Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered was one of the biggest surprises of September's State of Play event for Sony. With Legacy of Kain being one of the essential series of its generation, the Soul Reaver spin-offs from Crystal Dynamics have become beloved among many gamers. In these games, the story follows Raziel, the vampire-turned-wraith lieutenant of the titular Kain. From the iconic character design to the exploration of the dark fantasy genre, a Soul Reaver remaster has been a long-awaited announcement for a lot of fans.
Despite this excitement, this is also a bittersweet reminder of how long ago the reign of the Legacy of Kain games was. It has now been over 20 years since the last mainline chapter in the series was released with Legacy of Kain: Defiance. The desire for more Legacy of Kain has continued to keep hope afloat for a new entry, but there has yet to be anything concrete announced. At least, until now. Now that both Soul Reaver games are getting the remaster treatment, this could be the first step needed in order to bring a sixth Legacy of Kain chapter to life.
What the Rumored God of War Trilogy Remaster Should Take from the Norse Saga
If recent rumors turn out to be true, then the original God of War trilogy could be getting remastered, raising questions about what will be changed.
The Soul Reaver Remaster Could Reignite Interest in Legacy of Kain
Bringing a Classic Franchise to a New Audience
The only recent instance of a Legacy of Kain game being available to this current generation of gamers is 2014's Nosgoth spin-off, but the free-to-play multiplayer title doesn't capture the same energy as the franchises' single-player narratives. If the Soul Reaver remaster manages to get the attention of the newer generation, then there could very well be a chance for developer Crystal Dynamics to bring Legacy of Kain back from the grave.
With Crystal Dynamics regaining control of Legacy of Kain back in 2022, many fans of the series have been wondering if this could be the start of a new era for the franchise. The audience for the upcoming remaster is already set, but in order to justify bringing the series back with full force, an even larger player base will likely have to kickstart a revival. Hopefully, the Soul Reaver remaster can do just that.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered will be released on December 10, 2024.
A Soul Reaver Remaster is Arriving At an Interesting Time
Now Could Be the Perfect Time to Bring Legacy of Kain Back
Recently, revivals of classic franchises from the late 90s and early 2000s have been having a big moment. This could make now the right time for Crystal Dynamic to finally address years of Legacy of Kain rumors by making gamers' wishes a reality. The remake and reboot renaissance that has been happening can cause fatigue if not done properly, but there have been plenty of beloved franchises given a new lease on life through this method, and Legacy of Kain would be another great series to be given this treatment.
Other Classic Franchises and Games That Have Been Revived
- God of War
- Silent Hill 2
- Resident Evil 4
- Prince of Persia
Whether it's a full-blown franchise or a single game, sometimes rebooting a series or giving a title a fresh coat of paint is enough to bring forth a new audience. The Soul Reaver remaster could do the exact same thing for the Legacy of Kain series as a whole. It may not be a complete overhaul, like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown or God of War's reboot, but it could be enough to get the ball rolling.
Once Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered launches, it will be compelling to see if the game attracts gamers who didn't get to grow up with the Legacy of Kain franchise. Only time will tell, but the upcoming remaster will likely only make the desire for more Legacy of Kain that much stronger.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 67%
- Released
- December 10, 2024
- ESRB
- Teen // Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Aspyr, Crystal Dynamics
- Publisher(s)
- Aspyr
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Platformer
