Alongside next-generation blockbusters, avid gamers are being handled to refreshed re-releases of retro classics to assist enchantment to youthful gamers and reel within the older crowd for one more likelihood at having fun with these old-school hits. It already labored for the event workforce at Aspyr and their well-received efforts on Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, so why not take a stab at one other beloved 3D platformer within the Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver collection?
I used to be undoubtedly an enormous fan of the primary recreation throughout my impressional youth within the late Nineties, enthralled by its gothic vampire aesthetics and verbose dialog that might match into one thing from H. P. Lovecraft’s collective works. Now, I am considerably protecting of my rose-tinted goggles and what different folks may see when handled to a look by way of them, and Aspyr already had a harsh critic in me when it introduced Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered for consoles and PC — here is what I considered the brand new launch.
What’s Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered?
This evaluation was made doable because of a evaluation code offered by Aspyr. The corporate didn’t see the contents of this evaluation earlier than publishing.
Optimized for Xbox Collection X|S consoles, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered can even launch on Xbox One, Sony’s PlayStation 4|5, and Nintendo Swap, alongside this PC model through Steam.
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered
Worth: $26.99 MSRP
Developer: Aspyr, Crystal Dynamics
Writer: Aspyr
Style: Third-person motion platformer
Set up measurement: 10.48GB
Playtime: ~22 hours
Platforms: Home windows PC, Xbox Collection X|S, Nintendo Swap, PlayStation 4|5
Reviewed on: PC
Launch date: Dec. 10, 2024
Xbox Recreation Go: No
This double pack, initially proven throughout Sony’s PlayStation State of Play in September 2024, comprises Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, first launched on PlayStation in 1999, and its PS2 follow-up Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver from 2001.
Builders at Aspyr have created brand-new belongings for Raziel and Kain, the protagonist and antagonist pairing of each video games, alongside enemies and a solid of supporting characters with texture and mannequin enhancements.
Different enhancements embrace dynamic shadows, high-resolution cutscenes, and multi-language help with subtitles.
Further add-ons, like a dynamic map display, purpose to enhance the expertise for brand new and previous gamers alike, with achievements encouraging replayability. Bonus content material consists of idea artwork and character renders, that are unlocked from the beginning for all gamers.
Does it run on PC handhelds like Steam Deck?
Sure, the sport ran easily with my testing on Valve’s Steam Deck and ASUS’ ROG Ally with out limiting any energy (TDP) or decision settings, exhibiting solely a display cutoff bug with the brand new map display. You possibly can restrict clock speeds and wattage settings to extend battery life, however the gadgets do not draw a lot energy whereas working the sport.
What you will like
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Gameplay mechanics in Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and a pair of are intact as they have been within the originals again in 1999 and 2001, respectively, however Aspyr treats us to a few additional features. To start with, and the obvious, is the choice to modify between the unique graphics of each video games and their remastered counterparts at any time by pushing in the appropriate stick (or urgent F1 on PC) with none delay in any way, the identical methodology utilized in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered.
A brand new map display helps gamers navigate its ‘Metroidvania’ stage structure and establish the cryptic location glyphs of Nosgoth.
It is a enjoyable little characteristic, switching forwards and backwards throughout cutscenes, whereas looking menus, or in the midst of a combat to see how primitive and wobbly the retro visuals have been on the unique PlayStation and PS2. If I mix this scorching switching part with the all-new picture mode by urgent each sticks collectively (or F3 on PC), I can see the beautiful new character fashions in excessive close-ups and respect the plain arduous work that Aspyr’s 3D artists have put in.
Third, and by far essentially the most appreciated new characteristic, is the addition of a map display to assist navigate the just about ‘Metroidvania’ stage structure and establish the cryptic glyphs that symbolize the vampiric clans of Nosgoth. It would sound minor to youthful avid gamers who’re used to the on a regular basis conveniences of an interactive, always-available map, however this makes the in any other case clunky exploration of the primary recreation much more manageable.
Personally, I respect that Aspyr did not intervene with the platforming and fight controls of the primary Soul Reaver recreation, and it feels as pure as ever to leap again into the lock-on fight with a easy dodge button to hop round enemy assaults.
I am unable to say the identical about Soul Reaver 2, which feels a lot slower and irritating as compared. However, each video games really feel just like the originals working in emulation with a high-resolution shader overlay that replaces character fashions and upscales surroundings textures, much like what NVIDIA’s RTX Remix program guarantees for PC video games however to a extra simplistic diploma right here. In case you favored what Aspyr did with Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, you have to be pleased with this providing.
What you will not like
Whereas the belongings of protagonist Raziel and his enemies look large in cutscenes and gameplay, the distinction in surroundings textures typically appears unnoticeable or minor sufficient to not matter. It is particularly disappointing when taking part in on a smaller display, like on my Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally, because the restricted draw distance of the unique video games persists, descending longer rooms and smaller outdoors areas into fog.
You will not discover any decision choices, ultrawide ratio tweaks, or customizable framerate limits.
The additional stage of frustration comes with absolutely the absence of video choices that might often enable some customization of those features on PC and trendy consoles, however there’s nothing right here. Apart from toggles for a visual compass and navigation hints, you will not discover any decision choices, ultrawide ratio tweaks, or customizable framerate limits. Further frustrations include a scarcity of a ‘save anyplace’ operate in Soul Reaver 2, contemplating it is featured within the first recreation, leaving the pause menu severely missing choices.
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Not that the sport struggles to run on any of my gadgets, holding 120Hz on the ROG Ally, however 16:10 screens exhibited cutoff errors on the map display, and there is not a lot I can do about it apart from switching to my desktop and taking part in at a conventional 16:9 ratio. It is right here that Soul Reaver 1 & 2 really feel like extra of a ‘Definitive Version’ than its ‘Remastered’ namesake as a result of it is a port for contemporary machines with a mod pack changing characters and upscaling texture, however not a lot else.
For argument’s sake, I perceive that these video games are effectively over 20 years previous, and increasing the sphere of view or different real-time rendering settings might need opposed results that hamper the expertise. Nonetheless, it appears like a cop-out to not no less than embrace a decision choice and in-engine FPS restrict, particularly for taking part in on PC handhelds like a Steam Deck, the place maximizing battery life is a precedence, however neither recreation attracts a lot energy anyway.
Mixed with a half-and-half therapy of phenomenal character fashions and satisfactory world textures, this remaster has me tempted to tug the unique recreation discs down from my attic and run every by way of authorized emulation. If I did, I could not benefit from the overhauled 3D belongings nor depend on the useful new map display. Nevertheless, the differing experiences primarily cease there, and out of doors of some fancy new skyboxes and neat idea artwork, this appears like a hefty worth leap for a modified port.
Must you purchase it?
Total, my response to this remaster is optimistic, and I believe it is value shopping for in case you’ve by no means performed both recreation. Alternatively, followers of the basic releases who might need the unique discs mendacity round in storage may really feel barely stiffed for paying upwards of $25 for what quantities to a contemporary port working at 60 FPS with new character fashions and a map display.
It is a comparatively beneficiant worth level in comparison with different video games available on the market, and followers of gothic vampire fiction will like it when you get the cling of its old-school controls. The environments will not look a lot totally different in case you’re taking part in on a handheld, and even side-by-side comparisons at 4K do not make it far more obvious.
Nonetheless, it is confirmed that Aspyr has devoted Soul Reaver followers on its improvement workforce, who have been maybe restricted by the video games’ engines and codebase of their scope on what could be completed in a contemporary port. In case you’re searching for a retro 3D platformer in an analogous vein to Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, that is undoubtedly your subsequent cease, however I am unable to assist feeling that Raziel deserved extra.
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered (PC)
