"an eternity passed, and my torment receded; bringing me back from the precipice of madness. The descent had destroyed me, and yet...I lived." This game really did have great writing
"I know you, Raziel. You are worthy" has always been the line that clicked me in. Why was Raziel worthy? And then I played it SEVERAL times. He is goddamn worthy.
@@Lazrael32 both. They thinked ahead in some storylines, and some retcon was needed as plot got more complex. Also, some needed retcons were not made, so now we have some plotholes.
@@Lazrael32 I think, before SR, this wasn't the plan. By the time they rewrote the originally planned story (Shifter) into Soul Reaver, they had the twist for the entity in the blade for the sequel, but I have doubts about the deep lore about the ancients. Not sure if I have spoiled anything for the uninitiated.
it's so bizarre cuz the franchise was kinda loved by anyone that had a ps1, it just sort of died over time. other games did the same stuff better I guess
I remember my parents getting this for me on the PS1, I must have been like 8 or 9 years old or something. I finished the game, but I was scared throughout the entirety of it. The music, the environment, it created such a dark and agonizing atmosphere. The bosses were terrifying. Zephon, the boss that gives you the power to climb, scared the shit out of me. I distinctly remember how my heart was racing during the fight, and this was 17 years ago or something. This game, and the franchise as a whole, are a masterpiece. Every time someone asks me what is the best game I've played - this is it.
I spent the entire Silenced Cathedral about to poop my pants because ther Zephonim were so scary to me. They just are so clickey, and gangly, and they sit on ceilings. 0/10, would absolutely attempt to genocide again.
I feel the same way about Zephon. When I first saw him I had chills during the whole cut scene. Ohhhh and the way he sounded when he talked or screamed 😱😱
Fun fact. Soul Reaver was also THE 1st title to include interactive soundtracks that changed in real time. Meaning the music would alter, based on exactly what Raziel is doing and where he is.
I.... don't know about that. Soul Reaver came out in 1999, but LucasArts and Origin Systems (just 2 off the top of my head) had been using dynamic music systems (for example, iMuse) that changed the soundtrack based on location and circumstance in many of their games from the early to mid 90s.
Time for some NEAT and relatively unknown Trivia. The actress that voiced the former balance guardian Ariel is none other than Anna Gunn...aka Skyler White from Breaking Bad.
Michael Bell (Raziel), Tony Ja (Elder God) and Simon Templeman (Kain) have all done a lot of other work too. Rugrats, Charmed, Re-Boot, Doug. You should have a look on IMDB.
There are even more little details to this gem than Josh has mentioned here, especially regarding combat and enemies. For example, the enemies that he shows running away in the Spectral/Spirit realm. He says that, once they start running, they pose no more danger, but that was only true because Raziel had already eaten all the souls in that area. Injured Sluagh can actually consume souls themselves to restore their health. Another neat detail is that when you impale Vampiric enemies and wait long enough, the soul will actually disappear, making it harder to absorb it before retrieving your weapon. However, when the soul does disappear, you can follow it into the Spectral Realm, absorb it there and, since time in the Material Realm nearly stands still, the body will dissolve the moment you return. Yet another great thing about the game, if you want to make it easier on yourself, is how well it retains the world state. If you impale all the vampires, don't eat their souls and leave them impaled or burned, they remain dead, no matter how far you travel. You can create a peaceful world without enemies for yourself if you wish it, whereas they eventually respawn if you completely annihilate them. Also, speaking of burning them, it's a lovely touch that you can reignite torches you have used to kill vampires by holding them into campfires, making the torch one of the most effective weapons for a playthrough in which you want enemies to stay dead.
I've been following Josh for like a year now...was watching a random video about Blood Omen 2, then i thought to myself...hmm, i feel like watching a review of a game from my childhood since i'm the mood, and so i just typed Soul Reaver review and this was the first that popped :) had no idea he did a review for this...nice!
This is one of the cleanest breakdown reviews of the game I have seen! I had to share it with my viewers, so I linked your video in youtube cards for anyone interested in knowing what Soul Reaver was all about. I'm also glad you did all of this without dropping spoilers so those who haven't played the game can still pick it up to play it. This game left behind a legendary legacy in the gaming world for its storytelling and cinematic narration. I'm glad there are still people like you out there who can appreciate it. Great video!
I loved this game so much.. and yes I would get lost a lot.. I loved the Human City.. and yeah not killing them is the way to go.. not only do they drop to their kneels and worship you.. you can feed on their soul while they are doing that.. becareful not to kill them or they will all turn on you. I wish they would either Reboot or continue this.. hell even make it a Anime like the Castlvaina.. I think a full reboot would be better.. retell the story of Kain from the beginning.. its a ashame that voice actor for the elder god died.. I loved his voice.. its was deep dark and creepy.. perfect for this game
@@wesleydebose2492 Agreed! To me, it's the best voice cast that I've ever come across in video games (uncharted is close), and hearing new actors after so long would be a bit jarring. If the atmosphere could be recreated in a remaster with the original audio, though... can't express how happy I'd be😄
As much as I like the story, I think the author wrote herself into a corner. The elder god is a good villain, but the hyldan make no sense. And raziel being the soul reaver is a bit non-sensical. I would like a "prime" timeline game where Raziel gets stuck in the reaver for the first time.
i was obsessed with that game! it formed part of my personality. it was my first complex story experience in my life. It taught me that life is more than just the sum of its parts.
Soul Reaver was and is one of my favorite ever games and still holds up as one of the best narrative games I've ever played. I really hope you go on to go Soul Reaver 2 and LoK Defiance, as that completes the incredible story and dichotomy of Raziel and Kain
"KAIN IS DEIFIED"!! One part of this phenomenal game I will never forget is that after you complete it, you unlock some behind the scenes videos. The one that stands out in my memory is where the wo voice actors of Raziel & Kain (Bell and Templeman respectively) in the recording studio, delivering the lines to each other. It sounds fairly pedestrian, but after such an epic game, and having got to know their voices so intimately, it completely captivating to watch. It lit a real fire in me, kindling a desire to do voice over work (which I have been fortunate enough to do some of). An utterly wonderful game, I would kill for a modern remake!
Glad to see that more people give this game some love in 2020! It's high time that we see a true reboot! The fact that they could bring old and new fans just boggles me that they haven't done anything with this series. They are literally sitting on gold as long as they stay true to the game's essence
the games ip is split between 3 company's 1 know shut down is CD i think another copyright holders ended up folding too so the ip its self is in a state of limbo sadly i don't think we will get a full remaster sadly.
@@michaelj4669 1st Company that did Blood Omen, was Silicon Knights & Crystal Dynamics, while SK did like 70% of the game, CD worked on the rest and the distribution. issues arose between the 2 companies, and its CD that ended up winning in court, even tho Blood Omen to this day is still property of SK. Soul reaver and the following games where all made Under Crystal Dynamics. Crystal dynamics where then bought by Square enix in 2009. Wich gave the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex IP's to Squenix, AND the LoK IP. While they did a pretty darn succesfull revival of the Tomb Raider IP with the last 2 games and same for Deus Ex(even tho Human revolutions din't do as great as the 1st one), they had no idea how to handle the LoK IP. They did start a new game, called Dark Sun, wch would happen in the years after Kain and Raziel dissapeared in the flow of time, and thus would happen in the Post-Apocalyptic era of Nosgoth, so with new characters. And they gave the responsability of the Multiplayer Coop segment of the game to a different studio. Dark Sun was finaly canned( but not before Squenix din't tell the studio developping the game for WEEKS, where they continued working on it) and they kept the developpement of the Coop segement going and Called it Nosgoth and made it stand alone... Why not foing the other way around?, Can the Coop and keep the Solo game? Cause it was right at the moment where games as an online "service" was booming and was seen as more profitable than the ressurection of a 10 years old dead franchise... And thats how we ended up where we are now... Where the community of fans( wich is by no means small and are VERY dedicated) is in a state of half resigned to the fact that there will never be a new installement of the Series, and expecting each year at a CON or E3 that Squenix makes some kinda announcement for LoK, the first years it was a new game) and then it simply shifted to the hope for remakes or remasters... We still waiting...
@@Mugthraka I'm kind of glad that they axed dark sun. From what I saw and read of it it had the same thing going as Shadow of Mordor with the human protag in a symbiotic relationship with a wraith. I also remember the dialogue in the gameplay trailer they released as being less of a Gothic stage-play and more the sort of thing you'd find on tv in the mid 2010s. What I want from a LoK game on the other hand is more of what we see in Soul Reaver 1&2, the latter of which has some of the best combat I've played in a video game, and Defiance.
Man I still remember playing it back when it came out, those ghouls in the spirit realm scared the shit out of me back then. Also the cinematic where he shows his wings to Kain ? Still one of the best gaming cinematics made, for me personally. "The hope for future generations has always resided in mortal hands. And now that my task is done, I will take my place... amongst the legends of the past." Amazing franchise start to finish, too bad they chose Nosgoth over actually continuing the franchise. I did like Nosgoth, very unique for a competitive PvP game but it failed and so did the hope of a new instalment for the Single Player.
This remains one of my favorite early generation games of all time right there in my heart with Final Fantasy 6 and 7, Medievil, and Parasite Eve. I loved Soul Reaver a great deal was a fun LP to watch and see thru your eyes and get your thoughts. Much Thanks :)
As a much older gamer it brought me immense joy to show this game to someone 15 years younger than me and have them fall in love with it. It still holds up so well in the modern age of gaming, I miss games that have this much heart and love poured into them. Not saying there isn't games like that nowadays, there are just few and fair between. Quick story on this game, I rented in on a whim from Blockbuster, then kept re-renting because I was stuck in the very beginning of the game, but I was so frustrated with it that I just had to beat it. So after renting it four times in a row, I decided to just outright buy it, and boy am I glad that I did. This has long been one of my most favorite games of all times, and it brought me joy to hear all the glowing and gushing from Josh about it. Validated to an epic degree! Cheers!
"It's such a shame it's not still being made." Not me! The temporary nature of everything isn't a problem. Something isn't better just because it lasts longer, and it lasted quite a long while regardless. If it were still around today, it would be quite different--and in my opinion, far worse, considering how the industry (and the expectations of consumers) has developed. I'm grateful it existed when it did because those conditions made it possible. Also, great review! ;)
I still think a new Soul Reaver would do great. Games like Breath of the Wild show that there is still interest in making full, big, beautiful games with interconnected systems and awesome atmosphere. It's true that 70% of the Publishers and Devs only see the big Buck, but that's not the case for every dev/publisher. I'd cry of joy hearing that they are working on a title.
Two things that were missed... 1) 1:20 Kain didn't break your wings. He literally ripped the bones out of them. You can see him holding on to them afterwards in the full cutscene. 2) 5:20 Not only do the humans drop to their knees and worship you, they will also willingly allow you to regain your health from them, providing you don't over-feed and kill them.
This was always one of my favorite games of the time. This, the second one, Tomb Raider, Medievil. All classic games that brought a lot of fun to a younger me.
I love how both Josh and SuperButterBuns have the same sentiment regarding graphics. They both look at aesthetics rather than realism, and I think aesthetics is much more important than realism.
The voice acting of ALL LoK games stuck with me as exceptional from childhood right through to adulthood. At the time, it felt like I was literally playing a AAA movie series.
One of my all time favourite games and game series. LOVE it so much. It's hard for them to make more games in this universe after Legacy of Kain: Defiance. I assume you've played it of course, it was brilliant and kind of heart wrenching. I wish for more games like these, with their soul and art. Anyone who doesn't at least know the story of this series universe is reallllly missing out. Wish you did more retro reviews.
I LOVED the LoK games growing up. I was surprised to learn Amy Hennig also directed the Uncharted games...that's some real talent right there and I would *love* to see more games in the series or a remake.
My brother played this when I was a child, and it terrified me and stained my memory even though I never played through it ever. This game has always stuck with me like a feverish nightmare, a world I was not ready to explore nor understand at the time, and yet, my brain keeps sending me glimpses of visuals, sounds and ambiance. So glad to see this video as an adult now, as I can understand why it remains alive in my mind, some of my dreams still have this moody, lonely feeling.
I remember playing tomb raider on my ps1 and it having a trailer or something from this game soul reaver and when I seen the character pike someone i was so terrified 😂 now as a grown man I’ve ordered my ps1 copy to see what the fuss was about in 98
Enjoy the ride, but you should get SR2 and defiance because if you didn't already know, SR1 hasn't a proper end, it just end on a cliffhanger with a glourious "to be continued". Infuriating, I remember losing my shit when I first finished the game back in the days.
And??? How was it? Did it live up to the hype, or did the old game stuff turn you off? Sometimes I just can't go back to old games, but I've never had a problem going back to Soul Reaver.
As a long time fan of the series it warms my heart to see you review Soul Reaver. Hopefully someone passionate and skilled enough will give us a sequel and final chapter at some point.
God the OG “Was it any good?” Been loving the channel for a while now and finally digging into your further back stuff because I’ve rewatched almost all of the “Worst MMO Ever” content at least a couple times per video now
The voice of the Elder God was also the voice of the narrator in Skeleton Warriors, as well as even starring in a few Twin Peaks episodes! If you look through his work, he turns up in all sorts of unexpected places!
"No one is eagerly awaiting another Soul Reaver sequel..." Get bent mate! I mean that jokingly of course, but I've been waiting since the ending cinematic of Defiance and I TO THIS DAY am obsessed with the series. There's just nothing else like it, and I think as your comments have evidenced, it has a very staunch cult following of people like you and I who greatly appreciate this game and series. Thanks for bringing it back into the limelight, if only for a moment. Maybe one day we'll get another incredible installment, but as the years go by...I'm less than hopeful.
Soul Reaver was and in many ways still is, an amazing game. I remember being very excited about playing it. I wasn’t disappointed by anything and I don’t remember having any major issues during game play. Then again, in those days I wasn’t keen to examine the games I was playing lol. Thank you for the nostalgia. Stay safe. ❤️
Excellent Review. I played this in my early 20ies : loved it. I still compare newer games of that genre to this one. A master piece for its time that still holds up!
I loved this game so much that over 20 years later i still listen to the soundtrack. Mostly the necropolis though. Its always comforting to listen to this while working
I had only played the demo of this game back in the day. I found the controls hard to understand but the phasing between dimensions was such a vivid memory. Soooooo cool.
I remember playing this on pc when I was a kid. Would genuinely love a 1:1 remake like how the Demon Souls game got that treatment. Don’t change too much if anything at all.
I loved the voice acting in this, and of course the story. I always wanted just 1 more game to see where this story would end up after Defiance. It just ended with so many questions I had and wanted answered. Sucks. Shout out the to the voice actor of The Elder God. My favorite.
So I just completed the game for the first time ever, managing to get a GOG version of it run on my PC. I remember only trying out a demo version and small parts of the beginning of it back in the PS1 era but never fully completing it. These are my thoughts. I too really like the dimension shifting mechanic to the game. You don't see much of that in games, even nowadays. The combat works, but I felt that you could pretty much win any fight with ease so the combat portions get a bit repetitive. Also the glyph-magic all seemed kind of samey (every glyph magic attack was basically a 360 shockwave, either outright killing all enemies, stunning or weakening them to the point where you could take them out with ease). Wouldn't have hurt if the different glyphs unlocked, gave you some more unique attacks or effects rather than all of them being 360 radius blasts. Most of the glyph magic attacks also felt a bit redundant to me since all the combat in the game was so easy. Especially when you got the soul reaver and unlocked the fire reaver, since fire reaver projectile attacks would annihilate any enemy in the game from afar without any cost. Based on the lore of the game, i'm not too sure the puzzle platformer gameplay style was the choice I'd make. Raziel ends up becoming a wraith. A ghostly figure. A ghost in his shoes would be like an "infiltrator" sort of character in my view. So I think I would've prefered a game where Raziel relied more on stealth and sneaking (especially by shifting into the spirit realm in order to bypass enemy sentries in the material realm) rather than open combat and moving square cubes to solve puzzles to progress. Maybe gameplay similar to Tenchu Stealth Assassins, Hitman, Thief: The Dark project or Metal Gear Solid would've suited Raziels design and mechanics a little better. It would also have imparted some more vulnerability to Raziel, which i felt was lacking since it's very easy to dominate any combat, and you can't really "die" in the game either. I'm trying to make comparisons to games released in roughly the same time period here, instead of comparing it to modern games since it wouldn't be fair due to the technical limitations. In any case, even though I disagree with some design choices in the game, and I get the feeling that the devs were trying to implement a lot of ideas at once, which made some ideas mature while other ended up a little undeveloped (the glyph spells and such), I could definitely see why Soul Reaver has such a fanbase. It was a very ambitious game and must've been quite a transition too from the kind of game that Blood Omen was (moving from 2D to 3D and get such good results is a mean feat). And once again I really like the dimensional shift mechanic and how you had to utilize the different realms own internal logic and laws of physics to progress in the game. Very solid game, great music and voice acting and a reminder of an age in the gaming industry where people genuinely tried coming up with new ideas rather than just copy/pasting everything that some corporate exec tell the developers is "in vouge" at the time.
Oh boy this game has one of the best plots EVER. I remember being scared to the bone while on my first playthrough during my early teens. The voice acting is phenomenal and Ozar Midrashim is such a HYPE soundtrack.
Brilliant action/adventure game that got me into the whole genre. Excellent story, voice acting, music and the ability to slide between the real and spirit worlds was very well done. Throughly enjoyable character arc to experience for Razael as he grows in stature as the story progresses and learns more about how the world has changed during the 500 years since his death. Top notch.
This was a fantastic game when it was released. As Josh says, it could really need a map, though. That was my only issue with it, I was often completely lost. Great video, thank you :)
Soul Reaver and Soul Reaver 2 are among my favourite games of all time (Defiance was also good, but not as good). I've long since lost count of how many times I've replayed them over the years (been a long time since last time now though. I might be done with them for good really). The story and the voice acting in these 2 as a whole are still the best I've ever come across in videogames. Outside of that, the amazing dark atmosphere in the first game is really something. Combat isn't complex, but was still fun at the time, especially in 2. I don't know why games these days can't have stellar voice acting and incredible and complex stories like these two did. Anyway, I've always really wanted a remake, at least of the first game, since it's so old now, but I've long since given up on hoping for one.
Hard Agree. I got such huge chills of creeping nostalgia watching your vid. I played every game in the Kain series. Truly breath taking scenery, set pieces, and acting. It will always have a place in my heart.
This game and the series in general are one of the most underrated and under appreciated in video game history. The whole thing was a goddamned movie, the movement and puzzles surpassed what Tomb Raider had to offer with flying colors, the atmosphere was ridiculously solid for a 32 bit system game and the music… Jesus Christ the music. There are few video game themes as iconic as this OST.
I'm looking forward to it- the next in the series that will never come, that is. You should definitely go give the original Blood Omen a go. It's very deep, you can see the preceding systems we love in soul reaver, with a few interesting twists being that you're actually in Caine's past seeing what Caine did to get to Soul Reaver status.
This game was so ahead of it's time and it NEEDS a remaster and update. The draw distance is so short because this was one of the first games, if not the first, game to load in scenery in front and unload scenery behind you as you move in order to reduce load times. This is how almost all games work now, the only part the game really loads is basically what you are looking at. This game was a pioneer. Before this the entire level in it's entirety needed to be loaded in which took time. I remember being in awe at how short the load times were for the time.
This was the first memorable game i played on pc. the story and story telling are still the best i've ever seen in any video game... could be nostalgia tho ^^ As a side note, i think i finished this game 10+ times and i didn't know about the morality code XD. Also the fire reaver... setting the enemies on fire as a finisher and if lost, imbuing the reaver from any fire source... don't think small fires like torches worked but still
I can't believe I'm seeing this now. I was watching your new"ish" channel "Josh Strife Plays" and made a comment saying you should do one about soul reaver. Lo and behold, you already did. Fantastic.
When this vid came up on my feed I thought “oh great, JSH is gonna rip on one of my favorite games of all times.” Obviously I was way off. I was never able to put my finger on exactly what made this game so epic all those years ago, but this video certainly breaks it down brilliantly. As for the map… come on Josh, it’s 1999 man! Get out that pen and paper and draw that sucker out inch by inch like we used have to lol… that was like part of the challenge/fun in those days! Because Puzzle? 🤔😜
One of the legendary games PSX produced, i played troghout the whole series without even understanding english, i love the gameplay and style off the game, the game is just so underrated... Thanks for the amazing video!
8:42 speaking of walkthroughs it's written in the style of raziels diary where he tells the adventure from his perspective ... at least im the german version i don't know about other languages
Loved this and the others in the series back in the day. Feels like a mash up of Zelda and classic Tomb Raider. I also loved those games too unsurprisingly.
I love the graphics. Especially the choice of lighting and colors to enrich and enhance the atmosphere. What it lacks in details and polygon count it makes up for in overall art Direction.
There was a lot of hype for this game. One interesting note: a demo for Soul Reaver came packaged with a game called Unholy War. Many people bought the game (release at only $20) specifically for the demo of SR. Unholy War was surprisingly fun and may be one of the best combo-purchases I've ever made.
I would gladly pay big bucks to get my hands on a remaster of the original like they did with Tomb Raider Anniversary on Xbone. I played this on the PS1 back in the day as a young teen and it blew my freaking gourd! It felt a lot like Tomb Raider (which I love) but with a much more complex story. The nostalgia hit I got watching this video was awesome, thank you. I wish I had a computer so I could run the emulator and relive some good memories. Good times.
I hope you go back and revisit this on Josh Strife Plays. Give it the full treatment and walkthrough. Legacy of Kain games always were my favorite and inspired me to write
A game I originally bought just because an advertisement was so cool. I was absolutely mesmerized by the sheer scope of the game, the acting and the amazing soundtrack. Later games didn't affect me nearly as much as the first soul reaver. I played it so much I memorized most of the lines in the game. I doesn't get nearly as much credit as it deserves.
I really enjoyed you Soul Reaver vid!!! The Legacy of Kain series is one of the most UNDERRATED games in history that deserves so much more with it's story telling, gameplay and lore!!! Too bad the unfinished Legacy of Kain: Dark Prophesy was cancelled during development that was supposed to touch on Kain time traveling to find a way to bring real balance back to Nosgoth, to finally wrap up the series............sadly, we ended up with a lame online multiplayer game that has assets but no real story........................................................................................................RIP Tony Jay!!!
I poved these games so much...the mechanics were something else, playability is great, it is tomb raider and some jump'n'run etc. It was gorgeous and yet many of my gaming friends dont even know it existed. I think this is underrated and I would love a new world with its lore.
LoK fell victim to a copyright black hole...more than one company holds the rights to the ip (at least one of which no longer exists). The saddest consequence of this is that the ending to defiance was open ended, and we'll never know the end of this fabulous story.
Michael Bell was also The Fear in Metal Gear Solid 3, while Simon Templeman was also in Old Charmed as Death and a Necromancer ghost in Angel! They are both very distinct and I enjoy their work, they're always fun to watch! Although, it's "Legacy of Kain: Defiance" and, given how that ended and I can't believe I'm even saying this again, but another game here would be Blood Omen 3, not Soul Reaver 3! Although, there was supposed to be another Legacy of Kain at one point!
This video made me realize I should replay it sometime. Last time I played it was when it was new and I just remember a lot of box pushing. As a kid I just didn't realize how much depth this game had to it. Just yesterday I was talking to a friend about how this game deserves a remaster in the style of Shadowman and Turok 1 and 2.
LoK was and is still a game I love and hold dearly. I've played both the ps1 and PC Version back in the days. It really scared me back then, and now It makes me feel sad, that most games dont get the same love from their developers as LoK did back then..
Legacy of Kain has some of the best writing I've had the pleasure of enjoying in my time gaming, it makes the somewhat painful gameplay worth playing in Soul Reaver 1 and 2. I really wish they'd get respectful remaster that touches up gameplay and fully realizes the many elements that had to be cut due to time constraints and title ownership fighting.
I loved every minute of this game. And back in 1999 the graphics and gameplay were amazing. I would 100% buy a remastered version of this game if they made one. Such a classic.
this was a wonderful game! i still have it, and a PS1. and i can indeed confirm! games are almost never ever made with this level of passion and competance!
I loved the hell out of this game. So much so that it is partly the inspiration for my online handle (the other funny enough another Zelda like title on the PS1) I remember just running around exploring everything, getting lost, actually learning the layout of the land based of differing landmarks/ room design and loving it all. The style is one that is so often done so cheesy it's near impossible to take seriously and this game nailed all the good aspects of the genre. I would love an HDR that just updated the graphics while keeping the style and added an in-game map ;D
Damn... why do all the good "Legacy of Kain" related youtubers have no recognition?
Loved it, you really honor this legacy.
....of Kain?
@@alexreilly6121 ehm yes?... it's a legacy: the Legacy of Kain
They are as underrated as the game itself
Luckily. This didn't age well.
Josh getting recognition now!
"an eternity passed, and my torment receded; bringing me back from the precipice of madness. The descent had destroyed me, and yet...I lived."
This game really did have great writing
"I know you, Raziel. You are worthy" has always been the line that clicked me in. Why was Raziel worthy? And then I played it SEVERAL times. He is goddamn worthy.
“Kain kills him over jealousy” oh boy if our little minds could only comprehend the full magnitude of this story at that point.
Oh yes... the "throw - a better throw - against one's destiny"
yeah right?
But I guess he just avoided spoilers and said what the scene tells us.
I've always wondered if they really had everything planned, or if thet were just really good at retconning events into a grander story.
@@Lazrael32 both. They thinked ahead in some storylines, and some retcon was needed as plot got more complex. Also, some needed retcons were not made, so now we have some plotholes.
@@Lazrael32 I think, before SR, this wasn't the plan. By the time they rewrote the originally planned story (Shifter) into Soul Reaver, they had the twist for the entity in the blade for the sequel, but I have doubts about the deep lore about the ancients. Not sure if I have spoiled anything for the uninitiated.
Legacy of Kain = most underrated series of all time.
Forever time ?
Tbh, it's one of the most beloved game series of the majority of gamers I've spoken to in the past. Not really sure I'd call it underrated lol
Why do I see these comments in YT comment sections?
Calling "underrated" game that was really popular and influential 15+ years ago feels weird...
Tenchu is definitely a contender.
it's so bizarre cuz the franchise was kinda loved by anyone that had a ps1, it just sort of died over time. other games did the same stuff better I guess
I remember my parents getting this for me on the PS1, I must have been like 8 or 9 years old or something. I finished the game, but I was scared throughout the entirety of it. The music, the environment, it created such a dark and agonizing atmosphere. The bosses were terrifying. Zephon, the boss that gives you the power to climb, scared the shit out of me. I distinctly remember how my heart was racing during the fight, and this was 17 years ago or something.
This game, and the franchise as a whole, are a masterpiece. Every time someone asks me what is the best game I've played - this is it.
I spent the entire Silenced Cathedral about to poop my pants because ther Zephonim were so scary to me. They just are so clickey, and gangly, and they sit on ceilings. 0/10, would absolutely attempt to genocide again.
Yeah bro same. This freaked me out so much as a kid but freakin loved every minute of it.
I feel the same way about Zephon. When I first saw him I had chills during the whole cut scene. Ohhhh and the way he sounded when he talked or screamed 😱😱
I bout pissed my pants a couple times when i was a kid. I was so hyped up for nosgoth too, then utterly let down D:
Fun fact. Soul Reaver was also THE 1st title to include interactive soundtracks that changed in real time. Meaning the music would alter, based on exactly what Raziel is doing and where he is.
interesting!
I.... don't know about that. Soul Reaver came out in 1999, but LucasArts and Origin Systems (just 2 off the top of my head) had been using dynamic music systems (for example, iMuse) that changed the soundtrack based on location and circumstance in many of their games from the early to mid 90s.
System Shock 1 assembled unique music based on a tonne of evolving factors in 1994
No it wasn't
"Kain killed me once behold the result. I have no mortal fear for you"
Time for some NEAT and relatively unknown Trivia.
The actress that voiced the former balance guardian Ariel is none other than Anna Gunn...aka Skyler White from Breaking Bad.
Wow
Michael Bell (Raziel), Tony Ja (Elder God) and Simon Templeman (Kain) have all done a lot of other work too. Rugrats, Charmed, Re-Boot, Doug. You should have a look on IMDB.
Anna Gunn as Skyler White is good and stuff. But no one recognizing that Tony Jay was Shere Khan in Talespin? That's criminal that is.
Kurt Harland /Information Society did the music for the soundtrack
That... feels strangely fitting.
There are even more little details to this gem than Josh has mentioned here, especially regarding combat and enemies.
For example, the enemies that he shows running away in the Spectral/Spirit realm. He says that, once they start running, they pose no more danger, but that was only true because Raziel had already eaten all the souls in that area. Injured Sluagh can actually consume souls themselves to restore their health.
Another neat detail is that when you impale Vampiric enemies and wait long enough, the soul will actually disappear, making it harder to absorb it before retrieving your weapon. However, when the soul does disappear, you can follow it into the Spectral Realm, absorb it there and, since time in the Material Realm nearly stands still, the body will dissolve the moment you return.
Yet another great thing about the game, if you want to make it easier on yourself, is how well it retains the world state. If you impale all the vampires, don't eat their souls and leave them impaled or burned, they remain dead, no matter how far you travel. You can create a peaceful world without enemies for yourself if you wish it, whereas they eventually respawn if you completely annihilate them. Also, speaking of burning them, it's a lovely touch that you can reignite torches you have used to kill vampires by holding them into campfires, making the torch one of the most effective weapons for a playthrough in which you want enemies to stay dead.
I've been following Josh for like a year now...was watching a random video about Blood Omen 2, then i thought to myself...hmm, i feel like watching a review of a game from my childhood since i'm the mood, and so i just typed Soul Reaver review and this was the first that popped :) had no idea he did a review for this...nice!
One of the best game i ever played!
I had a great time replaying this to make this video.
Yeah, this and Deus Ex are my favorites.
I agree one of the best ps1 games I ever played.
@@JoshStrifeHayes "No one is awaiting another installment of this series" 19:50
I am still waiting, after 18 years and I will continue to do so.
This is one of the cleanest breakdown reviews of the game I have seen! I had to share it with my viewers, so I linked your video in youtube cards for anyone interested in knowing what Soul Reaver was all about. I'm also glad you did all of this without dropping spoilers so those who haven't played the game can still pick it up to play it. This game left behind a legendary legacy in the gaming world for its storytelling and cinematic narration. I'm glad there are still people like you out there who can appreciate it. Great video!
I loved this game so much.. and yes I would get lost a lot.. I loved the Human City.. and yeah not killing them is the way to go.. not only do they drop to their kneels and worship you.. you can feed on their soul while they are doing that.. becareful not to kill them or they will all turn on you.
I wish they would either Reboot or continue this.. hell even make it a Anime like the Castlvaina..
I think a full reboot would be better.. retell the story of Kain from the beginning.. its a ashame that voice actor for the elder god died.. I loved his voice.. its was deep dark and creepy.. perfect for this game
I am all for a reboot of this series... as for the voice acting..... I say re-use it XD nothing wrong with it after all :D
@@wesleydebose2492 Agreed! To me, it's the best voice cast that I've ever come across in video games (uncharted is close), and hearing new actors after so long would be a bit jarring. If the atmosphere could be recreated in a remaster with the original audio, though... can't express how happy I'd be😄
As much as I like the story, I think the author wrote herself into a corner.
The elder god is a good villain, but the hyldan make no sense.
And raziel being the soul reaver is a bit non-sensical. I would like a "prime" timeline game where Raziel gets stuck in the reaver for the first time.
i was obsessed with that game! it formed part of my personality. it was my first complex story experience in my life. It taught me that life is more than just the sum of its parts.
*Sum. Sum of its parts.
I really liked hearing Simon Templeman as the VA of the final boss of Darksiders 2 which is a game that reminds me tons of the Soul Reaver series.
damn we need more gothic dark fantasy games these days.
Soul Reaver was and is one of my favorite ever games and still holds up as one of the best narrative games I've ever played. I really hope you go on to go Soul Reaver 2 and LoK Defiance, as that completes the incredible story and dichotomy of Raziel and Kain
Did you forget they left defiance on a cliffhanger?
It's set up for at least 1 more game after
"KAIN IS DEIFIED"!!
One part of this phenomenal game I will never forget is that after you complete it, you unlock some behind the scenes videos. The one that stands out in my memory is where the wo voice actors of Raziel & Kain (Bell and Templeman respectively) in the recording studio, delivering the lines to each other. It sounds fairly pedestrian, but after such an epic game, and having got to know their voices so intimately, it completely captivating to watch. It lit a real fire in me, kindling a desire to do voice over work (which I have been fortunate enough to do some of). An utterly wonderful game, I would kill for a modern remake!
I loved how throughout the entire LOK series either as Kain or Raziel your health constantly depleted. Reminding you that this about your survival.
Glad to see that more people give this game some love in 2020! It's high time that we see a true reboot! The fact that they could bring old and new fans just boggles me that they haven't done anything with this series. They are literally sitting on gold as long as they stay true to the game's essence
the games ip is split between 3 company's 1 know shut down is CD i think another copyright holders ended up folding too so the ip its self is in a state of limbo sadly i don't think we will get a full remaster sadly.
@@michaelj4669 1st Company that did Blood Omen, was Silicon Knights & Crystal Dynamics, while SK did like 70% of the game, CD worked on the rest and the distribution.
issues arose between the 2 companies, and its CD that ended up winning in court, even tho Blood Omen to this day is still property of SK.
Soul reaver and the following games where all made Under Crystal Dynamics.
Crystal dynamics where then bought by Square enix in 2009.
Wich gave the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex IP's to Squenix, AND the LoK IP.
While they did a pretty darn succesfull revival of the Tomb Raider IP with the last 2 games and same for Deus Ex(even tho Human revolutions din't do as great as the 1st one), they had no idea how to handle the LoK IP.
They did start a new game, called Dark Sun, wch would happen in the years after Kain and Raziel dissapeared in the flow of time, and thus would happen in the Post-Apocalyptic era of Nosgoth, so with new characters.
And they gave the responsability of the Multiplayer Coop segment of the game to a different studio.
Dark Sun was finaly canned( but not before Squenix din't tell the studio developping the game for WEEKS, where they continued working on it) and they kept the developpement of the Coop segement going and Called it Nosgoth and made it stand alone...
Why not foing the other way around?, Can the Coop and keep the Solo game?
Cause it was right at the moment where games as an online "service" was booming and was seen as more profitable than the ressurection of a 10 years old dead franchise...
And thats how we ended up where we are now...
Where the community of fans( wich is by no means small and are VERY dedicated) is in a state of half resigned to the fact that there will never be a new installement of the Series, and expecting each year at a CON or E3 that Squenix makes some kinda announcement for LoK, the first years it was a new game) and then it simply shifted to the hope for remakes or remasters...
We still waiting...
@@Mugthraka
I'm kind of glad that they axed dark sun.
From what I saw and read of it it had the same thing going as Shadow of Mordor with the human protag in a symbiotic relationship with a wraith.
I also remember the dialogue in the gameplay trailer they released as being less of a Gothic stage-play and more the sort of thing you'd find on tv in the mid 2010s.
What I want from a LoK game on the other hand is more of what we see in Soul Reaver 1&2, the latter of which has some of the best combat I've played in a video game, and Defiance.
I cannot believe this video only has 57k views. What a masterpiece of a game and what a good video. Thank you for this!
Man I still remember playing it back when it came out, those ghouls in the spirit realm scared the shit out of me back then.
Also the cinematic where he shows his wings to Kain ? Still one of the best gaming cinematics made, for me personally.
"The hope for future generations has always resided in mortal hands. And now that my task is done, I will take my place... amongst the legends of the past."
Amazing franchise start to finish, too bad they chose Nosgoth over actually continuing the franchise. I did like Nosgoth, very unique for a competitive PvP game but it failed and so did the hope of a new instalment for the Single Player.
This remains one of my favorite early generation games of all time right there in my heart with Final Fantasy 6 and 7, Medievil, and Parasite Eve. I loved Soul Reaver a great deal was a fun LP to watch and see thru your eyes and get your thoughts. Much Thanks :)
Don't Forget Dino Crisis and Fear Effect 1 and 2, Metal Gear.... ;)
As a much older gamer it brought me immense joy to show this game to someone 15 years younger than me and have them fall in love with it. It still holds up so well in the modern age of gaming, I miss games that have this much heart and love poured into them. Not saying there isn't games like that nowadays, there are just few and fair between. Quick story on this game, I rented in on a whim from Blockbuster, then kept re-renting because I was stuck in the very beginning of the game, but I was so frustrated with it that I just had to beat it. So after renting it four times in a row, I decided to just outright buy it, and boy am I glad that I did. This has long been one of my most favorite games of all times, and it brought me joy to hear all the glowing and gushing from Josh about it. Validated to an epic degree! Cheers!
This was "the" game i spent countless hours on in my childhood. thanks josh this was heart warming
"It's such a shame it's not still being made." Not me! The temporary nature of everything isn't a problem. Something isn't better just because it lasts longer, and it lasted quite a long while regardless. If it were still around today, it would be quite different--and in my opinion, far worse, considering how the industry (and the expectations of consumers) has developed. I'm grateful it existed when it did because those conditions made it possible. Also, great review! ;)
I still think a new Soul Reaver would do great.
Games like Breath of the Wild show that there is still interest in making full, big, beautiful games with interconnected systems and awesome atmosphere.
It's true that 70% of the Publishers and Devs only see the big Buck, but that's not the case for every dev/publisher.
I'd cry of joy hearing that they are working on a title.
Two things that were missed...
1) 1:20 Kain didn't break your wings. He literally ripped the bones out of them. You can see him holding on to them afterwards in the full cutscene.
2) 5:20 Not only do the humans drop to their knees and worship you, they will also willingly allow you to regain your health from them, providing you don't over-feed and kill them.
This was always one of my favorite games of the time. This, the second one, Tomb Raider, Medievil. All classic games that brought a lot of fun to a younger me.
I love how both Josh and SuperButterBuns have the same sentiment regarding graphics. They both look at aesthetics rather than realism, and I think aesthetics is much more important than realism.
The voice acting of ALL LoK games stuck with me as exceptional from childhood right through to adulthood.
At the time, it felt like I was literally playing a AAA movie series.
One of my all time favourite games and game series. LOVE it so much. It's hard for them to make more games in this universe after Legacy of Kain: Defiance. I assume you've played it of course, it was brilliant and kind of heart wrenching. I wish for more games like these, with their soul and art. Anyone who doesn't at least know the story of this series universe is reallllly missing out. Wish you did more retro reviews.
So many fond memories of this game. I remember holding a tape recorder to the TV and capturing all the games music so I could listen to it anywhere.
This game really does immersion very well. I really love how you earn the powers instead of automatically gaining them.
I think most people would be surprised how well received a soul reveaer revival would be.
1 - the narration is so good on this channel.
2 - I’m amazed how many good PS1 games I totally ignored at the time.
I LOVED the LoK games growing up. I was surprised to learn Amy Hennig also directed the Uncharted games...that's some real talent right there and I would *love* to see more games in the series or a remake.
PLZ STOP the NOSTALGIA HITS SO HARD WITH THESE!!! (thanks for the awesome videos!)
8:34 ... if It's too cryptic, you can also head to the pillars of Nosgoth -Kane's Throne Room- and ask Heisenberg's wife for advice too
My brother played this when I was a child, and it terrified me and stained my memory even though I never played through it ever. This game has always stuck with me like a feverish nightmare, a world I was not ready to explore nor understand at the time, and yet, my brain keeps sending me glimpses of visuals, sounds and ambiance. So glad to see this video as an adult now, as I can understand why it remains alive in my mind, some of my dreams still have this moody, lonely feeling.
I remember playing tomb raider on my ps1 and it having a trailer or something from this game soul reaver and when I seen the character pike someone i was so terrified 😂 now as a grown man I’ve ordered my ps1 copy to see what the fuss was about in 98
Enjoy the ride, but you should get SR2 and defiance because if you didn't already know, SR1 hasn't a proper end, it just end on a cliffhanger with a glourious "to be continued". Infuriating, I remember losing my shit when I first finished the game back in the days.
And??? How was it? Did it live up to the hype, or did the old game stuff turn you off? Sometimes I just can't go back to old games, but I've never had a problem going back to Soul Reaver.
As a long time fan of the series it warms my heart to see you review Soul Reaver. Hopefully someone passionate and skilled enough will give us a sequel and final chapter at some point.
Its cool to be watching this in the current times and see how far you've come joshy boy, great work keep it up dude 👍
God the OG “Was it any good?” Been loving the channel for a while now and finally digging into your further back stuff because I’ve rewatched almost all of the “Worst MMO Ever” content at least a couple times per video now
I've been playing this recently, it's so damn good
The voice of the Elder God was also the voice of the narrator in Skeleton Warriors, as well as even starring in a few Twin Peaks episodes! If you look through his work, he turns up in all sorts of unexpected places!
"No one is eagerly awaiting another Soul Reaver sequel..." Get bent mate! I mean that jokingly of course, but I've been waiting since the ending cinematic of Defiance and I TO THIS DAY am obsessed with the series. There's just nothing else like it, and I think as your comments have evidenced, it has a very staunch cult following of people like you and I who greatly appreciate this game and series. Thanks for bringing it back into the limelight, if only for a moment. Maybe one day we'll get another incredible installment, but as the years go by...I'm less than hopeful.
If you've played the series, Kain's face at 1:23 says so much more than when you first watched the intro of SR1
They did so much with Kain's character that they changed the emotion players read on his face differently after they know the full story. Fucking art.
Soul Reaver was and in many ways still is, an amazing game. I remember being very excited about playing it. I wasn’t disappointed by anything and I don’t remember having any major issues during game play. Then again, in those days I wasn’t keen to examine the games I was playing lol. Thank you for the nostalgia. Stay safe. ❤️
Excellent Review. I played this in my early 20ies : loved it. I still compare newer games of that genre to this one. A master piece for its time that still holds up!
I loved this game so much that over 20 years later i still listen to the soundtrack. Mostly the necropolis though. Its always comforting to listen to this while working
I had only played the demo of this game back in the day. I found the controls hard to understand but the phasing between dimensions was such a vivid memory. Soooooo cool.
I remember playing this on pc when I was a kid. Would genuinely love a 1:1 remake like how the Demon Souls game got that treatment. Don’t change too much if anything at all.
I loved the voice acting in this, and of course the story.
I always wanted just 1 more game to see where this story would end up after Defiance. It just ended with so many questions I had and wanted answered. Sucks.
Shout out the to the voice actor of The Elder God. My favorite.
So I just completed the game for the first time ever, managing to get a GOG version of it run on my PC. I remember only trying out a demo version and small parts of the beginning of it back in the PS1 era but never fully completing it.
These are my thoughts. I too really like the dimension shifting mechanic to the game. You don't see much of that in games, even nowadays. The combat works, but I felt that you could pretty much win any fight with ease so the combat portions get a bit repetitive. Also the glyph-magic all seemed kind of samey (every glyph magic attack was basically a 360 shockwave, either outright killing all enemies, stunning or weakening them to the point where you could take them out with ease). Wouldn't have hurt if the different glyphs unlocked, gave you some more unique attacks or effects rather than all of them being 360 radius blasts.
Most of the glyph magic attacks also felt a bit redundant to me since all the combat in the game was so easy. Especially when you got the soul reaver and unlocked the fire reaver, since fire reaver projectile attacks would annihilate any enemy in the game from afar without any cost.
Based on the lore of the game, i'm not too sure the puzzle platformer gameplay style was the choice I'd make. Raziel ends up becoming a wraith. A ghostly figure. A ghost in his shoes would be like an "infiltrator" sort of character in my view. So I think I would've prefered a game where Raziel relied more on stealth and sneaking (especially by shifting into the spirit realm in order to bypass enemy sentries in the material realm) rather than open combat and moving square cubes to solve puzzles to progress.
Maybe gameplay similar to Tenchu Stealth Assassins, Hitman, Thief: The Dark project or Metal Gear Solid would've suited Raziels design and mechanics a little better. It would also have imparted some more vulnerability to Raziel, which i felt was lacking since it's very easy to dominate any combat, and you can't really "die" in the game either. I'm trying to make comparisons to games released in roughly the same time period here, instead of comparing it to modern games since it wouldn't be fair due to the technical limitations.
In any case, even though I disagree with some design choices in the game, and I get the feeling that the devs were trying to implement a lot of ideas at once, which made some ideas mature while other ended up a little undeveloped (the glyph spells and such), I could definitely see why Soul Reaver has such a fanbase. It was a very ambitious game and must've been quite a transition too from the kind of game that Blood Omen was (moving from 2D to 3D and get such good results is a mean feat).
And once again I really like the dimensional shift mechanic and how you had to utilize the different realms own internal logic and laws of physics to progress in the game.
Very solid game, great music and voice acting and a reminder of an age in the gaming industry where people genuinely tried coming up with new ideas rather than just copy/pasting everything that some corporate exec tell the developers is "in vouge" at the time.
Great feedback.
Also tenchu, thief and mgs are 3 games ill be playing in this series, which will be continuing soon :)
Oh boy this game has one of the best plots EVER. I remember being scared to the bone while on my first playthrough during my early teens. The voice acting is phenomenal and Ozar Midrashim is such a HYPE soundtrack.
Brilliant action/adventure game that got me into the whole genre. Excellent story, voice acting, music and the ability to slide between the real and spirit worlds was very well done. Throughly enjoyable character arc to experience for Razael as he grows in stature as the story progresses and learns more about how the world has changed during the 500 years since his death. Top notch.
This was a fantastic game when it was released. As Josh says, it could really need a map, though. That was my only issue with it, I was often completely lost.
Great video, thank you :)
Soul Reaver and Soul Reaver 2 are among my favourite games of all time (Defiance was also good, but not as good). I've long since lost count of how many times I've replayed them over the years (been a long time since last time now though. I might be done with them for good really). The story and the voice acting in these 2 as a whole are still the best I've ever come across in videogames. Outside of that, the amazing dark atmosphere in the first game is really something. Combat isn't complex, but was still fun at the time, especially in 2. I don't know why games these days can't have stellar voice acting and incredible and complex stories like these two did. Anyway, I've always really wanted a remake, at least of the first game, since it's so old now, but I've long since given up on hoping for one.
Hard Agree. I got such huge chills of creeping nostalgia watching your vid. I played every game in the Kain series. Truly breath taking scenery, set pieces, and acting. It will always have a place in my heart.
This video made my memory of it that much better., we NEED a remaster of this and the 2nd one.
Also i miss nosgoth (the pvp game)
Totally agree with everything you said, but it's true that SR has some cons. But for his time, it was a masterpiece of game.
This was honestly my favorite game series when I was in high school, by far.
This game and the series in general are one of the most underrated and under appreciated in video game history. The whole thing was a goddamned movie, the movement and puzzles surpassed what Tomb Raider had to offer with flying colors, the atmosphere was ridiculously solid for a 32 bit system game and the music… Jesus Christ the music.
There are few video game themes as iconic as this OST.
I'm looking forward to it- the next in the series that will never come, that is.
You should definitely go give the original Blood Omen a go. It's very deep, you can see the preceding systems we love in soul reaver, with a few interesting twists being that you're actually in Caine's past seeing what Caine did to get to Soul Reaver status.
This game was so ahead of it's time and it NEEDS a remaster and update. The draw distance is so short because this was one of the first games, if not the first, game to load in scenery in front and unload scenery behind you as you move in order to reduce load times. This is how almost all games work now, the only part the game really loads is basically what you are looking at. This game was a pioneer. Before this the entire level in it's entirety needed to be loaded in which took time. I remember being in awe at how short the load times were for the time.
I was hoping Josh reviewed this game. The series has some of the best story and dialogue I've ever experienced.
This was the first memorable game i played on pc. the story and story telling are still the best i've ever seen in any video game... could be nostalgia tho ^^
As a side note, i think i finished this game 10+ times and i didn't know about the morality code XD. Also the fire reaver... setting the enemies on fire as a finisher and if lost, imbuing the reaver from any fire source... don't think small fires like torches worked but still
I don't know if your opinion is trustworthy Raziel, it sounds like you're trying to make your game sound cool.
I can't believe I'm seeing this now. I was watching your new"ish" channel "Josh Strife Plays" and made a comment saying you should do one about soul reaver. Lo and behold, you already did. Fantastic.
When this vid came up on my feed I thought “oh great, JSH is gonna rip on one of my favorite games of all times.” Obviously I was way off. I was never able to put my finger on exactly what made this game so epic all
those years ago, but this video certainly breaks it down brilliantly. As for the map… come on Josh, it’s 1999 man! Get out that pen and paper and draw that sucker out inch by inch like we used have to lol… that was like part of the challenge/fun in those days! Because Puzzle? 🤔😜
Despite the lack of sequels, this game may have influenced a lot, if not all games on that genre, god of war, dante's inferno, dark souls....
It's so nice to see someone understand why this game is an ALL TIME GREAT.
One of the legendary games PSX produced, i played troghout the whole series without even understanding english, i love the gameplay and style off the game, the game is just so underrated... Thanks for the amazing video!
8:42 speaking of walkthroughs it's written in the style of raziels diary where he tells the adventure from his perspective ... at least im the german version i don't know about other languages
Loved this and the others in the series back in the day. Feels like a mash up of Zelda and classic Tomb Raider. I also loved those games too unsurprisingly.
I love the graphics. Especially the choice of lighting and colors to enrich and enhance the atmosphere. What it lacks in details and polygon count it makes up for in overall art Direction.
There was a lot of hype for this game. One interesting note: a demo for Soul Reaver came packaged with a game called Unholy War. Many people bought the game (release at only $20) specifically for the demo of SR. Unholy War was surprisingly fun and may be one of the best combo-purchases I've ever made.
I would gladly pay big bucks to get my hands on a remaster of the original like they did with Tomb Raider Anniversary on Xbone. I played this on the PS1 back in the day as a young teen and it blew my freaking gourd! It felt a lot like Tomb Raider (which I love) but with a much more complex story. The nostalgia hit I got watching this video was awesome, thank you. I wish I had a computer so I could run the emulator and relive some good memories. Good times.
I hope you go back and revisit this on Josh Strife Plays. Give it the full treatment and walkthrough. Legacy of Kain games always were my favorite and inspired me to write
A legendary cult of a game.
Vae Victus!!
A game I originally bought just because an advertisement was so cool. I was absolutely mesmerized by the sheer scope of the game, the acting and the amazing soundtrack. Later games didn't affect me nearly as much as the first soul reaver. I played it so much I memorized most of the lines in the game. I doesn't get nearly as much credit as it deserves.
I really enjoyed you Soul Reaver vid!!! The Legacy of Kain series is one of the most UNDERRATED games in history that deserves so much more with it's story telling, gameplay and lore!!! Too bad the unfinished Legacy of Kain: Dark Prophesy was cancelled during development that was supposed to touch on Kain time traveling to find a way to bring real balance back to Nosgoth, to finally wrap up the series............sadly, we ended up with a lame online multiplayer game that has assets but no real story........................................................................................................RIP Tony Jay!!!
I poved these games so much...the mechanics were something else, playability is great, it is tomb raider and some jump'n'run etc.
It was gorgeous and yet many of my gaming friends dont even know it existed.
I think this is underrated and I would love a new world with its lore.
Thanks for this, one of my all time favorite series of games.
LoK fell victim to a copyright black hole...more than one company holds the rights to the ip (at least one of which no longer exists). The saddest consequence of this is that the ending to defiance was open ended, and we'll never know the end of this fabulous story.
Pleaseeee Joshh.... BLOOD OMEN, the narrative of that game is just art!!!
Only ten years to go and we'll get a video like this about Skyrim 🤩
Michael Bell was also The Fear in Metal Gear Solid 3, while Simon Templeman was also in Old Charmed as Death and a Necromancer ghost in Angel! They are both very distinct and I enjoy their work, they're always fun to watch!
Although, it's "Legacy of Kain: Defiance" and, given how that ended and I can't believe I'm even saying this again, but another game here would be Blood Omen 3, not Soul Reaver 3! Although, there was supposed to be another Legacy of Kain at one point!
This video made me realize I should replay it sometime. Last time I played it was when it was new and I just remember a lot of box pushing. As a kid I just didn't realize how much depth this game had to it. Just yesterday I was talking to a friend about how this game deserves a remaster in the style of Shadowman and Turok 1 and 2.
I wish they make remake of this masterpiece
My all time most favorite game.
LoK was and is still a game I love and hold dearly. I've played both the ps1 and PC Version back in the days. It really scared me back then, and now It makes me feel sad, that most games dont get the same love from their developers as LoK did back then..
This game was generations ahead of its time. Absolute classic
Legacy of Kain has some of the best writing I've had the pleasure of enjoying in my time gaming, it makes the somewhat painful gameplay worth playing in Soul Reaver 1 and 2. I really wish they'd get respectful remaster that touches up gameplay and fully realizes the many elements that had to be cut due to time constraints and title ownership fighting.
well said , painful game play with the best story, that makes us play, like life.
One of my favorite PS classic game. Was legit waiting to see your review. I feel like this game went under the radar
The environmental kills still stand out in my mind, the idea that was even possible just blew me away as a kid.
2022 fan remaster of a game is out, and I came to re-watch this once more.
This video almost made me cry. You earned a sub.
I loved every minute of this game. And back in 1999 the graphics and gameplay were amazing. I would 100% buy a remastered version of this game if they made one. Such a classic.
this was a wonderful game!
i still have it, and a PS1. and i can indeed confirm! games are almost never ever made with this level of passion and competance!
You weren't kidding about the limited draw distance. That's some super aggressive culling. There's just reality appearing and vanishing at the seams.
I loved the hell out of this game. So much so that it is partly the inspiration for my online handle (the other funny enough another Zelda like title on the PS1) I remember just running around exploring everything, getting lost, actually learning the layout of the land based of differing landmarks/ room design and loving it all. The style is one that is so often done so cheesy it's near impossible to take seriously and this game nailed all the good aspects of the genre. I would love an HDR that just updated the graphics while keeping the style and added an in-game map ;D