Legacy of Kain fans have waited around 2 years to play this game. Both Soul Reaver 1 and 2 left off at huge cliffhangers (SR2 even more so), and it left the player desperately wanting to find out what happens next in the story. However, something that has somewhat alienated the fanbase is that Defiance was made to attract newcomers to the series as well as wrap up pretty much all the story questions for long time fans. Both of these are accomplished.
Chances are you're reading this because you've heard good things about the game. Well worry you not long time LoK fan or newcomer, Defiance is spectacular.
Gameplay:
Let me tell you, I played this thing to death and never got bored. The only time I put it down was when I was sleepy as hell, and this was stopping at around 1:30am after playing 5-6 hours straight.
Defiance is extremely fun to play and easy to get into. One of the goals of the fighting system was to make the player feel like a badass and make the fighting epic. That goal was certainly accomplished, you'll be hard pressed to get tired of kicking ass, and if you do, you'll be pumped up to do it the next time you play the game.
One thing that does get slightly annoying though, is the camera. It looks amazing, but sometimes doesn't play very well, particularly when making certain jumps. Sometimes the angles are just too awkward to jump at and it's hard to react in time or judge how far they are. Hopefully this little problem will be ironed out in the next LoK game.
The control system works remarkably well. You'd think since the PS2 pad has more buttons, the controls would be awkward when 'converted' over to the Xbox (''Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance'' springs to mind). This is not the case, and it makes me think that quite a few buttons on the PS2 pad must do nothing.
In case you're wondering (and speaking of the PS2 version anyway), the Xbox version has the following major advantages over it:
- Slightly sharper graphics - Larger draw distance - Progressive Scan mode - Widescreen capability - No frame rate drop - Less load times
One last issue concerning Gameplay, and something I feel is important to note, is that players need not worry when switching between Kain and Raziel since the button commands are contextually the same for both of them. For example, jumping then holding A/X will result in both of them slowly floating down when playing as them. So worry you not, there are no new control schemes to learn or remember.
Story:
The story has always been the backbone of the series. Long time LoK fans were initially concerned about the implementation of a new combat system, worried that the story would suffer as a result. Fortunately, this was not the case. Nothing was downgraded or prioritized less to make room for it, improvements were added on at the sacrifice of nothing.
SR2 was all about the story, it was what made it so epic and praised by fans. Defiance not only goes beyond it in quality of story, but gameplay too. Defiance has taken the crown of every LoK fans favourite game. The cinematics were spectacular and the ending scenes just blew me away.
LoK fans, this is the game you've been waiting for. If the law of mathematics allowed it, I'd give this 11/10.
Graphics:
Better than ever before. The environments are spectacular and I've spent a good 20-30 mins of gameplay time looking at and pondering over the many mysterious murals scattered through the game.
There are however, glitches here and there. Nothing big, the only problems seem to be Raziel's wings and a clash of polygons every now and then. I did run into this really stupid glitch where I was slammed through the floor and proceeded to fall to my death.
It wasn't really much of a hassle as dying doesn't really matter, checkpoints are conveniently frequent.
Sound:
Everything is top notch. I was never a fan of the music like some long time LoK fans are, but it was very good overall and I thought ''Ozar Midrashim'' played during two certain epic fights was a touch of genius (the theme for the SR1 intro).
The voice acting is, as ever, superb. Ask anyone who's ever played an LoK game, they won't tell you any different. The cinematics captivated me and the ending scenes was truly emotional, it moved me more than any movie ever has.
Replayability:
Definitely replayable. If not for the story, then definitely for the fighting system.
Buy or Rent?
This is definitely one to buy. Onward, LoK fans!
