Legacy of Kain: Ascendance Review

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a splendid revival of a franchise that fans have loved for more than 20 years. This new game was made by FreakZone Games, a division of Bit Bot Media, and published by Crystal Dynamics. The sequel has a lot of history, but it also introduces new gameplay. FreakZone Games is still pretty new, but they have a good track record of making action-focused adaptations of well-known IPs.

Working with Crystal Dynamics has given them access to the rich lore and iconic characters of the Legacy of Kain universe. Crystal Dynamics, known for defining the series's story and visual style, appears to have had a hand in shaping Legacy of Kain: Ascendance. This is to ensure the game honors the series' legacy while giving it an overhaul.

After the remasters of Soul Reaver 1 and 2 and Defiance, fans have been looking forward to something new, and Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is the first big game in this world since Blood Omen 2, offering a fresh take while keeping the story going. As a longtime fan of the series, playing Legacy of Kain: Ascendance felt like going back to childhood, revisiting Nosgoth after years of absence.

The story combines parts from the Dead Shall Rise comic and the classic games in a way that is easy for both diehard Legacy of Kain fans and new players to understand. The game is mostly about Raziel and Elaleth, two characters whose backstories are briefly reviewed but also expanded, giving players a better idea of why they do what they do.

Elaleth's journey, fueled by anger and a desire for revenge, shows that there is more to her than meets the eye. Her moments of weakness make her unexpectedly interesting. The story moves quickly between characters, giving context for their actions and showing how the events in Nosgoth affect them.

I was drawn into her story and thought a lot about what I would do if I were her. I also liked how the game tried to make her more than just a vengeful person. The story sometimes speeds up, but that makes it more interesting than a comic adaptation that stays linear. It gives you time to enjoy the dialogue, lore, and character interactions.

The voice acting makes the game even better, with veterans like Simon Templeman, Michael Bell, Anna Gunn, and Richard Doyle returning to their roles.

Even though some voices have changed over time, the performances still have the weight and emotion that fans expect. New actors, like Darin De Paul as Janos Audron and Elsie Lovelock as Elaleth, fit right in with the world and make the story even more interesting. The game also features clever references to previous games, including series motifs and Easter eggs that reward long-time players without leaving new players feeling left out.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance's gameplay is different from that of other Legacy of Kain games. It uses a 2D side-scrolling action style that is similar to Blasphemous. At first, I thought Legacy of Kain: Ascendance would be more like a Metroidvania game, but it's more straightforward while still being deep.

A lot of combat depends on a parry system, which is very important in the early levels because enemies are always attacking, and timing is very important. The difficulty slider, which goes from Story mode to Nightmare, finally adds a level of difficulty to a series that has always been easy, in my opinion. I thought the game was hard but fair when I played it on normal.

I had to learn how to read enemy patterns and master each character's special powers. With their dive-bomb attacks and ability to fly, Raziel and Elaleth gave me some of the best gameplay. I could glide across levels and feel like I was really free to fight in the air. Lieutenant Raziel has these mechanics, which add to the variety of ways to play.

Fans expect Kain to have god-like powers, and he does, with the Soul Reaver giving him one-hit kills and a powerful sense of dominance. I saw that Kain can't float like he can in Defiance, but the rest of his moveset really captures who he is, making his levels fun to play.

In Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, enemies are different and hard to beat, with their own attack patterns and behaviors.

The game requires you to be flexible as well as adaptable, especially when it comes to timing, as you encounter easy enemies to harder flying ones. Flying enemies, in particular, made the game tense because they often attack in groups and need precise countering. Boss fights are just as impressive, with environmental dangers and complicated attack patterns that test both skill and patience.

A blue demon boss early in the game was one of the most memorable. It taught me to use my parrying and dodging skills quickly. The different kinds of enemies make sure that combat never gets boring, and the mix of ranged, melee, and aerial threats keeps every fight interesting.

The puzzles and combat in Legacy of Kain: Ascendance work together perfectly. The combat is fast-paced and fun, but the puzzles give players a break and require strategic thinking. The riddle sequences are like the old Legacy of Kain puzzles that test your mind and reward you for paying attention and knowing the series.

These moments break up the action and keep the pace from getting too fast, keeping the gameplay loop fresh and preventing players from getting bored. I really liked how the story and the puzzles fit together. They gave the challenges meaning and made them seem like a normal part of the world, rather than random obstacles that got in the way.

That being said, combat can sometimes feel too much when enemies group up near checkpoints, making you have to think and act quickly. Sometimes, enemies that respawn show up in places you didn't expect, which makes the game harder in a way that wasn't intended. But these moments are rare and don't detract much from the overall experience.

It's easy to move up in Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, and it's worth it.

Players can unlock skills that are based on what makes each character special. These skills have a big effect on how people play the game. You can fight and explore in new ways by learning how to do dive-bomb attacks with Elaleth or Raziel. The game's checkpoint system is forgiving; it restores health and lore meters, but it still keeps the tension high because mistakes can quickly lead to death on greater difficulties.

The difficulty slider makes the game more fun to play again by encouraging players to return to levels in harder modes to see how good they are. Secret hunting and exploration add even more depth. I went back to earlier levels to find hidden areas I had missed the first time, which added hours of gameplay to the original five-hour playthrough.

Legacy of Kain: Ascendance captures the spirit of the Legacy of Kain series while also using modern pixel art styles. The 2D design is a nod to Blood Omen, and the bright, cartoonish colors make the world look great even though it's a dark fantasy setting. Character portraits that move make cutscenes more interesting, and dark level designs add depth and atmosphere.

Each environment looks like it was made with care, with textures and effects that pay homage to the franchise's past and make things easier to see during battle. I really liked exploring Nosgoth's famous places, like the Sarafan tombs and the busy city ruins. They were all made in a way that balances nostalgia with modern visual tastes.

Sound design and music make the experience even better.

The music from Celldweller is a mix of metal and dark synth, reminiscent of the classic game Soul Reaver. The music changes up during combat, building tension and then fading away during exploration. This makes the Legacy of Kain: Ascendance experience more immersive. The effects of attacks, environmental hazards, and character abilities are strong and clear, which makes each fight feel real.

As I said before, voice acting adds weight to the story, and hearing series legends alongside new talent makes the world feel like it's been going on for decades. The soundtrack alone is worth going back to because it has catchy themes that stuck in my head long after I finished playing.

Overall, all platforms work well for the game. The frame rate was smooth, the controls were quick, and the loading times were short on PC, so I could keep playing without any breaks. The graphics and smoothness stay the same on consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but there may be some frame drops during the most crowded combat scenes.

All platforms have great input responsiveness, which makes it easy to time parries and dodges perfectly. The game loads quickly, and on high-resolution screens, it looks great without losing any clarity. I did see some small texture pop-ins on consoles, but they didn't really change how fun or immersive the game was.

In short, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a great way to bring back a well-known series.

Its strengths are its interesting story, fun combat, and accurate portrayal of the Legacy of Kain universe. The gameplay is challenging and unique, featuring many characters with their own skills and strategies.

Puzzles and riddle sequences are a nice change of pace. The art style and music pay homage to the series' past while also being modern, and the game works well on both PC and console, with only a few minor problems that don't get in the way of having fun.

The story can sometimes feel rushed, and some of the combat situations near checkpoints can be annoying. For purists, Kain's lack of a floating ability, which was present in previous games, is a small letdown. Even with these problems, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is a good first major 2D action game for the series. It has something for both fans and newcomers.

I thought it was a great deal for $20 because I got five hours of fun gameplay, different difficulty levels, and a new but faithful take on Nosgoth. The Legacy of Kain: Ascendance shows that the franchise can still challenge and please fans after all these years. It is both a trip down memory lane and a modern action experience, thanks to the vision of FreakZone Games and the help of Crystal Dynamics.

If you're interested in the Legacy of Kain universe or want a hard 2D action game with a lot of story and lore, you have to play Legacy of Kain: Ascendance. It's not perfect, but it has enough great moments to make the price and the excitement that fans have been waiting for 23 years worth it.