25 years in the past, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver launched the world to the vampire Raziel. Within the recreation’s opening scene, Raziel is betrayed and executed by his grasp, the vampire emperor Kain. Enduring untold struggling and disfigurement, Raziel rises eons later as the long-lasting and vengeful blue wraith everyone knows and love.
In 1999, video games have been constructed in a different way. Deep narratives have been unusual and totally voiced cut-scenes have been uncommon. Soul Reaver had each and rapidly grew to become a basic.
To commemorate the twenty fifth anniversary of Soul Reaver, Aspyr is proud to announce Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
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Remaster pillars outlined
As with our work on Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, the important thing to an important Remaster is to carry a basic recreation to trendy {hardware} with sufficient visible and quality-of-life enhancements to really feel pure, whereas fastidiously preserving the integrity of the unique. We would like new followers to hitch the Soul Reaver trustworthy in reliving Raziel’s adventures.
Engineering objective: Efficiency with pixel-perfect preservation
Fortunately Crystal Dynamics was capable of present us with the supply code, so we began with the unique engine and a whole set of belongings. This basis ensured we might ship the very same fight, puzzles, and boss fights, with the identical stability and really feel, as the unique.
With its environmental storytelling and the modern mechanics that allowed gamers to shift between the fabric and spectral realms, Soul Reaver pushed the bounds of laptop reminiscence within the ‘90s. The best way we’ve engineered the title will protect that legacy for gamers returning to Nosgoth or visiting for the primary time.
However we didn’t need to cease on the unique toggle between realms. We additionally built-in a toggle between basic and trendy recreation artwork, on the fly, with out ever having a success to efficiency.
Gameplay Purpose: Shock and delight lifelong hardcore followers
The Soul Reaver recreation narratives are highly effective and superbly advanced. Starring Michael Bell as Raziel, Simon Templeton as Kain, and Tony Jay because the Elder God, Soul Reaver 1 & 2 function among the most iconic performances in online game historical past. And naturally, kudos to Amy Hennig’s work writing and directing this visionary recreation when the instruments to take action have been burgeoning.
We did, nonetheless, need to shock and delight our most hardcore followers, so the dialog developed into what additions we might make that wouldn’t upset the unique design intentions however would add to the general expertise. Right here’s what we got here up with:
- Management Enhancements: Soul Reaver launched whereas the D-PAD was the dominant management technique. We’ve ensured with DualShock 4 and Twin Sense that analog management feels and performs as nice in Soul Reaver because it did in Soul Reaver 2.
- Digital camera Upgrades: We’ve mapped the digicam in Soul Reaver to the precise stick which permits us to maneuver the digicam on the Y-Axis. After all, there weren’t sturdy skyboxes within the unique since you couldn’t search for. So we made some! Get pleasure from proper stick mapping to see the colourful skies and platforms above.
- Trophies! For now, simply know we’re utilizing trophies as our wink and nod to the neighborhood for essentially the most iconic gameplay moments. We’ll share extra specifics at a later date.
- Map & Compass: Nosgoth is an unlimited, open world. Navigating, even with fast journey, may be daunting for first-timers. We added a map and compass to help with discovering the following goal, so that you’ll by no means really feel fully misplaced, even should you determine to play by means of non-obligatory content material. The map is a model new, never-before-seen map of Nosgoth co-created by Aspyr, Crystal Dynamics and key members of the Legacy of Kain neighborhood. It is likely one of the most stunning additions to the sport and a celebration of the followers who’ve saved the video games alive for therefore lengthy.
- Photograph Mode: A preferred function from Tomb Raider I-III Remastered returns! We’ll embrace our picture mode to allow you to showcase among the finest gameplay moments of Soul Reaver 1 & 2.
- And some extra surprises: The place’s the enjoyable in spoiling every part already?
Artwork objective: Visuals as in ‘Your Reminiscence’
We would like the video games to look the way in which they did in your thoughts.
Listed here are the artwork adjustments we made:
Soul Reaver cut-scenes rendered with increased constancy fashions: Supply code doesn’t at all times have the belongings to render cut-scenes with newer belongings. Our engineering groups combed by means of the archives to search out the precise information to render the minimize scenes with new, increased constancy belongings. This makes the transition from trendy gameplay mode to cut-scene seamless.
New Hero fashions for Raziel and Kain: These fashions are impressed by the look of the unique pre-rendered cutscenes.
Glowing eyes and Wraith Blade: We’ve added a glow to Raziel’s eyes and the Wraith Blade to make the most of lighting upgrades
Actual-time shadows: Utilized to all characters and objects
New Enemy and Boss fashions: I’ll admit these are a bit scarier than I remembered!
Day and Night time cycle (SR) A legacy function that was minimize from the ultimate launch has been restored so as to add temper and ambiance to Nosgoth.
Graphics toggle: Whereas we did add many enhancements to textures, UI, and VFX, any level throughout gameplay, together with in Photograph mode, you’ll be able to swap again to the unique graphics.
Thanks to the unique Soul Reaver 1 and 2 groups, Crystal Dynamics, and the neighborhood for letting us go to Nosgoth and resurrect Raziel yet one more time.
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We’ll see you on December 10. Pre-orders can be found at present on PlayStation Retailer!