search66's Full Review: Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver for Dreamcast
"Can a game nearly two years old, on a discontinued system compete with XBOX and Gamecube titles? Emphatically, I say yes ."
The horror genre has become increasingly popular with today’s gamers. The most successful line of "horror" games is obviously the Resident Evil line-up. Currently, Silent Hill tops the charts and is the self-proclaimed "King of the Hill", no pun intended.
If you think back to the beginnings of the genre, we were given solid titles throughout the years. From the early gen Atari with Texas Chainsaw Massacre , to the Turbo Grafx 16 and probably my favorite horror game, Splatterhouse . Nintendo has also given us an adventure/horror line that is successful to this day; Castlevania .
One move and your dead. {jumps to table} I move... and I'm dead.
The world of Soul Reaver is one of amazing detail and incorporated into an engrossing storyline. You play the role of a vampire named Raziel. Raziel is a faithful servant of Kain, the vampire king. 1,000 years you have served your master well, and dedicated your "life" to him.
In this millennium of servant-hood, an evolution has taken place, and Raziel has transformed. Huge sprawling wings began to form on his back. Kain in a jealous fit of rage sentenced you to a fate worse than death. Raziel is thrown into the abyss of the Lake of Lost Souls.
After the decent, you land in the underworld in the land of Nosgoth. A looming voice instructs you of your path, which includes surviving the perils before you and to destroy your former master.
Autobots, roll out!
After the eye-popping intro movie, and a brilliant storyline; your hands will be twitching for gaming bliss. Look around, and take in the purely goodness that Eidos brought before you. The game is smooth, and the environments are intriguing and beautiful. Looking infinitely better than the Playstation version, the Dreamcast pumps 128-bit graphics into your gaming veins.
What sets Soul Reaver: Legacy of Kain apart from any game that I have played; is that you cannot die. There are two worlds you transverse. The first is the "underground" Spectral Zone. The spectral zone is a nearly the same as the regular world in the land of Nosgoth, but is just another dimension of reality. The second world is the aforementioned land of Nosgoth. A decimate, lifeless land of death and struggle.
To advance in the game, different tasks and goals must be achieved by completing each "zone" at different intervals. An example would be this: You are seemingly at a dead end, with nowhere to go. If you "transport" to a different dimension, your puzzle might be solved, by simply switching a button or pulling a lever. The concept is amazing and complex... but in a good way.
I am the voice inside your head.
Controlling our beloved vampire is not only a joy, but also an adrenaline rushing high that few games can produce. In order for Raziel to survive he is dependent on one thing; souls. And in the land of Nosgoth you must destroy enemies and devour their souls to continue in the upper world. If your "life" meter expires, you are sent back down to the spectral zone.
Ah... Killing has never been sweeter. Sure, you can beat your enemy into submission and suck their last breath, and it will always bring a smile to your face. But, in order to fully experience the greatness of the game look around you for weapons that are… well... sharp and pointy.
See that spear over there on the ground?
Ok, pick it up and impale that ugly goon over there.
Great.
Feel better?
Oh, I see how it is... You like fire. Right....
Take that burning torch hanging on the wall... yea, that's the right one... Just throw it at that deformed, cripple-walking zombie.
SCORE!
Two for one. Not only did you impale him with a burning torch, you caught him on fire. Great job. Just don't forget to steal his pitiful soul.
More fun that a box of Rubix cubes.
Remember the good ‘ole days of Bonk , Karnov and Final Fight ? The days of huge, menacing end level bosses? Well the good times are back. Not only are they massive, but also darn near impossible. Yup, old school is back and better than ever.
Avenge your death, increase your power and prepare yourself for a journey of destruction of Biblical proportions.
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GRAPHICS: 9/10
The chilling mood is set by the dreary graphics and explicit visuals. Effects such as light shining through a window, lighting up the rising fog is enough to make the most hardened gamer cry. The detail to everything is simply amazing. The graphics even out shadow the PC version running at a numbing 60 FPS. If that wasn't enough, be amazed at the fluidity of Raziel, his movements and the physics as he tosses a blade.
AUDIO: 9/10
One of the most important features of the "horror type" game, is the aura it produces audibly. Soul Reaver does not disappoint and brings you to a vampirical world of death and survival. The background music is haunting and complex which compliments the atmosphere to a tee. The sound effects are equally impressive with moans, grunts and howls. One of my soapboxes about the DC is the use of voices and again, I am amazed by the absolute perfection of voice-overs. The voice acting is clear, believable and at times witty.
GAMEPLAY: 10/10
This is where the game not only excels but also surpasses most. The control and gameplay is easily controlled and hella-fun. The complexity of the levels, trying to succeed in two dimensions at the same time is confusing at times, but keeps you motivated. Picking up the game is simple, and techniques will take time to develop. The game is not limited to hack-n-slash-n-suck (which would be ok with me), but it also incorporates various puzzles and challenges throughout its entirety. While it's not the brain busting kind of frustration-type puzzles, it is enough to make you think and make it fun.
REPLAY VALUE: 7/10
This game is not a rental. I would guess a good 15-20 hours of game time would finish the game. I've never "rushed" through the game, because I like to take my time to get the max out of this strong title. The replay value is good, but I can't imagine starting the game up right after completion. But, I will promise that this will be a title you will play for months and in my case years to come.
OVERALL: 9/10
Darn near perfect of a game, even by today’s bloated standards. Soul Reaver has all the right ingredients to make a continuing successful game. If you own a Dreamcast, I highly recommend this as a purchase. For those of you interested in an adventure, horror-type game; you simply cannot lose.
"In retrospect, this is a historic week in gaming. The "Wizard of Oz" like XBOX, and the "too cutesy" Gamecube will be released to the public in plague-like numbers. Games such as Soul Reaver and Shenmue continue to be competitive in today’s gaming mindset. While, I acknowledge the graphics are far superior to Soul Reaver, I challenge you to determine the overall value of a game. To answer my own question if a game two years old can compete with today’s heavy line up: Hell Yeah ."
Cover up that neck 'cause five clans of vampires are out to get you! Loyal to their master, Kain, these bloodsuckers will do anything to protect him a...More at eBay
Explore the vast 3D world of Nosgoth Hunt 5 different tribes Over 1000 cinematics, Platforms: Sega Dreamcast, ESRB Rating: MatureMore at Amazon Marketplace
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