Legacy of Kain: Defiance

"The Best Of Kain and Raziel's Worlds Collide...."

This games predecessors (the Blood Omen series and the Soul Reaver series)were both solid games, but in two different ways. Blood Omen was known for its more detailed environments and its combat. Soul Reaver was known for its killer story and amazing cutscenes. Well Legacy of Kain: Defiance combines all these elements into one thrilling game. Its easily the best in the series that i've played so far. Here's how it stacks up.

Story: 9/10
Starting off sometime after Soul Reaver 2, Kain is actually in the past, about 500 years before the original Blood Omen. He's looking for Raziel, who he believes is the key to fulfilling his destiny to be the Balance Gaurdian. Raziel, we find, is 500 years ahead of Kain, right around the time of Blood Omen. And from there, the great tapestry of a story this game tells kicks off. We find questions that we had from previous games answered. (Finally).


Gameplay: 9/10
It's a good thing Eidos didn't sacrifice Story for Gameplay. The fighting in this game is spectacular. Theres nothing like hearing your enemy screaming as you telekinetically hurl him over a 1000 foot drop to his demise. Or lopping him into the air, slashing him a few times, and then hurling him onto a very pointy sconce on the wall. Very satisfying. The only fallback however, is these things become monotonous very quick. But thanks to the games fighting experience system, you get new sadistic moves to toy around with your enemy. It's a pretty solid fighting engine.

But as in all the Legacy of Kain games, you have the annoying puzzles. I guarantee that you will get stuck in this game and deem it hopeless and impossible to go forward at least 5 times. You'll have your game ready to take back to Gamestop because it has a bug in it that won't let you progress until you realize that you overlooked the most miniscule of details. This game will make your hair grey. But the satisfaction after you beat these insane puzzles is well worth it.

Graphics: 10/10
Some of the spots in this game are pretty average looking. Their not bad, but their not spectacular. But sometimes you'll get to a location and be completely marveled. Like a certain-someones mansion for example. When your standing in the courtyard looking up at that bad boy, you'll see why I have to give it a 10. Some of the best i've seen. EVER.

Sound: 8/10
Once again, in this game as in all the others, the voice acting is top notch. You won't find this kind of quality ALMOST anywhere else. I don't know where they got these people or how they get them to stay on the project, but they are absolutely extraordinary. The music in this game is pretty good. Although a few times I could of swore I heard the Hidden Valley Ranch theme song. The only real complaint I have is some of the grunts that Raziel and Kain do in-game don't sound like that at all.

Conclusion
This game is must buy for any Legacy of Kain fan. Even Kain virgins would find good times in this game. Although I would use a guide. But this is an all around solid title that should have fans everywhere satisfied until the next game. (PLEASE BE SOON!!!!!)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/14/03