Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

About

In "Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver," players control the vampire ghost Raziel, seeking revenge against his creator, Kain. The game features puzzle-solving and hack-and-slash combat in a gothic, dark fantasy setting. Raziel can shift between the material and spectral planes, enabling unique gameplay mechanics and exploration.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,014 reviews

story229 positive mentions

stability26 negative mentions

Deep, lore-rich story with a unique protagonist.
Stunning gothic visuals for its time, creating an immersive atmosphere.
Innovative realm-shifting mechanics that add depth to puzzles and exploration.

Clunky controls, especially on PC, making gameplay frustrating at times.
Overused block puzzles that can become tedious and repetitive.
Lack of modern conveniences like autosave or map systems, leading to disorientation.

story
445 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
48%
1%
The story of *Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver* is widely praised for its rich, gothic narrative centered around Raziel, a tragic anti-hero seeking vengeance against his former master, Kain. Reviewers highlight the game's intricate lore, compelling characters, and exceptional voice acting, often comparing its storytelling quality to classic literature. While the gameplay may feel dated, the immersive atmosphere and deep narrative continue to resonate with players, making it a standout title in the realm of video game storytelling.
- “The game's narrative is rich and immersive, featuring Raziel, a tragic anti-hero whose quest for vengeance against his creator, Kain, is both haunting and thought-provoking.”
- “Released in an era when games were defined by their storytelling and atmosphere, Soul Reaver takes players on an unforgettable journey through a beautifully crafted world filled with intricate lore and compelling characters.”
- “The story of Soul Reaver is a classical, almost Shakespearean revenge story of a fallen anti-hero seeking vengeance against his despot former master, but with a cliffhanger ending that promises a much deeper plot about deception, betrayal, conspiracy, and defiance.”
- “The main story is short, and due to how the difficulty plays you can just breeze through it in a couple of hours and only see about half of what the game has to offer.”
- “As much as I love the mood, tone, story, and characters, at the end of the day it is still a game you have to play and after about ten hours of tedious platforming and combat just to get an ending that gives you the middle finger and explains nearly nothing I was done.”
- “I really, really want to see how the rest of the story pans out, but the gameplay is just so damn painful I can't push myself to keep going when there are so many other options out there.”
gameplay
213 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The gameplay of "Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver" is characterized by its innovative realm-shifting mechanics, which add depth to exploration and puzzle-solving, reminiscent of metroidvania titles. However, many players find the mechanics dated and clunky, with issues such as poor camera control and repetitive block puzzles detracting from the overall experience. While the game excels in storytelling and atmosphere, its gameplay struggles to hold up to modern standards, making it a mixed bag for contemporary audiences.
- “The gameplay strikes a perfect balance between exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat.”
- “The ability to navigate between the material and spectral realms adds a unique twist to the platforming mechanics, keeping gameplay fresh and engaging.”
- “Soul Reaver combines action-adventure gameplay reminiscent of Tomb Raider with a Metroidvania-like progression, close quarters, tactical combat, and a variety of puzzles, while innovating the genre with its plane-shifting gameplay mechanics.”
- “Despite their successes, the technical limitations of the time led to compromises, such as content being cut and gameplay mechanics feeling dated by today’s standards.”
- “The gameplay is simple and easy to understand, but it has not aged well in any aspect.”
- “Gameplay is tedious and clunky, not helped by the fact that there's no mouselook, making it incredibly painful to play.”
graphics
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
59%
18%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 1999 origins, yet they were impressive for their time, showcasing a unique gothic art style that enhances the game's atmosphere. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm of the original visuals, many express a desire for a modern remake to improve the graphical fidelity and overall experience. Despite the rough edges and occasional glitches, the game's aesthetic remains a significant part of its identity, resonating well with fans of classic titles.
- “This game features an impressive art style, where each new area has a new theme, weapons, and enemies, giving each a unique feel.”
- “It boasts a unique, gothic-themed art style and score that fit really well with the narrative.”
- “The story, the voice actors, the cast, the dark gothic music, even the graphics are good for the time it was made.”
- “The graphics are rough, but to be fair for a 1999 3D adventure game, the gloomy atmosphere of Nosgoth and its surroundings fits well with the graphical limitations of the time.”
- “The graphics are very dated.”
- “The graphics are crap though and they weren't that good even for their time.”
music
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and haunting quality, effectively enhancing the gothic ambiance and storytelling. Composed by Kurt Harland, the soundtrack is considered iconic, with many players recalling specific tracks fondly, particularly the opening cinematic. However, some reviews note issues with the PC version, including missing tracks and a lack of dynamic music that detracts from the overall experience.
- “The atmospheric environments, gothic architecture, and haunting soundtrack create a captivating ambiance that draws you into the world of Nosgoth.”
- “The music is unforgettable 20 years later.”
- “The music by Kurt Harland of Information Society creates the perfect soundscape and adds a lot to what is possibly the single greatest opening FMV of all time.”
- “Unfortunately, the port wasn't able to bring the dynamic music, so the music won't change when you are in combat, solving a puzzle, and every boss has the same music as the first one, sad ;(”
- “Music won't work correctly and will reset when the game is paused, sound will cut out or altogether be delayed and sound static-like, and, the worst sin, there are songs missing from the game.”
- “Much of the soundtrack doesn't play at specific moments, and this reduces the quality of the game in a lot of unfortunate ways.”
atmosphere
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
41%
4%
The atmosphere of *Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver* is widely praised for its rich gothic design, haunting soundtrack, and immersive storytelling, which together create a captivating and foreboding world. Reviewers highlight the intricate lore and compelling character interactions that enhance the game's dark ambiance, making it a standout experience despite its dated graphics and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest elements, drawing players into the mysterious and layered world of Nosgoth.
- “Released in an era when games were defined by their storytelling and atmosphere, Soul Reaver takes players on an unforgettable journey through a beautifully crafted world filled with intricate lore and compelling characters.”
- “The atmospheric environments, gothic architecture, and haunting soundtrack create a captivating ambiance that draws you into the world of Nosgoth.”
- “The story, atmosphere, shifting between worlds, and intense combat make this game really good.”
- “The atmosphere is pure gloom and despair...and I know you're into that.”
- “I wish I could recommend this game I really do, because I love the story, atmosphere and the world of Nosgoth but honestly actually playing this game feels like smashing my head with a block.”
- “The graphics are rough, but to be fair for a 1999 3D adventure game, the gloomy atmosphere of Nosgoth and its surroundings fits well with the graphical limitations of the time.”
stability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, crashes, and audio issues, particularly on Windows 10 systems. While some users found success with troubleshooting and unofficial patches, others described the experience as frustratingly unstable, with frequent glitches that hinder gameplay. Overall, while the game has a strong narrative and nostalgic appeal, its technical performance remains a concern for many players.
- “I love this game; it's one of my favorites ever. It runs great on Windows 10, and the compatibility mode for XP SP3 is perfect. I had no idea this was available on Steam, and I'm really happy now! :D”
- “Upon taking a few minutes (maybe a touch longer if you're new to these types of apps), the game runs great.”
- “I only played for a little under two hours, and it’s a bug-ridden mess, which is a shame.”
- “It's unplayably buggy on Windows 10 with an Intel/Nvidia combo.”
- “Even with all that, there are sound bugs, control bugs, visual glitches, oh and random crashes.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overwhelmingly tedious and frustrating, with clunky controls, poor hit detection, and repetitive puzzles contributing to a lack of enjoyment. Combat is often seen as a chore rather than an engaging challenge, leading many to avoid encounters altogether. The game's mechanics and design choices result in a frustrating experience that feels more like a slog than an adventure.
- “It's just too tedious to have an enjoyable experience.”
- “The block puzzles wear out their welcome pretty quick and become tedious chores.”
- “As much as I love the mood, tone, story, and characters, at the end of the day it is still a game you have to play and after about ten hours of tedious platforming and combat just to get an ending that gives you the middle finger and explains nearly nothing, I was done.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
36%
36%
The game's optimization for modern systems is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant performance issues, including poor compatibility with Windows 10 and lack of enhancements for newer hardware. While the original game is praised for its atmosphere and graphics, the current port feels unfinished and lacks necessary updates, leading to frustration among fans who hope for a more polished remake. Overall, the game's optimization is seen as a major drawback that detracts from the experience.
- “Make an optimized HD remake for the fans they robbed with this.”
- “Nonexistent optimization for modern hardware notwithstanding, this is still a very good game with excellent atmosphere as well as interesting and bleak visual design.”
- “If it doesn't run well on yours then there may be a complication or something affecting its performance.”
- “But unfortunately it's not optimized for Windows 10.”
- “I'm sure the game is great, but this port is not optimized/finished.”
- “Won't start... the game is poorly optimized for newer computers, do not get this!”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
30%
20%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, particularly in the transformation of Kain from human to a more sinister being. Reviewers highlight the compelling narrative, rich storytelling, and strong voice acting, which contribute to a memorable character experience, despite some critiques of the character design. Overall, the game is recognized as a classic with significant character development that enhances its epic quality.
- “Telling a subtly compelling character development from the beginning to the very end, where we see Kain shift from a human into something far more sinister.”
- “From retrospect, this game has great violence, maturity, voice acting, and character development.”
- “Amazing character development and voice acting all the way.”
- “Character design 6/10: I mean, having an ugly, disfigured, emaciated protagonist is original.”
- “I have to say the character development regarding him is well done once you are done with the game.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
Users express a desire for improved replayability in the game, particularly through potential remakes or updates that enhance performance and compatibility. While some mention that the story offers limited replay value, they note that with effort, players can find fixes to improve gameplay experience. Overall, the game currently lacks significant replayability beyond its narrative.
- “Low replay value except for story.”
- “I hope that Square makes it more playable soon... maybe with the reboot or remake of Blood Omen (rumor) franchise, they will launch its classic games with better performance.”
- “You can, however, with a bit of research, find some fixes to map the keyboard controls to the controller, which makes the game a little more playable.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with significant financial investment in development, distribution, and extensive advertising campaigns, including cross-promotions and traditional media ads. Users feel that the heavy marketing efforts overshadow the game's quality, suggesting a focus on profit over player experience.
- “This is the laziest cash grab ever.”
- “Eidos and Crystal Dynamics (now rebranded as Square Enix) poured an insane amount of money into this game, both developing and distributing as well as advertising.”
- “Eidos also poured a lot of money into advertisements in magazines and even cheesy TV ads.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often derived from its outdated graphics and clunky animations, which players find amusing, especially in contrast to modern standards. The nostalgic charm of its "hilariously blocky" visuals and the memorable opening cinematic contribute to a lighthearted appreciation of its quirks, making it a source of fond memories for those who experienced it during its original release.
- “It's actually hilarious how bad the jumps look sometimes when your character is flinging around the room with the camera spinning super fast.”
- “The opening movie aside (which shames current-gen consoles to this day I might add), everything is hilariously blocky, even by late-90's standards, and it was one of those games where no one had a moving mouth texture.”
- “Funny enough, it's by Kurt Harland, the main guy from Information Society, which was a synth-pop band in the 80s.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its impactful storytelling and heartfelt moments. However, some technical issues, such as character control bugs, can detract from the overall experience.
- “I will end this review and give one of the most true and heartfelt recommendations I have ever given on Steam!”