Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered review

I’m a huge fan of remastered games. I adore the step down memory lane and the polish that comes with modern porting. However, developers don’t always get things right, and Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered offers a mixed bag and a strange experience. I love the original, and the opening game from this franchise is one of my all-time favourite games. Sadly, this hasn’t aged particularly well, and the new features don’t hit the mark as intended.

This action-adventure experience was developed by PlayEveryWare. It is a single-player game where 2 protagonists battle for your attention. Each of these dark heroes takes a weird and wonderful path of redemption and realisation. Yet, it is the exceptional acting and the world design that bring this game to life. Despite my concerns about underwhelming features, the game keeps you moving forward, and fans of the franchise will find some enjoyment regardless.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered tells a great story.

Nosgoth is a dark and sinister world. Betrayal, fear, and hatred power the darkness while feeding the desires of the Elder God and the Time Streamer Moebius. Each of the heroes must walk their own path as they prove their worth and right the wrongs. This combined protagonist approach was unusual, but I adore the different playstyles and the use of platforming, puzzles, and combat to progress the story.

The combat is where Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered falls short. Sadly, it is sluggish and rough. This isn’t helped by the boxy movement and the poor hit boxes. Furthermore, Kain is pretty cumbersome, and I felt like I was turning a tanker rather than an all-powerful warrior. Luckily, Raziel is more nimble, and the fighting elements flowed better. Alongside this, the puzzle and parkour elements felt better suited to this character.

The platforming and puzzles will not blow you away! They are pretty underwhelming when compared with modern alternatives. Yet, they were perfect in their era, and this must be remembered. Basic switches and simple observe and move challenges test you from the beginning. The platforming follows suit with some of the clunkiest jumping you’ll witness. However, despite the dated feel, there is a pleasant sense of nostalgia that smooths out the negatives.

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered remains faithful to its cause.

Many of the original elements remain accessible, and this will appeal to lovers of the original. However, it now has a full HD filter that can be removed if you wish. Alongside this, there is a 360-degree camera to appeal to younger gamers. I enjoyed this new camera angle and the chance to relive the original graphics. Although Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered has a modern polish, some bugs will annoy you and make you laugh. The audio is as impressive now as it always was. The acting is fantastic, and this brings the story to life. This is supported by a fine soundtrack and hard-hitting sound effects.

The controls are a little problematic. Clumsy combat and platforming make this unnecessarily troublesome. Furthermore, Kain’s combat prowess is just ridiculous. I cannot remember his abilities being this sluggish, and every encounter was a bit of a chore. The developer has included a snippet of lost gameplay from a segment called the lost levels. This allows hardcore fans to see some dated action that has otherwise remained locked away. Consequently, there are some nice Easter eggs if you grab yourself a copy.

A game for hunters of nostalgia.

Rose-tinted spectacles can be a blessing and a curse. Yet, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered would need more than a positive outlook to overcome every problem. I think it is fun, but I adore the original. Therefore, it was always an easy sell. Yet, if you are expecting a modern aesthetic, smooth controls, and challenging combat, this will not be for you. However, if you love retro gaming, you should grab a copy from the Xbox store!