saw three releases in as many years, starting in 2001 withSoul Reaver 2. Taking advantage of the powerful new hardware, developers Crystal Dynamics crafted a detailed world with large 3D environments and continued where the events ofSoul Reaverleft off. After being forced to cut multiple areas and story points from the first game due to budget and time constraints, Crystal Dynamics repurposed many of those elements for the sequel.
Drawing from ancient theology and the works of writer Joseph Campbell,Soul Reaver 2put the emphasis back on Raziel and Kain, utilizing themes of fatalism and free will. Their relationship saw a much deeper, more complex revision, as their eternal struggle takes a sharp left turn. This feeds into its gameplay as well. The combat and exploration was much improved overSoul Reaver 1, feeling more akin to an interactive novel as opposed to a traditional video game. It is still one of the PS2’s best action games, and is available on all modern hardware thanks to the recent remaster.
After establishing the concept of multiple timelines and universes at the end ofSoul Reaver 2, Crystal Dynamics doubled down on that withLegacy of Kain: Defiance.The game explores a story built around paradoxes and the cosmic shifts at play thanks to the choices of both Kain and Raziel. Diving deep into the creation of Nosgoth and the longstanding rivalry between Kain and Raziel,Defiancecomplicates this even further by making the two of them playable in the same game, a first for the series.
It’s a fitting decision, as this outstanding PS2 title depicts the final chapter of Kain and Raziel’s story. Playing as these two throughout the adventure adds some weight and stakes to the whole affair. The signature hack-and-slash combat feels better than ever. Kain is ruthless and bloodthirsty, while Raziel’s calmer, more refined skill set shines in unique ways.Legacy of Kain: Defiancetook some obvious inspiration from a few contemporaries, as it feels like a mix ofDevil May Crywith classicSoul Reaver. This action-packed, impeccably-written finale is still one ofthe PS2’s best games, and is due for a revival of some sort after the remaster of the first twoSoul Reavertitles.
Despite a fairly positive reception for 2003’sDefiance, theLegacy of Kainfranchise would go quiet for the next two decades. Numerous reboot projects and sequels were attempted, but nothing ever came of it, and the series quietly slipped into obscurity. But rumors started to surface in mid-2024 about a potential remaster of 1999’sSoul Reaverand its 2001 sequel, and the project was finally announced in September as a surprisingly ambitious revival.
Featuring all-new character models, improved controls and a photo mode, in addition to numerous QOL changes, this excellent remaster ofSoul Reaver 1and 2 almost feels like an entirely new project. In addition, this outstanding package includescontent that was cutfrom the first game, allowing players to explore what could have been. In terms of remaster projects,Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remasteredis one of the best. It lovingly restores a forgotten IP and allows a peek behind the curtain at one of gaming’s most fascinating development cycles. While the fact they are not 100% new projects should, in theory, remove them from consideration for the top spot, this compilation is undoubtedly the best entry point into this franchise, especially if someone would prefer not to play throughBlood Omen. This compilation’s existence also makes it difficult to recommend the original versions.
