Developed by the team at Crystal Dynamics the Legacy of Kain series stands
as a pinnacle to story telling in videogames. The Legacy of Kain series began
on the Playstation console and since it’s root has risen to be one of the most
anticipated titles of the year. In Defiance, you play the roles of Kain and
Raziel; Raziel a former vampire who has been stricken with the hunger for souls,
and Kain, a vampire attempting to avert his future death at the hands of Raziel.

The Legacy of Kain series has taken its fans through many realms as well as
timelines, all done magnificently as it pieces together the history of Nosgoth
and the vampire kind. In this latest installment on the Xbox console, you alternate
between the roles of Kain and Raziel as you progress through the game. The story
itself is told via in game cut scenes between levels, and narrated by Kain or
Raziel as you hear their thoughts. The cut scenes are nicely done, giving you
a view of objects on the level you may not have noticed before. The detail on
the characters also shines during these moments as you get an up close view
of Kain or Raziel and full 360 degree views.

Gameplay
The game opens with you playing the role of Kain, with the beginning part of
the level acting as a tutorial. As Kain you are introduced to basic game play
elements such as maneuvering your character, attacking, using your powers and
most enjoyable, quenching your thirst. Game play in Defiance is a nice mix of
action as well as puzzle solving, with the action being the dominant aspect.

The game play in Legacy of Kain: Defiance varies slightly as you alternate
between Raziel and Kain. Kain’s levels for the most part are dominated
more by action, focusing on using his might to accomplish his objectives; Raziel
on the other hand plays more of the puzzle and thinking portion of the game,
this is most evident as you are introduced to Raziel’s ability to switch
realms.

With Raziel’s ability to switch between the spiritual and material realms,
almost at will, he is the more tactical of the two characters. Raziel’s
levels require you to problem solve and to recognize when each of his forms
is best suited to the current situation. This becomes an issue because things
in the material realm, such as pillars and platforms, do not always appear the
same in the spiritual realm. Enemies are also affected by Raziels transitions
between realms; a group of vampire hunters that exist in the material realm
will not appear in the spiritual. Luckily the game is not short on foes, in
either realm Raziel finds opposition, however the ability to choose some fights
adds a nice touch. Raziel’s game play elements further expand as you realize
you cannot interact with the material realm when in the spiritual, this leaves
him unable to get past closed doors or feed on souls contained in alters.

The game play for Kain is more based on his strength and fighting prowess than
problem solving. While Kains levels do contain puzzles, they are often very
straight forward and require more leg work than thinking. While both levels
are populated by large numbers of enemies, I did however find Kains more challenging,
as well as more fun to slaughter. As Raziel feeds on souls of his fallen attackers,
Kain feeds on their blood, draining them to replenish his strength before tossing
them to the ground. The levels that Kain goes through require more use of his
telekinetic powers then Raziels, where Raziel uses his ability to switch realms
more often for his puzzles.

Many of the levels play in a style much like Tomb Raider, requiring certain
levers to be pulled or switched on, particular walls to be scaled or intelligent
use of your characters natural powers. The puzzles spread throughout the levels
and do not require too much thinking to complete, keeping the game play at a
steady action packed pace. The variety of puzzle elements is also a nice touch;
the levels never get a repetitive feel because you have now pulled your hundredth
lever.

From a design standpoint the game shines most when playing as Raziel, his levels
contain both a spiritual and material counterpart, with elements changing depending
on which you are in. When playing as Raziel in the spiritual realm the appearance
of the world changes, enemies as well as yourself are enveloped in a “ghostly
feel.” Your view on the material realm becomes distorted with a slight
double vision and green veil hanging over everything. Lighting in the material
realm is also intensified when seen from the spiritual realm; this also extends
to Raziels sword which appears as a flaming light when fully charged.

The Soulreaver in it’s many forms contains a special attack that can only be
performed when fully charged. Charging the Soulreaver is easy and varies slightly
between the two characters. As Kain or Raziel in the material realm you charge
your sword be plunging it into a fallen enemy; the essence of that enemy is
then transferred to the sword. As you slay more enemies, the meter that represents
the swords power begins to rise until it is fully charged. This varies slightly
when playing as Raziel in the spiritual realm, his sword becomes charged simply
by striking enemies; this is because his only means of destroying foes in the
spiritual realm s to devour their souls. Each of the various states of Soulreaver
is stronger or weaker against certain enemies and contains different special
attacks when fully charged.

Control
Despite the many things you can do as either Raziel or Kain, the controls themselves
still remain very simply and do not require any complicated action. In standard
form for an Xbox adventure game, the movement and looking is controlled by the
analogue sticks. Attacking and performing combinations attacks requires a little
practice, more on the basis of timing then actually performing the actual button
combinations. In total it takes about 20 minutes total to be fully acquainted
with the controls, and slightly longer to get adjusted to using the combination
attacks you unlock as you gain experience.

  • A: Roll / Jump
  • B: Telekinesis
  • Y: Juggle Attack
  • X: Standard Attack / Use
  • Left Analogue: Combat Mode
  • Right Analogue: Feed
  • Dpad Up: Raziel – Switches Realm
  • Dpad Down: Raziel – Switches Realm
  • Dpad Left: Switch Soulreaver Type
  • Dpad Right: Switch Soulreaver Type
  • Black: Aim Telekinesis
  • Back: Inventory

Graphics

The levels in Legacy of Kain: Defiance are some of the most amazing environments
on the Xbox console. The texture work is stunning with detail being paid to
even the small bits of the architecture. The partially breakable environment,
such as that on the bridge, adds a nice style to the game, though it almost
makes you want it to be present more often. With the levels being so nicely
done I almost expected them to be extremely short, I was presently surprised
to play through the massive levels without any load times or slow downs in game
play. The work that must have went into the design of the Raziel levels is most
stunning, with it changing depending on the realm you play the level in, this
transition is also done with no load times.

The characters themselves are magnificent, though it’s most notable during
the cut scenes and when Kain is feeding, the characters are wonderfully textured
with attention paid to the minor details of their garments. Raziel still pulls
down the cloth covering his face when he absorbs souls, the inside of the cloth
covering his face is even textured, though it is something you will have to
play with angles to actually notice. Both Kain and Raziels animations are nicely
done, though they almost seem to be floating when they move while feeding.

Audio
The music is nicely done, though it is never a focus of the game play, it switches
to suit the current situation, mainly when you are being attacked. The voice
acting is an amazing part of the game, the same almost ancient voice of Kain
is well done from the cut scenes, to narration, to the battle cry as he slays
yet another foolish enemy. Raziels voice has also been well done; you can hear
his curiosity as he attempts to piece together everything that has happened
in the last 500 years since he has been trapped in the underworld.

The sound effects are also very impressive, I use my telekinesis to knock an
enemy off a bridge in an early level, and you could hear his screams of terror
trail off as he plummeted to his death. The minor sound effects are also nicely
done; the sounds of your character’s footsteps or of the weapons clashing. The
ambiance of Raziels spirit realm is also very impressive; you can hear the faint
voices of people talking and screams of terror from all around. Though the background
music is nothing spectacular; the rest of the sounds in the game are impressive
and add to the feel of slaughtering the humans and other spiritual beings in
your quest.

Replay Value
Legacy of Kain: Defiance lacks any reason to replay the game except for its
story; while this may draw back fans of the series who love to see Kain slaughtering
humans or Raziel devouring souls, others may not be inclined to return to the
game. In that aspect I would take Legacy of Kain as worth some, but not much
replay value. Once the game has been completed you no longer have a need to
play it but once more at the most. I was hoping for multiple game paths or ways
to complete the game, unfortunately Legacy of Kain: Defiance is a very linear
game and once set in motion you are just following a path.

Reviewer's Additional Comments
Legacy of Kain: Defiance is an amazing game from start to finish; what has previously
held it above all others is its engaging story and nothing has changed in that
aspect. The sound effects in the game are a nicely done, and the voice acting
comes together to create an almost complete audio package. Kain and Raziels
characters are nicely designed and animated with attention paid to the minor
details and the environments are large and beautiful, in a dark gothic way.
For what Defiance brings to the table it is well worth a buy, and will not disappoint
the hardcore Legacy of Kain fan. For new comers to the series, do not worry
you will not be left out, the plot can be enjoyed from its current location
without needing the back story. All in all it’s defiantly worth a purchase,
get ready to slaughter the humans and confront your enemy!

Overall Score
Overall Score: 8.5/10 [Not an Average]

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