Through recent remastered efforts, the Legacy of Kain series is making some decent waves, gathering new fans to its unique offering of vampiric action. Up until this point in the series, the lead protagonist role shifted between Kain and his lieutenant, Raziel. Now in Legacy of Kain: Defiance, the two share the spotlight in the final entry to cap off the events and fight back against fate as time begins to slip from their control. While some of Defiance suffer from cut content and noticeable gaps in worldbuilding, it still offers a solid action experience through this remastered effort.
Story and Setting
Legacy of Kain: Defiance requires you to have already played through the previous entries to really understand what’s happening. There’s a short recap of old cutscenes that plays before the events, but you’ll be lost within the hour if you aren’t fully caught up on where or when these characters are, so please be aware of possible spoilers. Defiance opens after the ending of Soul Reaver 2, where the timeline splits, leaving the door open for Kain to save Nosgoth, but he’ll need the help of Raziel to see this plan through. Sadly, Raziel is stuck in a different timeline, so Kain needs to find him to unleash the Reaver’s full power. Thankfully, Raziel doesn’t sit idly while Kain makes moves, and the two push forward in their respective timelines until they can finally make things right.
Level Design and Pacing
The game takes place across chapters, which is similar to the other PS2 entries, but I honestly miss the more Metroidvania design of the first Soul Reaver. The linearity of the chapters makes the pacing almost too easy to follow, making the adventure overall feel smaller than it already is. That could also come down to the overall size of the levels, which seem to remove most of the puzzle elements and instead ask players to collect items or learn an ability to unlock a door. The issue is that the levels aren’t always that interesting, and the maze-like design of many of them makes the backtracking portions tedious.
For a series that thrives on exposition and vampiric lore drops, Kain’s levels are almost too quiet in some places, and for both characters, there are long stretches of gameplay where absolutely nothing happens. In earlier games, each room you entered often had a short cutscene explaining what you were seeing and how it connected to the world. Here, you’ll pass through entire areas with zero explanation, which removes some of the grounding that made Nosgoth feel so alive. I should note that Raziel’s sections have more exposition, but it’s clear that’s not shared across both campaigns.
Combat System Analysis
Fans of Legacy of Kain: Defiance know that content was originally cut, but through a modern lens, there are moments that feel either too big or too small. Rarely does it land perfectly in between. Combat techniques are learned by fighting, but there’s no way to track when you’ll unlock a new move, and there’s no clear feedback letting you know if you executed the move correctly as you follow the on-screen prompt. More often than not, mashing the attack button and dodging every now and then is enough. If there were a way to track progress on new moves and view or customize them in a menu, it would feel more intentional instead of casually tossed in.
There are also no real alternate weapons besides the sword, which reduces combat to repeated attack strings with the occasional finisher. You can incorporate telekinetic attacks, where Kain launches enemies and Raziel pushes them back for crowd control. Truth is, I’ve never found the combat in Defiance to be the highlight, and this series as a whole has always wrestled with its approach to action. Still, I respect that it never tried to be overly straightforward. Combat will eventually grow dull against mob-types, but at least the boss encounters still feel like events.
Character Gameplay Differences
Gameplay shifts depending on who you’re controlling. Raziel’s ability to access the spirit plane gives his sections more creative depth, while Kain’s areas focus on opening paths and fighting waves of enemies. I enjoyed Raziel’s moments more, and maybe that’s because I connect with his characterization a little more than Kain’s, though I know there are plenty of Kain loyalists out there. What still frustrates me is how restrictive Kain’s movement can feel. The game decides when he uses his jump or bat abilities, which makes it seem like he’s being held back for design reasons that don’t match his on-screen dominance. By comparison, Raziel’s weaker frame and stubborn resolve make his limitations easier to accept.
Remastered Features and Improvements
Through the remastered effort, I’m happy to report that the camera has been fixed. Mapped to the shoulder button of the controller, you can switch between the fixed and third-person camera at any time. I can’t begin to describe how much this improves combat, especially in tighter halls or smaller arenas. In the new mode, the camera doesn’t get stuck in awkward angles or zoom in at the worst possible moment, and reading enemy attacks feels much more manageable. I did switch back to the static camera during some arena-style fights since it shows the entire battlefield, so I appreciated how seamless that toggle is.
Further, like the camera, you can switch between the old and new graphics at any time. Credit to the developers for actually going in and updating these character assets instead of just bumping the resolution and calling it a day. I think the updated models look great, but some of the mural backgrounds carry that smoothed-over AI upscale look. It’s fine, but it definitely stands out if you’re paying attention. Regardless, Raziel and Kain look amazing. I could honestly see these models holding their own in a brand-new game, which is me very clearly saying I want more Legacy of Kain. Oh, right, after 23 years, we are getting a new game with the release of Legacy of Kain: Ascendance. Okay, then yeah, this feels like the perfect excuse to start your descent into this series all over again.
Final Verdict on Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered
After playing through Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, I’m reminded why I keep coming back to this series despite its flaws. Defiance isn’t perfectly balanced, and you can feel the seams where ideas were cut or trimmed down, but the ambition is still there. The performances, the themes of fate and defiance, the constant tug-of-war between Kain and Raziel, all of that is still on display. If you’re already invested, this is a worthy closing chapter to revisit in its best form yet, especially if you prefer the more surface-level action bits. But if you’re new and willing to put in the work, there’s something special waiting for you in Nosgoth. I’ve lived with these characters for years, and even now, I’m not ready to let them go.
Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered (PC)
Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered delivers a stronger version of the series’ ambitious finale, polishing camera controls and character models while preserving the dark, fate-driven story of Kain and Raziel. Though its linear level design, uneven pacing, and simplified combat show their age, the remaster enhances playability enough to make this a worthwhile return to Nosgoth for longtime fans and a solid entry point for committed newcomers willing to catch up on the lore.
The Good
- Improved camera system: Toggleable modern camera greatly enhances combat readability and exploration.
- Updated character models: Kain and Raziel look impressively refreshed and hold up visually.
- Dual protagonist structure: Switching timelines and perspectives keeps the narrative engaging.
The Bad
- Linear level design: Chapter structure reduces the exploratory depth seen in earlier entries.
- Repetitive combat: Limited weapon variety and shallow move tracking lead to button mashing.
- Uneven pacing: Long stretches lack exposition or meaningful gameplay developments.
