As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that the Soul Reaver 1 & 2 remaster has left me both enchanted and somewhat perplexed. Having grown up with these games, I vividly remember the sense of wonder they instilled in me back then, and seeing them reimagined for modern platforms was a delightful trip down memory lane.
In addition to new generation blockbuster games, gamers are enjoying remakes of classic retro titles. This strategy aims to attract both younger and older players, allowing them to relive these old-school gaming experiences. The team at Aspyr has successfully revamped the Tomb Raider I-III series, creating a popular remastered edition. So, why not attempt to breathe new life into another cherished 3D platformer like the Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver series?
In my youth during the late ’90s, I was absolutely captivated by the first game of the series, enchanted by its dark vampire theme reminiscent of H.P. Lovecraft’s works and its rich dialogue. Nowadays, I guard my nostalgic glasses a bit cautiously, being somewhat selective about others’ perspectives when they peek through them. When Aspyr unveiled Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered for consoles and PC, I was already skeptical, so here are my thoughts on this revamped release.
What is Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered?
The remastered versions of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 have been specifically designed for the Xbox Series X|S consoles. However, they will also be available on additional platforms like the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and 5, as well as the Nintendo Switch. Furthermore, these versions can be accessed via Steam on PCs.
This two-set, unveiled during Sony’s PlayStation State of Play back in September 2024, includes the original Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, which debuted on PlayStation in 1999, and its sequel, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver for PS2, released in 2001.
In the game world of Aspyr, developers have crafted fresh resources for the main characters Raziel and Kain, as well as new foes and a roster of secondary characters. These characters have received upgrades to their textures and models to enhance their appearance.
Additional enhancements involve adaptive shading, detailed cinematic scenes, and multi-lingual options featuring captions.
Additional features such as a live, interactive map and accomplishments designed to spur repeated play, cater to both novice and seasoned gamers. Extra perks like behind-the-scenes artwork and character sketches are immediately accessible to all players upon starting the game.
Does it run on PC handhelds like Steam Deck?
Indeed, the game performed flawlessly during my tests on Valve’s Steam Deck and ASUS’ ROG Ally, except for a minor screen cutoff issue with the latest map display. However, you can adjust clock speeds and wattage to conserve battery life, although these devices don’t consume much power while running the game due to their efficient performance.
What you’ll like
In Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2, the original gameplay mechanics remain unchanged as they were back in 1999 and 2001 respectively. However, Aspyr has added a couple of new features for our enjoyment. One significant addition is the ability to toggle between the original graphics and their remastered versions seamlessly. This can be done by pushing the right stick (or pressing F1 on PC) without any delay, similar to the method used in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered.
The updated map interface aids players in exploring the intricate layout of the ‘Metroidvania’ world and discovering the mysterious glyph symbols that mark locations within Nosgoth.
This interesting aspect allows you to toggle between visual styles, whether during cutscenes, navigating menus, or even amidst battles, showcasing the shaky, primitive look of the original PlayStation and PS2 graphics. By merging this swift switching feature with the brand-new photo mode, which can be activated by pressing both joysticks simultaneously (or F3 on PC), you can admire the intricate details of the latest character models up close and recognize the dedication and effort poured into them by Aspyr’s 3D artists.
Thirdly, and arguably the most valued addition, is the introduction of a mapping interface for easier navigation within the intricate level design reminiscent of ‘Metroidvania’ games. This feature helps in deciphering the enigmatic symbols that denote the various vampire clans of Nosgoth. While it may seem trivial to those accustomed to modern gaming’s constant map access, this enhancement significantly improves the initially cumbersome exploration experience in the initial game.
To me, it’s great that Aspyr left the platforming and combat controls in the original Soul Reaver game untouched. It still feels incredibly intuitive to engage in the lock-on combat, with a single dodge button making it effortless to dodge enemy attacks by jumping around them.
Instead of Soul Reaver 2 mirroring my sentiments as its predecessor, it seems to move at a snail’s pace and can be quite frustrating. Despite that, it shares a resemblance with the originals when played on emulation, using a high-resolution shader overlay to enhance character models and environment textures. This is somewhat similar to what NVIDIA’s RTX Remix program offers for PC games, but in a more streamlined fashion here. If you appreciated Aspyr’s work on the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, you should find this release pleasing as well.
What you won’t like
https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/juxtapose/latest/watch?v=index.html
In the action-packed scenes featuring Raziel and his adversaries, both their assets appear impressive. However, the variations in environment textures can be subtle or unremarkable, to the point where it’s barely noticeable. This can be a letdown, particularly when playing on compact screens like the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally, as the original games’ limited draw distance remains an issue, causing larger rooms and outdoor spaces with smaller areas to become shrouded in fog.
You won’t find any resolution options, ultrawide ratio tweaks, or customizable framerate limits.
In this game, you might find yourself frustrated due to the lack of video settings for customization, which is common in PC and modern console games. However, there are no such options available here, only toggles for a visible compass and navigation tips. Unfortunately, there’s no flexibility with resolution, ultrawide ratio adjustments, or framerate limits either. To add to the frustration, Soul Reaver 2 lacks a ‘save anywhere’ function, unlike its predecessor, resulting in a very limited pause menu.
The game operates smoothly on all my devices except the ROG Ally, where it maintains 120Hz. However, 16:10 screens display distorted edges on the map screen, and I can’t find a solution other than switching to my desktop and playing in the standard 16:9 ratio. Interestingly, Soul Reaver 1 & 2 seem more like a ‘Definitive Edition’ than a ‘Remastered’ version due to being optimized for modern hardware with a mod pack altering characters and enhancing textures, but not offering much else in terms of improvements.
To put it simply, even though these games are more than two decades old, there could be potential drawbacks if we broaden the field of view or adjust real-time rendering settings. However, it seems like a missed opportunity not to offer a resolution selection and in-game frame rate limit, particularly for PC handhelds such as the Steam Deck. This would help conserve battery life without these games requiring much power in the first place.
With its blend of improved character models and decent environment textures, this remaster has piqued my interest to the point where I’m considering dusting off my old game discs from the attic and playing them on legal emulation software. However, there are aspects I wouldn’t get to appreciate with this approach, such as the updated 3D assets and the useful new map screen. Yet, the main differences largely end there, and apart from some stylish new skyboxes and intriguing concept art, it seems like a significant increase in cost for an upgraded version of the original game.
Should you buy it?
In summary, I find this remaster generally favorable and recommend it to those who haven’t played the original games. However, enthusiasts who own the classic versions might feel disappointed about spending around $25 on what essentially is an updated version running at 60 FPS with revamped characters and a new map interface.
This game is reasonably priced compared to many others in the market, making it an attractive choice for potential buyers. If you’re a fan of gothic vampire literature, once you get accustomed to its vintage control system, you’ll likely find it appealing. The visual environments appear similar whether you’re playing on a handheld device or not, and even side-by-side comparisons in 4K resolution don’t show significant differences.
Despite the fact that Aspyr has team members who are dedicated fans of Soul Reaver, it seems they were constrained by the limitations of the games’ engines and codebase in terms of what could be achieved with a modern port. If you’re seeking a 3D platformer reminiscent of Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, this is likely your next destination. However, I can’t help but feel that Raziel deserved more.
Read More
- BCH PREDICTION. BCH cryptocurrency
- TRX PREDICTION. TRX cryptocurrency
- ENJ PREDICTION. ENJ cryptocurrency
- DOGINME PREDICTION. DOGINME cryptocurrency
- ETN PREDICTION. ETN cryptocurrency
- Hololive Teams With Marvel on Big Deadpool & Wolverine Event
- ELA PREDICTION. ELA cryptocurrency
- Barbie: Greta Gerwig Addresses Ken Sequel Possibility
- ROSE PREDICTION. ROSE cryptocurrency
- MATH PREDICTION. MATH cryptocurrency
2024-12-09 20:09