Legacy of Kain: Defiance

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 489 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Legacy of Kain: Defiance Game Cover
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"Legacy of Kain: Defiance" is an action-adventure game that follows the story of two anti-heroes, Kain and Raziel, in a dark, gothic world. Players can switch between the two characters, each with unique abilities, as they uncover the truth about their past and the fate of their world. The game is known for its complex narrative, challenging puzzles, and intense combat.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 489 reviews
story126 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions
  • Great lore and story that ties up the series effectively.
  • Satisfying combat mechanics and character abilities for both Kain and Raziel.
  • Graphics and sound have aged well, contributing to the immersive atmosphere.
  • Fixed camera angles make navigation and platforming frustrating.
  • Controls can feel clunky, especially when using keyboard and mouse.
  • Repetitive level design and backtracking can detract from the overall experience.
  • story271 mentions

    The story of "Legacy of Kain: Defiance" is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and intricate character arcs, particularly focusing on the tragic tales of Kain and Raziel. Reviewers highlight the exceptional voice acting and the game's ability to tie up loose ends from the series, making it a satisfying conclusion for long-time fans. While some players note gameplay issues, the narrative remains the standout feature, with many recommending it for those invested in the series' lore.

    • “Raziel's tragic story continues with all the emotional distress possible, conveyed brilliantly by Michael Bell, while Kain's cryptic arrogance is on full display with Simon Templeman's worthy performance.”
    • “The story encompasses a long period of time and even alternate timelines, making it a rich and immersive experience.”
    • “The story is superbly told, with masterful voice acting and a narrative that intertwines personal tragedies with events that affect the whole world of Nosgoth.”
    • “You had such a great thing going with the single-story Kain/Raziel, and then you go and ruin it with this!”
    • “The story is laughable, the graphics are not as bad as I remember and the combat is fun at least; but this level design... oh god!”
    • “It's a rather bitter end to such a fantastic legacy, especially given how there was clearly more story to go, but honestly by the end I completed the game largely because I wanted to finally finish the series.”
  • gameplay89 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with many praising its engaging combat mechanics and satisfying character interactions, while others criticize its dated controls, clunky camera angles, and repetitive elements. Despite these drawbacks, the game is often noted for its creative gameplay and strong narrative, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the series. Overall, while the gameplay may not stand up to modern standards, it still offers enjoyable moments, especially for those familiar with the franchise.

    • “The game mechanics are great for both characters you play, and both fights and riddles have a very satisfying feel to them.”
    • “It's got a rich backstory, deep lore, deeper characters, and gameplay that still stands up to today's standards.”
    • “Defiance has the best combat gameplay in my opinion, in terms of just 'how good it feels to swing a sword.' It also mixes things up by having you alternate in each level from playing as Kain to playing as Raziel, and so on, with each on his own journey in Nosgoth, taking care of business.”
    • “The gameplay is dated and boring now, but the story is what really fuels these games and it is exceptional.”
    • “Im sorry, I liked the series but this one has such bad camera controls and very boring gameplay that I can't play it; I gave it a chance but the only thing I managed to do is waste too much time and now I'm unable to refund it...”
    • “The combat is very flat and samey, and the mechanically bland design of enemy types doesn't justify the hordes you have to wade through on every screen.”
  • graphics44 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the art style, level design, and cinematic cutscenes as impressive for their time, while others criticize them as outdated by modern standards. Some players noted that the visuals and character designs still hold up well, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere, but highlighted issues like poor camera angles and graphical glitches. Overall, while the game showcases strong visuals relative to its release period, it struggles to meet contemporary expectations.

    • “Graphics and sound have aged well and add very much to the world building.”
    • “This game is unbelievably good, great art style with beautiful level design, the cut scenes are cinematic and atmospheric.”
    • “The graphics in this game are the best in the series so far.”
    • “It lacks in the graphics department, especially the camera angles, but such was the norm for the time.”
    • “One of the greatest games ever made... except the graphics are incredibly outdated and the camera angles are horrible.”
    • “The game is old so graphics and compatibility are not that great.”
  • atmosphere19 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game series is consistently praised for its gothic elements, beautiful art style, and immersive world-building, creating a haunting and engaging experience. Reviewers highlight the exceptional sound design and original music, which enhance the dark adventure and complement the story-driven gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is regarded as one of the standout features, earning high ratings and comparisons to other iconic titles.

    • “This series truly has peak game writing within a gothic atmosphere.”
    • “The story, the themes, the atmosphere, the characters, the voice acting... absolutely sublime.”
    • “Fits the atmosphere perfectly, setting the tone for a dark adventure that you would expect.”
    • “The Raziel bits involve a lot of worldbuilding, and while his combat may not be as intense as Kain's, the spectral realm doesn't disappoint in its haunting atmosphere.”
    • “Go ahead and grab it; it has a story like no other. The combat system is very refreshing after the lame, visual-heavy versions you see nowadays, and the sound and atmosphere are still unmatched.”
    • “Sound design is good, with nice ambient sounds that help set the needed atmosphere.”
  • music18 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its iconic and unforgettable quality that enhances the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as stunning and atmospheric, contributing significantly to the game's gothic aesthetic and narrative depth. While some critiques mention a lack of variety in certain gameplay aspects, the voice acting and musical scores remain standout features that elevate the game's appeal.

    • “Voice acting, soundtrack, and narrative are still the main features and, like its predecessors, they all, combined, manage to deliver an epic experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is stunning!”
    • “It has an overly impressive storyline, good gameplay, and some of the best musical scores out there.”
    • “Protip: mute the in-game soundtrack & just play 'Sarafan Stronghold (Normal)' on repeat.”
    • “It's not that good as Soul Reaver 1; it focuses more on hack and slash gameplay rather than puzzles and horror. The game lacks soundtracks, and boss fights are just repetitive. It's like the black sheep of the Legacy of Kain series.”
    • “The music and the voice acting are on the usual high level, but they don't save the overall experience.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that it functions better than previous entries in the series, experiencing fewer crashes and freezes. However, many users report significant issues, including frequent freezing, graphical glitches, and audio problems, particularly on certain hardware configurations. Overall, while the game shows potential, it remains a buggy PC port in need of further fixes.

    • “But it's a very buggy PC port, that's for sure.”
    • “The controls are awful, the camera sucks, and the game freezes very often, so that I couldn't even reach the first cutscene with Kain.”
    • “Graphical glitches can be somewhat apparent on more recent NVIDIA cards, such as Raziel's wing membranes and Kain's cape physics breaking at certain points in the game.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization is notably poor, requiring players to use various workarounds such as running it in compatibility mode and disabling full-screen optimization to achieve any semblance of functionality. Despite the engaging narrative and strong performances, the technical issues significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “You need many workarounds to make it work, like running it in compatibility mode with full screen optimization disabled and using tools like Xpadder to make it function properly, and even with this, it won't display correctly.”
    • “And (tick) optimization for full screen disabled.”
    • “My review is on the game itself, and I didn't include any technical details (OS, system hardware/performance).”
    • “You need many workarounds to make it work, like running it in compatibility mode with full screen optimization disabled and using tools like Xpadder to make it function, and even with this, it won't display correctly.”
    • “Optimization for full screen is disabled.”
    • “Really bad optimization for PC.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional depth of the game is highlighted by Raziel's tragic narrative and Kain's complex character, brought to life through strong voice performances. The writing, praised for its ability to engage players in a time-traveling vampire saga, evokes a profound emotional response, despite some gameplay elements that may detract from the immersive experience. Overall, the combination of storytelling and character development fosters a deep emotional investment in the game's world.

    • “Raziel's tragic story continues with all the emotional distress possible, conveyed brilliantly by Michael Bell, and Kain's cryptic arrogance is on full display with Simon Templeman's worthy performance.”
    • “The combat made me cry, but besides that, I liked it.”
    • “Props to Amy Hennig for writing a phenomenal story that somehow makes time-traveling vampires something you can get emotionally invested in.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, primarily due to repetitive enemy encounters and a lack of variety in combat mechanics. While the gameplay is considered decent and an improvement over previous titles, the constant forced combat sections and similar puzzle designs can lead to a monotonous experience, especially for those not already invested in the series.

    • “It also focuses too much on forced combat sections, so far with enemy encounters getting tedious fast.”
    • “The lack of actual bosses and the constant mobs will get tedious, and the puzzles are the same.”
    • “Biting enemies' necks and tearing their souls apart feels glorious, but it really gets kind of old fast.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is praised for its intriguing and immersive qualities, reminiscent of childhood experiences, while the artwork and character design enhance the overall narrative.

    • “The storyline and character development are just as intriguing and immersive as I remember from my childhood.”
    • “The artwork, character design, and environments all hold up phenomenally well.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Users find the humor in the game lacking, with frustrations about difficult movement and camera controls overshadowing any comedic elements. The experience is described as more nauseating than amusing.

  • replayability1 mentions

    "Legacy of Kain: Defiance" offers strong replayability through its engaging combat system and the continuation of the series' narrative, providing players with both resolution and new questions to explore.

    • “Legacy of Kain: Defiance delivers what it promised, the continuation of the series that answers more questions than it proposes, a refined combat system, and replay value.”
    • “The game offers multiple endings and choices that significantly impact the story, making each playthrough feel unique and rewarding.”
    • “With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to the game to try different approaches and experiences.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
12hMain story
17hCompletionist
4-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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