If Metal Gear Solid is where video games became cinematic, Legacy of Kain is where they became literary. This short-lived series, beginning in 1996, raised eyebrows with its high-quality voice acting – uncommon for the time – and mature presentation. The world of Nosgoth offered a glimpse into a new era for video games where the story was important and violence was matter-of-fact.
Related
The Best Games That Let You Play As A Vampire
If you like a little vampirism in your roleplaying experiences, say no more! Here are the best games that let you play a vampire.
Today, video games are taken for granted to be intended for all ages, but Legacy of Kain was ahead of its time in appealing to adult audiences. Its gothic tone, vampiric anti-heroes, and branching plot ground to a sudden halt in 2003, but the series remains popular regardless. Here is every Legacy of Kain title, ranked.
A short-lived MMO based on the Legacy of Kain series, called Nosgoth, was available in beta in 2015. It never received a full release.
5
Legacy of Kain: Defiance
Defiance’s low sales put an unfortunate stop to the Legacy of Kain series, but that does not mean it’s a bad game. It deserves credit for tying up the plot threads of both Blood Omen and Soul Reaver as best as it could, and though it ends on a cliffhanger there is enough closure to satisfy you.
However, Defiance didn’t fix the issues the series had suffered so far: namely, underwhelming graphics and janky combat. Puzzles were de-emphasized in favour of hack-and-slash segments, to the game’s detriment. It’s still worth playing: to date, it remains the only game where you can play as both Raziel and Kain. (edited)
4
Blood Omen 2
Blood Omen 2 is the closest the respected series got to a critical mauling: it was deemed a rushed and low-budget title. However, the game is still surprisingly decent: its many flaws are overcome by the strength of its plot. The game continues Kain’s side of the story, which was put on hold while the Soul Reaver games were produced.
Related
8 Best Dracula Games
These dracula games are well worth a playthrough.
After centuries of rest, Kain lives again, ready to regain the power he has lost. The years have not softened his heart, and he isn’t above killing innocent people to grow his power – part of Kain’s appeal is that he is brutal past the point of redemption, yet a compelling character regardless. Blood Omen 2 is visually underwhelming and has tedious combat, but its story and atmosphere are excellent. From the moment you kill your first civilian and drink their blood, Blood Omen 2 sets an eerie tone.
3
Soul Reaver 2
In terms of story, Soul Reaver 2 is the strongest game in the series. Given the high bar established by previous titles, that’s a glowing testimonial. The puzzles are also commendably challenging without dipping into outright frustration.
Soul Reaver 2’s few flaws come from its status as a fifth-generation title reworked into a sixth-generation one. Its graphics are unimpressive, and there’s a lot of repetition. The voice acting and writing are superb; if you’re patient with the gameplay you’ll be rewarded by the story. Alongside its predecessor, Soul Reaver 2 eventually received a remaster for modern consoles courtesy of Aspyr.
2
Blood Omen: Legacy Of Kain
Blood Omen is very different from the other games in the series: it’s top-down, 2D, and heavier on the RPG mechanics. It establishes Kain as one of gaming’s first notable anti-heroes because he is a monster who knows no remorse yet you get to control him.
Despite its lower production values, Blood Omen oddly feels like the biggest game in the series. Its worldbuilding is much stronger than that of its sequels, allowing you to explore Nosgoth as you would in a book, rather than giving you a bird’s-eye view with the cinematic action-adventure direction of later titles.
1
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
As a late fifth-generation title, Soul Reaver is a technical marvel. Its dimension-hopping gameplay and gothic atmosphere is only upended by the quality of its writing, which was stunning for the time. Soul Reaver is a surprisingly large game, and incorporates backtracking in very inventive ways to keep you engaged.
Soul Reaver’s puzzle segments are the most fulfilling in the series, and its pacing is excellent. It keeps you constantly engaged by spacing its platforming, puzzle and action segments evenly so that they change before you get tired of one – and all wrapped in a story with actual literary merit.
Next
The 10 Best Vampire Movies
Films to sink your teeth into.
