It's been a couple of months since Crystal Dynamics revealed that its beloved dark fantasy action adventures Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2 were ready to get the remaster treatment. And now, with the two-game pack launching in December, remaster developer Aspyr has detailed some of the improvements the upgrades will bring.
This all comes via a post on the PlayStation Blog that's mainly concerned with showing off the games' bosses, so you might want to stay clear (and stay away from the trailer below) if you're new to the series or have forgotten everything it contains. 25 years since the release of Soul Reaver 1.
However, what we also get is confirmation of reshaping, retexturing and, in at least one case, re-thinning to improve the appearance of the original boss roster, and that adds up to a “completely redesigned” model for the antagonist. Kain, necessary to “mitigate texture problems.”
“With the higher Agency count, we felt it was important to bring his appearance much closer to the Kain we saw in the original FMVs, which was much more detailed and showed more or less what the original intention of the character was,” notes Aspyr. “The original model in SR1 was especially limited so now both games have a Kain that seems consistent between the two titles.”
Those revamped looks were at least partly expected, of course, thanks to the Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered announcement trailer, but Aspyr has confirmed other new features as well. Both games now include a map and compass, for example, which Aspr says “combines the conveniences of modern gaming with preserving the exploration experience the original titles were known for.”
The compass “gently nudges the player in the right direction without revealing specific details of where to go,” while the map is described as “more of a reference tool than a guide.” Additionally, there is a collection tracker that shows whether players have found all the collectibles in each area. But for long-time fans looking for a slightly more traditional Legacy of Kain experience, the remastered visuals of Soul Reaver 1 and 2 can be swapped out for those of the original, and the compass can be disabled in the settings menu.
Crystal Dynamics first hinted that it was considering a Legacy of Kain revival in 2022, when it surveyed fans asking if they would be interested in seeing the series return. And now, some two years after 100,000 people responded positively, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered will launch for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Series X/S, Switch and PC on December 10.