Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen Review

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  • Опубліковано 10 чер 2024
  • This review covers Blood Omen, the first game in the Legacy of Kain series overshadowed by the Soul Reaver and Defiance sequels.
    Support the channel at: / mandaloregaming or www.paypal.me/MandaloreGaming
    I take video suggestions at mandaloremovies@gmail.com
    Twitter: / lord_mandalore
    #LegacyofKain #BloodOmen #LegacyofKainBloodOmen #LegacyofKainPC
    00:00 - Intro
    00:28 - Series Titling & Woes
    1:24 - Game Premise
    2:36 - Visuals
    3:58 - Music & Sound Design
    4:40 - Gameplay Mechanics
    10:28 - Issues
    12:12 - Story, Writing & Voice Acting
    14:42 - Conclusions
    14:58 - Credits
    16:03 - Peasants
  • Ігри

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,9 тис.

  • @MandaloreGaming
    @MandaloreGaming  5 років тому +712

    GOG finally has Blood Omen! - gog.la/HeartOfDarkness
    THE LIST - docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_K3ziSxT9zcUUGCddS4sF1uNJTWHSbOwB1CQX2Rx4Uo
    Near three years after this video and the rights legal hell ended. I'll get to the rest of the games one day.

    • @ryebread5831
      @ryebread5831 5 років тому +9

      You should review wii sports

    • @vinnie245
      @vinnie245 5 років тому +14

      The original Blood Omen is in rights hell unfortunately, thats why it hasnt been released anywhere.

    • @theintern2960
      @theintern2960 5 років тому +6

      I couldn't get Soul Reaver to work on my PC.
      As for Blood Omen, I do remember it being on PC at some point, I played it. I also have the game on my PS3; it was on the Playstation store for a time. I'm not sure if it's still there, but I have it downloaded onto my console.
      I'm surprised you never mentioned the loading times though; even for back then the loading screens were a bit abyssmal. There was even a lengthy one when you wanted to open your inventory to switch items around, and you would have to do so a lot.

    • @jakobchong1383
      @jakobchong1383 5 років тому

      groovy

    • @Luke29121999
      @Luke29121999 5 років тому

      So, whens that Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance review coming.

  • @khaoscero
    @khaoscero 5 років тому +4046

    As I surveyed the area, I noticed an old fool inhabiting the town square, rambling on about something.
    There was nothing else in the area so I indulged my curiosity.
    The man, who called himself Mandalore, was spouting nonsense about an artifact he called the "Blood Omen".
    He would soon discover my sacred nobility, for I rewarded him handsomely with a subscription.

  • @KainGerc
    @KainGerc 5 років тому +780

    The "Evil Ending" is also the canon ending since it's the one 'Soul Reaver' picks up from.

    • @lonewanderer1328
      @lonewanderer1328 3 роки тому +7

      A parasitic transdimensonal fuck wit wanted kain to do the good ending. Don’t worry, Dead Sun was basically done and has a Stage play explaining that Kain and Raziel are ancient heroes of a sort who delivered the land from a great evil. The vibes it gives off in plot and story are similar to dragon age origins.

    • @zoltanz288
      @zoltanz288 3 роки тому +86

      Turns out it wasn't even the bad choice.

    • @alexdperdomo
      @alexdperdomo 8 місяців тому +14

      While that's true, it's also nice to imagine Blood Omen as it's own thing, since the game was developed under different waters from the sequels - although I still adore them too. Both endings are equally valid to me, after Kain's brief satisfaction over his revenge, his attention turns to the curse he would now have to live with. *Knowing that the only escape was death* , he accepts the massive quest of assassinating the guardians of the pillars in a desperate desire to be free of the vampire curse - or, in other words, to die. Then the story develops and he discovers the sadistic pleasures of being a vampire. So did Kain stay true to his previous suicidal wish for relief? Or does he embraces the wicked existence of a vampire lord? Both are great endings to me.

  • @Professor-Badger
    @Professor-Badger 3 роки тому +552

    10:18
    The skeletonized body of MandaloreGaming was found in a forest near his home only a few days after this conversation

    • @anopirsten7565
      @anopirsten7565 2 роки тому +61

      "Women like Winners, Halligan"

    • @cyberninjazero5659
      @cyberninjazero5659 Рік тому +8

      @@anopirsten7565 Please pass the friendship Onion

    • @MegaRazor619
      @MegaRazor619 2 місяці тому

      ​@@cyberninjazero5659thank you gamer *cocks shotgun*

  • @Blake_Stone
    @Blake_Stone 4 роки тому +929

    I literally used to open the inventory and cycle through all the items just to hear Simon Templeman say their names over and over.
    THE HEART OF DARKNESS... THE PENTALICH OF TAROT... THE SOUUUUUWL REAVER...

    • @noone1mportant.357
      @noone1mportant.357 3 роки тому +61

      "Alas, poor Nupraptor, I knew him well... Well, not really."

    • @hatmangates883
      @hatmangates883 2 роки тому +25

      For me, Templeman is the GOAT ever since LoK. Biggest travesty in Voice Acting is his lack of [big] roles. (Though the same can be argued for any of the big ones in the LoK-series).

    • @WTFisTingispingis
      @WTFisTingispingis 2 роки тому +10

      He absolutely _owns_ the role it's fantastic.

    • @ninjapirate47
      @ninjapirate47 Рік тому +4

      I love the pause in heart... of darkness.

    • @Blake_Stone
      @Blake_Stone Рік тому +4

      @@ninjapirate47 Yeah even his pauses are Shakespearean lol.

  • @fakename8749
    @fakename8749 5 років тому +931

    >Legacy of Kain
    Oh boy, I can't wait to play as my present self killing my past self with my future self in a room that symbolizes us killing each other.

    • @TheVeryAngryShrimp
      @TheVeryAngryShrimp 5 років тому +35

      ....I see what you did there
      ∠( ᐛ 」∠)_

    • @wareforcoin5780
      @wareforcoin5780 5 років тому +76

      Still trying to determine whether or not it's suicide.

    • @AnomalyINC
      @AnomalyINC 4 роки тому +37

      @@TheTimestreamer "Selficide"!

    • @mcpepp3603
      @mcpepp3603 4 роки тому +15

      @@AnomalyINC B U T F I R S T L E T M E T A K E A S E L F I E

    • @BestWayKilla
      @BestWayKilla 3 роки тому +32

      "You're a righteous fiend, aren't you?"
      "Apparently I am."

  • @Zelousmarineinspace
    @Zelousmarineinspace 5 років тому +733

    "Sometimes they get stuck inside you and you have to wiggle out of them"
    - Mandalore 2018

  • @arturoaguilar6002
    @arturoaguilar6002 8 місяців тому +82

    I love how the video glossed over how Kain got his revenge against those who killed him like 10 minutes after becoming a vampire; and the rest of the game is "well, I might as well find the necromancer who cursed me, kill the evil monsters who stand in my way and incidentally start restoring the land back to balance"

  • @cheesefries7436
    @cheesefries7436 4 роки тому +194

    The voice acting in the whole series was amazing. I was extremely impressed as a child; it's completely different than anything I had seen before in games.

    • @Talking_Ed
      @Talking_Ed 3 роки тому +12

      And after to be fair.
      This level of quality writing and voice acting combined is rare...

    • @LordBaruch
      @LordBaruch 2 роки тому +1

      I spent more time watching the featurettes on the Soul Reaver 2 disk than playing Soul Reaver 2.

    • @st.haborym
      @st.haborym Рік тому

      Tony Jay is amazing

    • @AlDeane
      @AlDeane 11 місяців тому

      You 😊😊😊

  • @VoxisProductions
    @VoxisProductions 5 років тому +1840

    Voice acting that is both hammy yet good. It's a weird duality.

    • @VoxisProductions
      @VoxisProductions 5 років тому +131

      @Thirsty Boi I think the term is Fakespearean.

    • @Twilightcz
      @Twilightcz 5 років тому +14

      Oh hey puppet man!

    • @EverDownward
      @EverDownward 5 років тому +33

      Play Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption

    • @Anomaly188
      @Anomaly188 5 років тому +162

      It works because it's intentional in the flowery writing and is read by stage actors who can pull it off. Simon Templeman is perfect as Kain but the MVP is of course Tony Jay. He was able to make anything sound good. RIP big man, your booming bass voice can never be replaced.

    • @danielramsey6141
      @danielramsey6141 5 років тому +8

      Yo! Puppet-Professor! How are you good sir? :)

  • @maxchenmusterhausen5311
    @maxchenmusterhausen5311 5 років тому +333

    My friend! How did you not mention that you can even beat bosses with mind-controlled late-game enemies? I really enjoyed fucking around in this game as the many different enemies i could mindcontrol and play as until they died. One time i spend 3 hours as one of these red knights with two-handed swords and beating up that strange commander in his castle. Was incredible and i miss games doing this.

    • @MandaloreGaming
      @MandaloreGaming  5 років тому +210

      My favorite secret I didn't mention in the video was the Lost City on the Stonehenge island I briefly showed. The fact that it only opened up during a full moon made it an extra secret place since it was easy to think the initial lobby was the entire secret area.

  • @nomad5544
    @nomad5544 3 роки тому +70

    Just want to acknowledge that even in spite of its age, this video uses the chapters feature. The dedication is not unnoticed, good job

    • @zainshaikh527
      @zainshaikh527 Рік тому +8

      first time i saw this feature and it made me look into youtube proper again. Very well before it was automatic

  • @noiceferatu1187
    @noiceferatu1187 8 місяців тому +15

    Years later and I'm still hoping you cover more Legacy of Kain games.

  • @rank10ygo
    @rank10ygo 5 років тому +1269

    >Next video is on "a card game"
    Hype for Yugioh Forbidden Memories

    • @GamesCourier
      @GamesCourier 5 років тому +22

      could also be that magic the gathering rpg, although I thought about Forbidden Memories at first too

    • @AKSsasori
      @AKSsasori 5 років тому +39

      I need that Yugioh Duelist of the Roses shit

    • @cachotognax3600
      @cachotognax3600 5 років тому +12

      @@GamesCourier I'd love to se shandalar here!

    • @andreivaldez2929
      @andreivaldez2929 5 років тому +19

      Duelists of the Roses anyone?

    • @SuperZajara
      @SuperZajara 5 років тому +3

      Go eat a greed pot! or don't i'm not your mom!

  • @evigkrieger
    @evigkrieger 5 років тому +438

    Usually when I see reviews of older games mentioning the voice acting is high quality, theres a rose colored glasses filter going on that they seem to hear and appreciate the voices more than the actual quality it brings out, this was nothing like that. those lines were amazing, the tone he spoke them with spot on & sounded very fitting. Good stuff.

    • @WisteriaNerium
      @WisteriaNerium 5 років тому +35

      It reaches its peak on Soul Reaver 2

    • @wareforcoin5780
      @wareforcoin5780 5 років тому +18

      You really need to take "it had quality voice acting!" in the context of the time it came out.

    • @Krystalmyth
      @Krystalmyth 5 років тому +28

      @@wareforcoin5780 Not always sometimes its about the charm too. Like Thief.

    • @ineednochannelyoutube5384
      @ineednochannelyoutube5384 4 роки тому +6

      By the late nineties quality voice acting was quality by any metric.

    • @Avenger85438
      @Avenger85438 4 роки тому +2

      The Longest Journey was praised for It's writing and voice acting too.

  • @HappyAspid
    @HappyAspid 4 роки тому +85

    Want to mention - paired axes with flesh armor is epic combination. Since you cant drink stuff while whirlwind attack, you become surrounded by whirlwind of blood, that slowly being absorbed by armor.

    • @notinspectorgadget
      @notinspectorgadget Рік тому +6

      *...flesh armor?*

    • @HappyAspid
      @HappyAspid Рік тому +14

      @@notinspectorgadget Don't remember exact name, but there was an armor that offered little protection, but automaticaly drink blood from nearby enemies.

    • @notinspectorgadget
      @notinspectorgadget Рік тому +3

      @@HappyAspid but it's an armor that's made of flesh?

    • @HappyAspid
      @HappyAspid Рік тому +9

      @@notinspectorgadget yep. Made of muscle tissues and bones.

    • @notinspectorgadget
      @notinspectorgadget Рік тому +1

      @@HappyAspid yuck

  • @P9HL2BETA
    @P9HL2BETA 2 роки тому +15

    Finally on GOG! :D

  • @ianmccready4960
    @ianmccready4960 5 років тому +2492

    Good to see you're taking your meds again Sseth

    • @pkerch00b1
      @pkerch00b1 5 років тому +281

      Right? Split personality disorder is no joke.

    • @DarthTellor
      @DarthTellor 5 років тому +117

      @Ian McCready
      Such a great observation. Been thinking the same.

    • @plaguedoctorjamespainshe6009
      @plaguedoctorjamespainshe6009 5 років тому +5

      He really needs medication ?

    • @BoneStack117
      @BoneStack117 5 років тому +217

      @@plaguedoctorjamespainshe6009 there's another reviewer that has similar style videos on similar gamea but he is a little more... crude

    • @plaguedoctorjamespainshe6009
      @plaguedoctorjamespainshe6009 5 років тому +1

      @@BoneStack117 who ?

  • @Zeithri
    @Zeithri 5 років тому +553

    " _Rumored to have been ripped from the greatest vampire to ever have existed - Janos Audron - The Heart of Darkness restores vampiric Unlife._
    - " _Life, is precious._ " _Janos discovered --- as it was torn, throbbing and bleeding from his own body._ "
    I adore, Legacy of Kain.
    The voice acting, the writing style, the story. Everything about it.
    I watch, rewatch and rewatch again the cutscenes to the point that I know just about every line in my head.
    So I enjoyed this video, it was a very nice one!

    • @TexasHollowEarth
      @TexasHollowEarth 5 років тому +15

      .... & Pre-Raziel is the one who did him in.... awesome twist. No revisionist bullshit in this series... I love it!

    • @tamerofhorses2200
      @tamerofhorses2200 5 років тому +4

      What do you think about Soul Reaver ? I think It's an absolutely horrendous game that is no-where near true enough to the legacy of Blood Omen.

    • @fantasywind3923
      @fantasywind3923 5 років тому +9

      Legacy of Kain series as a whole had amazing writing (Amy Hennig knew what she was doing :) even if sometimes it turned convoluted), I like to call this series The Lord of the Rings of video game world hehe. The faux-Shakespearean language adds to it's atmosphere and uniqueness of the world. It's vampire lore and the art of the games especially in later games regarding the Ancients was always top notch in my opinion.

    • @cabbagemontage6999
      @cabbagemontage6999 4 роки тому +5

      Kinda nice how they took a simple item from the first game, and made it a major plot point in later games.

    • @Zeithri
      @Zeithri 3 роки тому +9

      @@tamerofhorses2200 I adore Soul Reaver. It was my jumping-in point into the series and I think Raziel is a fantastic protagonist. While Kain knows what he has to do to move forward, Raziel constantly thinks he knows everything on the basis what he discovers but as they say " _You know NOTHING_ ". It deepens the lore set out by Blood Omen.
      I urge you strongly to replay Soul Reaver with a clear heart and open mind. Get frustrated by the combat if you want but absorb the story. Don't be afraid to spam the Gylph spells you can pick up if combat proves overwhelming. Then I also suggest you look up here on UA-cam, the original intended ending for Soul Reaver 1 that they scrapped when they realized they ran out of time, which involves Raziel utilizing the Human's weapon of mass destruction, the Silenced Cathedral, which was suppose to happen after Raziel slew Kain with the Purified Reaver / Ariel Reaver and absorbed his Soul, twisting them together forever with Ariel's desperate pleas and Kain's maniacal laughter thus creating the Kain reaver.
      Pay close attention to the chronoplast visions in the Timestreamer's chambers.
      Then move onto the other games - Soul Reaver 2, and Defiance.
      Take Blood Omen 2 last if you want to but it was originally going to be a sequel to Chakan the Forever Man so it's a bit tonal shift. Which is why I suggest it last.
      Trust me.

  • @maggiem6209
    @maggiem6209 2 роки тому +122

    The quality of Kain saying
    _"I will not deny you!"_
    is just so excellent. Operatic and fun and full of confidence of performance. I wish villain characters and anti-heroes were brought back in this fashion. I like that Kain's existence may suck (haha) now but the game goes out of its way to make it fun and dramatic for you. That levity of experience and sheer drama is forgotten by games today. It's a damn shame.

    • @Morec0
      @Morec0 Рік тому +6

      I think StarCraft suffers from similar. There was something dramatic about the way all the characters in the campaign talked that the sequels lost.

    • @oscarlove4394
      @oscarlove4394 10 місяців тому +4

      ​@@Morec0 might have been a fidelity thing. older games had less space for long voice lines and high quality audio, so to compensate they made thier actors speak with more drama and theatricality, to get the same message and vibe across with fewer words.
      when you have six seconds to portray your characters fear and horror you make the most of it.
      but if you're in, say the xbox360 generation, then you've got enough disk-space to have a rolling commentary from the characters that is on a per-line basis much less dramatic/operatic.

  • @Entropic_Alloy
    @Entropic_Alloy 2 роки тому +18

    Game has finally been freed from it's legal disputes!

  • @Arassar
    @Arassar 5 років тому +149

    Tony Jay also played Mithras in Sacrifice and Megabyte on Reboot. He was the man. RIP Tony Jay.

    • @LadyTylerBioRodriguez
      @LadyTylerBioRodriguez 5 років тому +14

      Hands down one of the best voice actors who ever lived. I would do listen to him read a phone book.

    • @streeTkiDwannaBe
      @streeTkiDwannaBe 5 років тому +22

      Also sang one of the best Disney songs ever for his role as Frollo in Hunchback of Notre Dame aka Hellfire. Dude voiced a lot of game and animated characters. Just replayed Fallout 1 after not touching it for years and noticed he's the voice of the super mutant lieutenant in the master's army.

    • @LadyTylerBioRodriguez
      @LadyTylerBioRodriguez 5 років тому +4

      @@streeTkiDwannaBe Yeah he was in Fallout. Man Frollo is my second favorite Disney villian hands down. Hunchback is a good movie in general but he makes it so worth while. Best villian song ever, hands down in damn near anything. Such a master of gab.

    • @TexasHollowEarth
      @TexasHollowEarth 5 років тому +12

      Both Tony Jay & Simon Templeman played (guest) villains on The Adventures of Lois & Clark back in the 90's with Dean Cain... no relation. Tony Jay played an old-school British hitman while Templeman played an evil Kryptonian. I practically shit myself upon seeing this, as I was a huge Legacy of Kain fan. Tony Jay also voiced Virgil, the wise chicken-man, on Mighty Max.

    • @krodmandoon3479
      @krodmandoon3479 4 роки тому

      @@TexasHollowEarth Fowl, actually.

  • @coertgrobbelaar7634
    @coertgrobbelaar7634 5 років тому +418

    10:15 jumpscare warning. 3 spoopy 4 me

    • @Inoka01
      @Inoka01 5 років тому +31

      Mandalore has the animated skeleton of Tony Jay in his closet.

    • @Hedhnter
      @Hedhnter 5 років тому +14

      I had to close the window after that, it was too spooky

  • @dionysos739
    @dionysos739 5 років тому +431

    "The only gypsy magic you learn is being able to transform into a poor migrant" 😂

    • @JohnMatayas
      @JohnMatayas 2 роки тому +8

      Well.. it WAS during the Frollo Era

  • @johndowson1852
    @johndowson1852 3 роки тому +123

    3:50
    And one very annoying drood

    • @evinbraley
      @evinbraley 3 роки тому +11

      I thought I heard that, just how far back doe the droods go?

    • @HontounoShiramizu
      @HontounoShiramizu 3 роки тому +17

      @@evinbraley That's the real mystery!

    • @Drew_42
      @Drew_42 3 роки тому +7

      @@evinbraley Over a year ago, look for the full stream

  • @khankhomrad8855
    @khankhomrad8855 5 років тому +50

    Time fades even legend, and the origin of the Soul Reaver has been lost long ago. But its purpose remains - to feed on the souls of any creature it strikes. Kindred, this blade and I.

  • @armymanDR
    @armymanDR 5 років тому +1974

    Hey hey people, Mandalore here

    • @brig.badger2896
      @brig.badger2896 5 років тому +60

      yeah he's baisically a more pc sseth.

    • @dikathemas6713
      @dikathemas6713 5 років тому +118

      @@brig.badger2896 I don't think calling Mandy 'pc' does him any credit, i think of Mandy as a sane Sseth with more restraint and subtlety when it come to jokes but also lightyears ahead of Sseth's when it comes to actually reviewing the game in question.
      I mean he used to ran a slave ring when he was in elementary school, and his slave fetish only got worse ever since.

    • @brig.badger2896
      @brig.badger2896 5 років тому +9

      dika themas holy shit it’s a joke

    • @table2392
      @table2392 5 років тому +24

      A man of the Merchants Guild I see.

    • @jmjedi923
      @jmjedi923 4 роки тому

      @Bones Sama after watching the pst podcast, that would explain a lot
      Especially the quartz slaves

  • @RaymondKarlVeasey75
    @RaymondKarlVeasey75 5 років тому +44

    Simon Templeman's voice acting is on point. Sometimes, I just load up a game near completion, then I open up the menu, & listen to him describe all the different stuff he has collected, & learned throughout the game.

  • @Jamessavoy
    @Jamessavoy 4 роки тому +24

    When I play Dragon Age, I can't help but think of Loghain as Kain before he becomes a vampire. End of the game you can have him do a blood ritual that kills most people. Wouldn't you know it? Drinking blood, he's just fine. Can't imagine why. ;) Warlord 2.0 Still waiting for a final installment, though reboots seem to be all the rage these days.

  • @UltimaOmega777
    @UltimaOmega777 5 років тому +1215

    "Paid for by the many members of the merchant's guild."

    • @arnantphongsatha7906
      @arnantphongsatha7906 5 років тому +124

      You're all wonderful, thank you.

    • @absolutelydegenerate1900
      @absolutelydegenerate1900 4 роки тому +8

      E115 I’d gladly send my tax dollars over if they were funding such quality content

    • @everinghall8622
      @everinghall8622 3 роки тому +14

      Hey hey people

    • @pheonyxior_5082
      @pheonyxior_5082 3 роки тому +2

      In every mandalore video there is that one comment.
      Not complaining tho, it's pretty fun to search them and so far they're always different.

  • @jcxjosef
    @jcxjosef 5 років тому +142

    you truly are an artist never stop what your doing man, Great content

  • @capmar-vell92returns20
    @capmar-vell92returns20 5 років тому +53

    The closest thing to a Elric of Melnibone videogame.

  • @CaptainMauser
    @CaptainMauser 4 роки тому +17

    One of the greatest hidden gems of the playstation era. I would almost call this more of a dungeon crawler/action rpg.

  • @dxBIGBOSSxb
    @dxBIGBOSSxb 5 років тому +316

    I sense... Rules of Nature!!!

    • @nergalsmom
      @nergalsmom 5 років тому +15

      I laughed so hard when that started playing!

  • @lessmixer
    @lessmixer 5 років тому +274

    Please do entire series, we will love you long time.

  • @justuspickle
    @justuspickle 5 років тому +69

    i looked up 'loreal werewolf'
    i found literally nothing of interest

    • @Brandelwyn
      @Brandelwyn 3 роки тому +1

      You're doing god's work there

  • @Shatidox
    @Shatidox 5 років тому +18

    I would love to hear your take on the rest of the series, Legacy of Kain is one of my all time favorites, mostly because of the elaborate story and voice acting.
    I really love Kain as a character, he is so interesting and different from other protagonists, not a standard brooding antihero he is truly a pompous self-absorbed asshole of a villain, but considering the stupid amounts of power he keeps acquiring it makes sense for him to indulge his ego in this way.
    I really appreciate your uploads, keep up the good work.

  • @MrDoctorColossus
    @MrDoctorColossus 5 років тому +36

    "Of all the methods I employ, this is by far the coolest"

    • @VantageRX
      @VantageRX Місяць тому

      They need to make a new 3D game for the #LegacyofKain series where Kain is the good pratoganist who hunts and kills the soul reavers whom are devouring all living life and to #end the #world #of all #soulreavers. Really needs to be top notch visuals and revolutionary gameplay. Kain rids the world through hatefull vengence of the soul reavers destroying all life, even the animal kingdom. Also needs to play alot like ori videogame yet with 2d and 3d gameplay... or like a hyper advanced 3d catslevania. Loved the mechanics of the old legacy of kain games. NEED A NEW ONE FOR #2025 BEYOND.

  • @Skeletroller
    @Skeletroller 5 років тому +94

    Me:*Notice Blood Omen Review by Mandalore*
    STATUS OF THE NUT:BUSTED

  • @greenhowie
    @greenhowie 3 роки тому +9

    Tried this after seeing the video - the in-game menus are fantastic, everything is animated beautifully.

  • @johnathonhaney8291
    @johnathonhaney8291 5 років тому +12

    Thank you for highlighting one of my old school favorites in Blood Omen. Yes, the voice acting (with Simon Templeman doing a bang-up job as Kain) and dark tone made it stand out for its time. The only two regrets I have about this series is a) how convoluted the time travel element made later games and b) how the story remains unresolved.

  • @dragonstormx
    @dragonstormx 5 років тому +219

    Legacy of Kain is an interesting series when you consider how much of it was a happy accident. For starters, development switched hands from Silicon Knights to Crystal Dynamics after Blood Omen. Whatever plans there were the for the rest of the series, including that twist final boss, were unknown to Crystal Dynamics who just had to piece ideas together.
    Soul Reaver wasn't originally even planned as a Legacy of Kain game, something that is usually a recipe for disaster. But it helped that even though that game and its sequel switched to a new character named Raziel, the series still had the awesome dialogue that fun to listen to in the original so Raziel avoided being a boring character. Also helping things is that given Blood Omen's ending, making Kain a full blown villain for the sequel was the logical next step.
    Soul Reaver was originally intended to be the end of the series, but not all the planned content for it could be finished in time, including its final few levels. As a result a more complex plot was written involving time travel and Kain having this grand scheme instead of just being a straight up villain.
    Blood Omen 2 was also not originally intended as a Legacy of Kain game, and unlike Soul Reaver that did not work out for the better, turning it into the black sheep of the series. In terms of plot you can actually skip the game, there is nothing essential explained that isn't also explained in Defiance. And why does Kain need people to explain abilities to him in this game, everywhere else he doesn't need people to explain items and abilities, he can do that himself.
    Defiance was better received than Blood Omen, but not well enough to continue the series. Which is a shame since it did nicely conclude some major plot points and from where it ended its sequel looked promising, at least in terms of writing.
    Unfortunately, Defiance's writing and dialogue were about all it had going for it. Mechanically it was mostly a generic Devil May Cry clone that offered next to nothing in terms of gameplay you couldn't get out of better hack and slash games like the previously mentioned DMC or Ninja Gaiden. As such it wasn't able to sell well enough for a sequel to get greenlit.
    I had hopes of seeing the series cliffhanger finished, but given all we got is some generic MMO, that is probably never going to happen.
    From what I have heard about the other planned entry in the series, something that was announced in 2011 and cancelled, it's probably for the best the series doesn't get picked back up. That game had none of the feel of the original series, not to mention the series iconic characters were nowhere to be seen in its footage.

    • @Codebryo
      @Codebryo 5 років тому +9

      I appreciate this write up. Thanks for sharing!

    • @dragonstormx
      @dragonstormx 5 років тому +6

      @@Codebryo You're welcome.

    • @buyita24slash7
      @buyita24slash7 5 років тому +17

      Nosgoth was a average team based shooter with some really cool ideas, no an mmo, the only reference to LoK was a Raziel Statue and Classes based on Raziel’s brothers

    • @VertexDon
      @VertexDon 5 років тому +9

      I would actually recommend Blood Omen 2 for it's neat low/mid fantasy Steam Punk setting, not to mention the game mechanics, music sound effects and co are very well done too.
      Yeah you probably won't miss any plot on it but that doesn't mean it won't be worth it.
      Though it takes quite q while to get used to the slightly wonky controls and you better set the combat blocking to "assisted" in the options menu.
      Also the save-point feature is annoying because the actual savegame function does only save your stats, but neither Kains current position on the map nor the current weapon you hold in your hands, you literally often spawn unarmed and while the game is still loading, the enemy AI is already working, allowing your enemies to hit Kain before the game can receive any controller input.

    • @Dr.Gainzzz
      @Dr.Gainzzz 4 роки тому

      I think it was called last sun? I saw the trailer though for the game that got cancelled and it looked awful story wise but gameplay wise like shadow of modor. Sad/happy it got cancelled.

  • @davidcolby167
    @davidcolby167 5 років тому +74

    A warrior sentenced to hell, then brought back by a necromancer?
    ...man, i have JUST started replaying Revenant! Now that's a review I'd love to see here.

    • @davidcolby167
      @davidcolby167 5 років тому +3

      I've been enjoying it! it's a fairly simplistic hack/slash game, nothing too ground breaking. It has some pretty great voice actors too (at least, for the time period.) But I may be biased cause I played it a bunch when I was a little baby?

    • @TheFormHater
      @TheFormHater 4 роки тому +8

      @@davidcolby167 watch Ross Scott's game dungeon episode on it
      its good
      watch it
      ross is best boy

    • @zoltanz288
      @zoltanz288 3 роки тому

      Does it work on win 10 64bit?

  • @Warfare316
    @Warfare316 5 років тому +10

    Loved this game when it first came out. Still remains in my top 10 favorite of all time. Couldn’t help but imitate Kane’s voice. Then when dragon age origins came out, so many memories flooded back when I first heard Loghain talk.
    Over all, good review 👍🏻

  • @gordonbuckley6928
    @gordonbuckley6928 5 років тому +1

    Such great content - research / delivery / editing the whole package. I've watched a lot of your reviews and each one is excellent. Cheers.

  • @nolef7nu7
    @nolef7nu7 5 років тому +73

    11:23 thanks doc

    • @Sam21856
      @Sam21856 5 років тому +1

      song's name please

    • @Sam21856
      @Sam21856 5 років тому

      @Somesortofcat Thank you very much

    • @kranianus5559
      @kranianus5559 5 років тому

      Nupraptikal - Green and Purple

  • @homoe7976
    @homoe7976 2 роки тому +8

    Finally on GoG! And maybe, just maybe... one day there will be a glorious remaster.

  • @ChaoticPesme75
    @ChaoticPesme75 5 років тому +5

    I've written an entire guide on Legacy Of Kain's story line. I think it's one of the most complicated and best storyline in video game's histoty.

  • @Jesse__H
    @Jesse__H 5 років тому +84

    Alright Mandalore, what madness have you brought us this time?

  • @outsider344
    @outsider344 5 років тому +39

    10:20 Quality scream

  • @weirdosheep619
    @weirdosheep619 3 роки тому +2

    I love your use of Grabbed by the Ghoulies music during the credits. Underrated game with an underrated soundtrack PERFECT for Halloween.

  • @skyrimn00b98
    @skyrimn00b98 5 років тому +7

    10:20 Mandy screams like a little girl and I love him for it.

  • @desertdevil6451
    @desertdevil6451 5 років тому +63

    There is a magical operation of maximum importance -- the initiation of a new eon. When it becomes necessary to utter a word, the whole planet must be bathed in blood...

    • @DoctorSoulll
      @DoctorSoulll 5 років тому +14

      I have awoke to the pain of a new existence, in a dank womb of darkness and decay!

    • @fartsniffer2722
      @fartsniffer2722 5 років тому +9

      And so I left. Cold of heart and soul. Forced to road, and the long bitter night.
      THAT'S HIM!
      END IT NOW!
      ARRGGHHHH!

    • @MateusAuri
      @MateusAuri 5 років тому +6

      MALEEEEK

    • @fartsniffer2722
      @fartsniffer2722 5 років тому +7

      @@MateusAuri the pleasures of the flesh are no longer yours.

    • @puffythedestroyer8878
      @puffythedestroyer8878 5 років тому +2

      History abhors a paradox

  • @RIPSLYMEFAN
    @RIPSLYMEFAN 5 років тому +143

    THIS IS ONE IVE BEEN WAITING FOR
    So when’s LoK Soul Reaver

    • @stefangla6878
      @stefangla6878 5 років тому +9

      That'd be great.

    • @spartanmanw
      @spartanmanw 5 років тому +9

      Soul reaver is the reason I still play dreamcast

    • @Brother-Crow
      @Brother-Crow 5 років тому +2

      Much better on PlayStation imo

    • @stefangla6878
      @stefangla6878 5 років тому +3

      @@Brother-Crow Actually the Dreamcast version is the best in technical terms, ignoring a few bugs at least. Nevertheless it's an awesome game.

    • @TrueKaras
      @TrueKaras 5 років тому +2

      CAST HIM IN

  • @freakyorc
    @freakyorc 4 роки тому +11

    Nosgoth was amazing, just needed some more work. I miss it :(

  • @Brythnoth_of_the_Void
    @Brythnoth_of_the_Void 4 роки тому +5

    That graveyard, the runes, when translated with the user guide, gives the devs names. Also there was a major glitch that affected diagonal things. In fact the wolf dungeon had to be re-designed after a endless jump glitch was discovered with the diagonal jumping.

    • @Alex-ig6vl
      @Alex-ig6vl 3 роки тому +1

      Just curious ... what dev names are on the runes? And what do you mean the wolf dungeon had to be redesigned?

    • @Brythnoth_of_the_Void
      @Brythnoth_of_the_Void 3 роки тому +2

      Alex only twelve names from the joint crystal dynamics/silicone knights team made it into the released version, but if you have the original booklet there is a page where you can translate English to the blood runes script, and if you translate the runes on the gravestones, you get a dev name.
      As for redesigning the wolf dungeon, the dungeon where you first get the wolf form and you have to do all those jumps to get to a switch? That dungeon had to be redesigned after a B-class bug was discovered with the wolf form’s diagonal jump, a feature it originally had, where it would endlessly loop the jump animation, and cause you to travel out of the game bound forever until you re-set the game.

    • @Alex-ig6vl
      @Alex-ig6vl 3 роки тому +1

      @@Brythnoth_of_the_Void Is there somewhere that lists what the 12 names are? Also, was this B-class bug fixed before release on the PSX? Thanks

    • @Brythnoth_of_the_Void
      @Brythnoth_of_the_Void 3 роки тому

      Alex yes, but I can’t remember where, if you search you can find it. As for the B-class bug, it was found in development, and patched out, but not before a bunch of levels had to be redesigned, most weren’t too bad, but the wolf dungeon had to be completely overhauled.

  • @pigwank420
    @pigwank420 5 років тому +60

    Still clinging to hope it will drop on GOG someday.

    • @JoinMeInDeathBaby
      @JoinMeInDeathBaby 5 років тому +13

      Piratebay, son

    • @WisteriaNerium
      @WisteriaNerium 5 років тому +6

      There's more chance of getting a sequel than that happening

    • @Kenshiro3rd
      @Kenshiro3rd 5 років тому +6

      Pig Wank Don't... the PC rights are owned by Activision. Beyond the PC version is EXTREMELY buggy and hard to get running stably on modern rigs, due to MULTIPLE compatibility issues with both modern OS & Hardware, and that's WITH the fixes. Like the issues so bad that it is pretty much completely incompatible with and unplayable on them. While there are fixes they only make it marginally playable. The stability is STILL a major issue, and the game is completely crash happy as a result. Pretty the only way to play it is on a pre-XP Windows PC. I sold my copy because of it.

    • @SuperKratosgamer
      @SuperKratosgamer 5 років тому +5

      Just play the ps one version on a emulator, it runs way better than the pc version and youc an use save states if you get stuck on a wall. Or you can wait for the blood ominicide remake.

    • @tenbeat
      @tenbeat 5 років тому +3

      It's technically abandonware so you can find it on sites that have that stuff really easily.

  • @nerfmaster18
    @nerfmaster18 5 років тому +626

    I see Sseth took his adderall

  • @warriorcrab1319
    @warriorcrab1319 5 років тому +3

    Holy shitt dude that skeleton moment was top tier.
    Frollo was also in armed and dangerous, a really really good game.

  • @sinmenon4347
    @sinmenon4347 4 роки тому +3

    Amy Hennig was part of this game, I think she mentioned being an assistant to the main writer at some point and she was the one who wrote the remainder of the Legacy of Kain series.

  • @aworkinprogress4387
    @aworkinprogress4387 5 років тому +14

    I loved this game. It was one of my favorites from the original Playstation. I don't feel like it gets enough respect for how great it was. I loved the whole series too. I wish they would bring it back.

  • @uroboros2066
    @uroboros2066 5 років тому +13

    9:04 I did not expect that. LOL. Great review, as always.

    • @khankhomrad8855
      @khankhomrad8855 5 років тому

      Best present ever :')

    • @tedytarrify
      @tedytarrify 4 роки тому

      What song was that?... wait, got it; Metal Gear. I knew I recognised it from somewhere.

  • @madbloodgod9442
    @madbloodgod9442 3 роки тому +5

    Please do the entire series, the story and voice acting is top notch

  • @sweepingtime
    @sweepingtime 5 років тому

    I always love these trips to gaming past with Mandalore.

  • @turbo_chicken
    @turbo_chicken 5 років тому +21

    *AND THEY RUN WHEN THE SUN COMES UP*
    *WITH THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE*

    • @ubermaster134
      @ubermaster134 3 роки тому +2

      ALIVE FOR A WHILE
      NO CHOICE GOTTA FOLLOW THE LAWS OF THE WILD
      ALIVE WITH THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE
      NO CHOICE OUT HERE ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE

  • @KAPTAINmORGANnWo4eva
    @KAPTAINmORGANnWo4eva 5 років тому +18

    Any video featuring Tony Jay VO is 5 stars in my book

  • @joshuaeadon1465
    @joshuaeadon1465 5 років тому

    Great video as always!

  • @christopherbower2163
    @christopherbower2163 5 років тому +4

    I love this game. Finding the soul reaver and one shotting demons was so satisfying. Finding all the armors and deciphering the books to find all the magic was awesome.

  • @fartsniffer2722
    @fartsniffer2722 5 років тому +21

    This game is a 10/10. Bloody classic.

  • @Daynick101
    @Daynick101 5 років тому +95

    “Woe to The Conquered”
    Everything in this series has so many quotable scenes.

    • @beelzeboss9631
      @beelzeboss9631 4 роки тому

      A Celt first used the term on a Roman after said Celt was accused of rigging weighing scales for getting more gold than was expected, he placed his sword on the scales and said "Vae Victus". The Romans weren't allowed to say anything else except continue to pile the gold on to the scales

    •  4 роки тому +4

      @@beelzeboss9631 It was Brennus, a Gaul (whom are indeed Celts). And the correct quote is "vae victis" (victus means food - among others).

    • @beelzeboss9631
      @beelzeboss9631 4 роки тому

      @ don't twist a great piece of history, and don't get technical

  • @Extellus
    @Extellus 5 років тому

    Usually when I subscribe to a review channel it ends in me only watching reviews for the games I'm personally interested in... but Mandalore man I don't know how you do it, you make me personally interested in every game you review

  • @consgay3801
    @consgay3801 5 років тому +11

    Wonderful game, great to see you cover it. Any game with the voice talent of Simon Templeman and Tony Jay together is a gift from heaven!

  • @LookBackGaming
    @LookBackGaming 5 років тому +365

    KAIN DID NOTHING WRONG

    • @zeronikku3549
      @zeronikku3549 5 років тому +18

      Kain did everything wrong.

    • @LookBackGaming
      @LookBackGaming 5 років тому +76

      He gambled and won. It's too bad the last game was canceled, we could have seen Kain actually put everything right.

    • @pigwank420
      @pigwank420 5 років тому +60

      Local vampire also kinda zombie sucessfully kills space octopus.

    • @Crimsonwolf1923
      @Crimsonwolf1923 5 років тому +22

      Vae victis !!!!

    • @WisteriaNerium
      @WisteriaNerium 5 років тому +21

      @STORM LORD Raziel was already fated to be that creature, he didn't do it out of jelousy and always wanted to save him

  • @DrayLoco
    @DrayLoco 2 роки тому

    You even put the song in the captions… goated I been fw your videos since I was 13/14

  • @grimm4927
    @grimm4927 5 років тому

    I've never seen your channel before but this video randomly popped up in my recommended and I got super excited thinking this was a review on a remaster for the games. I want one SO bad! But I stayed anyways and I love the review, you got my sub :)

    • @Yfr28
      @Yfr28 5 років тому

      There is a fan-made remake and it seems to be quite good, look up blood omnicide

  • @Slat3
    @Slat3 5 років тому +15

    Instant like cause of Rules of Nature. As always, these reviews are a treat, thanks!

  • @hairy_cornflake
    @hairy_cornflake 5 років тому +8

    One of my Top 10 all time favorite game, spent some many hours on it. Easily my favorite in the franchise.
    I wished we could have a remaster or a pure remake for this someday.

  • @noodles956
    @noodles956 5 років тому

    Thank you mandalore-chan!

  • @roberthudson5363
    @roberthudson5363 5 років тому +1

    Adding rules of nature to a video only makes it alot more awesome.

  • @vahlok1426
    @vahlok1426 5 років тому +44

    Suffering to the Conquered, brothers.

    • @SimonJ57
      @SimonJ57 5 років тому +1

      Vae Victus!

    • @Warfare316
      @Warfare316 5 років тому +1

      We are Gods. Dark Gods, and it is our duty to thin the herd.

  • @Plzpetmyrooster
    @Plzpetmyrooster 5 років тому +26

    For the longest time, I have been looking for this game. (Memory loss so the name escaped me) All I remembered was getting stabbed in the beginning of the game.
    Thanks a lot... and I cannot play it anyways haha

    • @TexasHollowEarth
      @TexasHollowEarth 5 років тому

      Run the eboot on a modded PSP or Vita to play it "on the go". Sony also has it (plus Soul Reaver 1) legitimately for download (on PS3). Just transfer it to an unmodded PSP or Vita after download.

    • @samieltheinfamous
      @samieltheinfamous 4 роки тому +1

      I still have my original copy. Most who do don't give them up.

  • @karlfranz8345
    @karlfranz8345 4 роки тому

    I appreciate the fact that you cut "Rules of Nature" juust before the "ALIVE" part. Fitting.

  • @awesreek2542
    @awesreek2542 5 років тому

    Your vids are glorious keep up the great work

  • @Lord_Deimos
    @Lord_Deimos 5 років тому +4

    LoK is one of my favorite series of all time. Playing this back in 1996 was a revelation in all regards.

  • @salokin3087
    @salokin3087 5 років тому +37

    *”Vae Victis!”*

  • @opts1112
    @opts1112 5 років тому

    Love your content, keep it up man.

  • @NourArt02
    @NourArt02 2 роки тому +2

    This was the 1st game i played on the PS1 and i immediately fell in love with it. The atmosphere was so captivating.

  • @ManaLaDeDa
    @ManaLaDeDa 5 років тому +9

    I almost broke my friggin finger clicking this video. LOVE the legacy of kaine series💖💖💖💖💖

  • @LifeWulf
    @LifeWulf 5 років тому +10

    It's funny. Despite the fact that some of my teachers in college worked on these games, I've never played one. Thanks for giving me a glimpse of what I've missed out on!

  • @egghead2048
    @egghead2048 2 роки тому +2

    a remaster of this would be banging!

  • @Foxtrot-813
    @Foxtrot-813 2 роки тому +1

    How time flies :') the game is now available on GOG.

  • @uros.u.novakovic
    @uros.u.novakovic 5 років тому +41

    I actually played this recently on Mednafen. Such a gem of a game.

    • @irrlicht321
      @irrlicht321 5 років тому +6

      Best way to play. Getting the PC version to run is... involved

    • @VandalCleaver
      @VandalCleaver 4 роки тому +3

      irrlicht321 I feel like spending countless hours getting an old 90's game to run, playing it in the dark and cracking open a cold one is the most nourishing nostalgia trip there is.
      Going to odd sites to download it, browsing forums for fixes, that's part of the experience.

  • @LukeGeoDude
    @LukeGeoDude 5 років тому +72

    "The game has problems"
    I think I see a pattern here. I think.

    • @TheGodEmperorOfMankind_
      @TheGodEmperorOfMankind_ 5 років тому +28

      To be fair, there aren't many games that have no problems

    • @TheMaxPirat
      @TheMaxPirat 5 років тому +6

      @@TheGodEmperorOfMankind_ More like not a single one.

    • @Krystalmyth
      @Krystalmyth 5 років тому +4

      Nothing is perfect™.

    • @Infinite_Jester
      @Infinite_Jester 5 років тому

      I think there are games that pull their thing off "perfectly". A lot of games nowadays fail in a sense because they try to do everything and they want to appeal to the entire market.
      Tetris, for example, knows what it is and it doesn't try to be anything that it's not. It's beautiful in its simplicity as there's no open world, no RPG-elements, no action sequences etc etc. Any improvements to the original are really minor, such as difficulty sliders and, if you're into that kind of thing, different colour schemes.

    • @KyriosHeptagrammaton
      @KyriosHeptagrammaton 4 роки тому +1

      Homm 3 is probably the most perfect game I can think of, and it's not even my favourite game.

  • @eloalaaloalo1011
    @eloalaaloalo1011 5 років тому

    I like your review and your humour as well, keep the good work bro, subbed and liked

  • @BelartWright
    @BelartWright 5 років тому +1

    This is so well timed! I wish I caught it on Halloween.

  • @spehizle
    @spehizle 5 років тому +3

    I wana buy you a beer, Mandalore. Thanks for being the best.

  • @LordSephleon
    @LordSephleon 5 років тому +8

    This is still my favorite game in the series. Amazing narration, great dark fantasy atmosphere, great spells and weapons, and, well, Kain himself as the protagonist. It really is a shame that it's the only game in the series that can't be ported anywhere, and I'm still kicking myself for losing my PS1 copy almost two decades ago somehow...

    • @ruminate5866
      @ruminate5866 Рік тому +1

      If you have a new 3ds/2ds you can play it as long as you don't mind hacking it

  • @freedantheeternal
    @freedantheeternal Рік тому +12

    The real unfortunate part of Blood Omen's ending is even the evil version doesn't really make sense on its own. It's basically just a kickoff point for the series overall, which actually is a very well-written and interesting take on the concept of fate vs. free will, the futility of truly altering the future, combined with the time travel events continuing in later games and adding entirely new context to events of earlier games, etc.
    It's a real shame that Dark Prophecy never came out and thus the story is unfinished. It looked like it was once again going all the way back to this game to add new context to past events, at the very least with a return trip to the fortress of one of this game's main villains many centuries later.

    • @codyvandal2860
      @codyvandal2860 11 місяців тому +3

      I cant help but feel like the series as a whole would have been much stronger without leaning into all the time-line shenanigans. There was plenty to work with without that

    • @InternetHydra
      @InternetHydra 8 місяців тому

      @@codyvandal2860 I have, and always will, consider time travel/timelines to be the greatest sin of writing a plot.

    • @codyvandal2860
      @codyvandal2860 8 місяців тому

      @@InternetHydra They are certainly difficult to do well. I think Interstellar and (maybe?) Terminator 2 were the only cases I can think of where it kinda worked.

  • @tzeentchanarchitect809
    @tzeentchanarchitect809 5 років тому

    Oh man, you really got my hopes up when I saw you did this video. I thought gog already made a port.
    Still love you did a review on a game from one of my favorite series.

  • @MooseCastle
    @MooseCastle 5 років тому +9

    I'd love to see you do a video on Command and Conquer: Renegade. Flawed but very memorable FPS with a great multiplayer back in the day. No idea if there's some sort of community still active for it unfortunately.

    • @LadyTylerBioRodriguez
      @LadyTylerBioRodriguez 5 років тому

      I had that game as well. Ah the memories. Honestly for a long time I thought that was just what Command and Conquer was.

    • @MandaloreGaming
      @MandaloreGaming  5 років тому +5

      You could try out Renegade X. I know that they're still active.

    • @MooseCastle
      @MooseCastle 5 років тому

      @@MandaloreGaming I haven't actually had a look but I definitely will now, thanks