If I were to write a list of all the games that failed to meet initial expectations, I would have a few novels on my hands. Far too often games are shown off at gaming expos that show a lot of promise, but when the release date rolls near, the developers rush and the game doesn’t make the grade. I’m happy to report that Legacy of Kain: Defiance is not that kind of game. Polished, beautiful and exciting, LOK: Defiance brings out the charm that has been missing from the action genre in the last year. Taking place directly after Soul Reaver 2 and Blood Omen 2, we find our main characters Kain and Raziel entangled in a mission to meet (or divert) their set fates. The game’s lore is so popular that the series has gained a cult following, some people even being devout LOK players. Many fans were concerned that this new turn towards action over the sometimes monotonous and draining puzzles would dilute the effect of the game. Frankly the change has been for the better, bringing out a much more fast paced and enjoyable adventure. Defiance represents the true nature of a “makeover”, something that has yet to hit games like Tomb Raider and Crash Bandicoot. While it may be a bit hard for more casual gamers to get into (considering the previous games heavy reliance on plot) the game, the more focused attention on action will surely bring in a few new fans.

 

The original Soul Reaver was a masterpiece on the Playstation, pitting a tortured soul named Raziel against souls and his own vampire kind. The story provided a very dark and gothic look at the world of vampires. The game featured deep combat and even deeper puzzles. Some of the puzzles were very challenging, putting off much of the casual gaming community. It would be awhile before the next Soul Reaver game hit. When it finally reached the Playstation 2, the critics were much harder on the game, citing the puzzles as a sometimes unnecessary evil. The next year gave us the sequel to the original Blood Omen. Unlike Soul Reaver, the game was played from Kain’s perspective. Kain was the vampire who condemned Raziel to the spirit realm and feels that Raziel now has some link to his fate. The game itself played similar to Soul Reaver, with a lesser influence on puzzles and slightly more on action, but once again, critics were quite hard on the game for one reason or another. Regardless, Blood Omen 2 and Soul Reaver 2 were excellent games that sets us up for the game we have now, Defiance .

 

The story is way too complicated to get into here, and frankly its way too deep to be spoiling anything (especially for diehard fans). Defiance starts you off as the vampire lord Kain in his mission to find the soul Raziel, who he had originally condemned. You will be constantly switching between characters after important plot points are resolved or created. The characters themselves have different abilities, but for the most part, they play very similar. The biggest difference between the two would be the setting. Raziel spends most of the game shifting between the living world and the spirit world, while Kain is stationary in the living world. Both carry a reaver that gives them immense power. Raziel holds the spectral reaver, while Kain carries the physical one. The games controls are tight and precise giving you smooth control over both characters. The button layout feels more comfortable than the Playstation 2 version as combat, jumping and navigating are very easy to execute. The only command I found problems with would be the aiming of their telekinetic powers. The developers chose the white button which forces you to take your attention directly away from the other buttons. It’s a small thing, but its worth noting. Combat is the heart of Defiance as you find yourself hacking and slashing away at hordes of human, demon and spectral enemies. The game feels quite like Devil May Cry with its heavy emphasis on action and key (or item) collection. With most games this type of gameplay would get very repetitive, but due to the vast amount of abilities given to you, the formula never becomes dull. There is a new move that I was very happy with. The upward slash is very entertaining and while it is never really necessary, the feeling of throwing your enemies in the air and dealing out justice is unbeatable. Remember the intricate puzzles? Well for the most part, they have disappeared. There are still many puzzles, but none of them are too complex or difficult. Most of the game’s puzzles involve the use their telekinetic powers, whether it be to knock down pillars or to light fires. The omission of the complex puzzles helps Defiance flow more freely than previous entries. There is one other thing missing from Defiance , and that would be the weapons that you used to be able to pick up, throw and fight with. Kain and Raziel are bound to their reavers in this game, so not many other weapons are used. One thing that hasn’t left the building is the blood/soul requirements. As Raziel and Kain, you need to refill your health by drinking blood or obtaining souls. It is essential to staying alive in the game, because they act as your health meters. It becomes even more difficult for Raziel in portions because in the physical realm, his meter is depleting constantly, so soul retrieval is essential. The game will put you through many traps, action sequences and story bits all the way up to the climactic and ultimately satisfying ending. Defiance will take a little over 20 hours to complete and the secrets you can unlock are worth another sitting for the more dedicated fans. If there was an award for the best makeover, Defiance would win hands down for its achievement of taking a set formula and mixing it up to create something totally new and fresh.

 

Defiance looks simply amazing. From intricate gothic textures to highly detailed character models, this game takes the world of Nosgoth and makes it shine. Raziel and Kain are by far the best designed models in the game. Each of them evokes a sense of purpose that few characters really ever show. The environments vary from a snow filled mountains, to ancient vampire temples. As the game progresses, the locales become more and more daring by providing great representations of the series’ lore and history. Even the realm shifting looks amazing. While it doesn’t possess the same wow effect that the original Soul Reaver did years ago, it still impresses. Some things do falter here and there though. The game is very good looking but some of the enemy models are angular. Another problem is that there are different sets of enemies, but to distinguish all of them by ability, most of them were color coded, so you will have a few cases of déjà vu during the course of the adventure. Flashy particles, snow and fire effects round out the very exceptional visual presentation.

 

Defiance is all about the story, so it would only seem fitting that the game’s plot were told through voice acted cut scenes. As in previous games, the voice acting is simply superb. I would hire these actors for any game simply because they know how to work with the material provided to them. The actors have remained consistent throughout the whole series as everyone reprises their respective roles. The soundtrack doesn’t fare as well. While the game achieves a good level of ambience, the music if far from fitting. Sometimes the tracks can be too upbeat or even too somber for the locations. While it doesn’t affect the gameplay, it can interfere with the emotion that the game is trying to evoke. The battle music can become quite repetitive as well, but I became used to the catchy tune as time went by. The music isn’t bad; I just wish the tracks had been balanced out more.

 

Legacy of Kain: Defiance is the perfect example of a makeover done the right way. An engrossing story, interesting characters that you can actually care for (in an evil way of course) and enjoyable action sequences all take part  in making up this wonderful homage to fans of the series. I would still recommend a rental for most casual gamers unless you want to look up older games in the series. While the game features flashbacks and access to the opening movies from past games, it would be much better for everyone to experience the originals for themselves. But for the dedicated gamer, this is an absolute must buy on either the X-Box or the Playstation 2. Bravo Crystal Dynamics, I think Eidos has put the Tomb Raider series in very able hands.