Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain

"Brilliant tale, good execution..."

Blood Omen, Legacy of Kain is perhaps, in my not so humble opinion, the GREATEST story telling of any video game... EVER! I felt a little "wrong" at the start of the game by the amount of blood shed... but it quickly passed, as survival is obviously critical, besides it is called BLOOD OMEN for a reason. Engrossing twists and plots to no end, almost literally, mde this tale and instant classic in my experience! The voice overs are well executed thanks in no small part to the very talented cast of recognizable names. The art and design was also well thought out, but even more so in the later chapters. The evolution of the main character, Kain, from his death to his re-birth and the eventual enhancements and acquisitions of his many talents and abilities make it extremely entertaining. The game actually gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself and interact with the supporting cast and learn how to surpass all obstacles thrown your way. It lets you approach a problem using multiple solutions at a time. It enables you to comprehend, slowly mind you, the process and ideas within this Sci Fi/Horror game.

I found it even more fun than it's misplaced but chronological sequel Blood Omen 2.

The ONE drawback that did not allow me to rate it the elusive perfect score of 10 is the LOADING TIMES... it was frustrating and even bothersome at times. At the risk of being redundant, it really was time consuming and even exasperating at times. Which made me wonder if the creator had a hand in such matters as the story line itself is so lengthy, although not in such a negative way. I sometimes wondered if the game had actually frozen, which wasn't uncommon in the older generation games of the time. All in all I found it thoroughly fulfilling and a treasured gem in my collection, since I managed to purchase the original version right before purchasing the awesome sequel The Soul Reaver.

In general I felt it was a job well done when you consider the story telling, character development, original concepts, voice casting and almost perfect execution. I am now just wondering when will Hollywood catch it and make it into an epic... and hopefully without ruining it too much!! I don't feel guilty being late to engagements, this game was well worth it...a MUST for every vampire and horror and Sci Fi fan out there.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/12/09

Game Release: Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain (US, 11/01/96)