Legacy of Kain: Defiance

"A pleasent surprise."

Wow, that is all I can really say about this game. I have played all of the Legacy of Kain games and this one really stands out among all of them. Basically, it brings all of the Legacy of Kain story together. If you have not played any Legacy of Kain games, basically, in Blood Omen, you played as a vampire named Kain. Stick with me here, because in Soul Reaver you played as a former vampire named Raziel. Nothing big right? But, and this is a big but, the big enemy dude in the Soul Reaver games, was an older Kain, who was the main character of the Blood Omen games! Confusing a bit, I know but once you play them you will understand. Anyway, back to Defiance, you can play as both Kain and Raziel. Pretty neat in my opinion.

Gameplay: 10/10
What is there to say really about the gameplay? Raziel is a much faster, quicker slashing, speed character. While Kain is...how do I put it, bad ass. He can take over people's minds and throw them into stuff (or even off stuff). Nothing is better than throwing a charging human off a platform to certain doom. Ahhh...good times. Also, to replenish their health, Raziel absorbs his fallen enemies' souls. While Kain, sucks their blood (at either a distance or just the straight vampire bite into the neck). And also, Raziel can do one of his most well known things, which is go in and out of the spectral realm. While Kain can turn into mist and go through things. Awesome is all I can say.

Graphics: 10/10
Surprisingly, even being a multi-platform game, this has some of the best graphic's I have ever seen. The entire game is a masterpiece but the graphics really stick out. Everything looks so realistic, and that is all I can really say about the graphics.

Overall: 10/10
If you have played any of the Legacy of Kain games, this is a definite must buy. If you have not though, I would suggest possibly going back and playing the first ones so you can get the story background. Or you can just pick this one up, if you do not really care for story, and play it as a great action beat 'em up. Either way, it is still a great game, definitely worthy of my highest rating.

Rent or Buy:
This is most definitely a buy. 'Nuff said.

My Final Word:
Another awesome installment into the Legacy of Kain series. I do not see how Crystal Dynamics did it, but they have surprised me, a lot. And I am very grateful for that. Now, that all that is said, I'm going to play some more Defiance.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/24/03