Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered launches on PS5, PS4 Dec 10

blog.playstation.com:

25 years ago, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver introduced the world to the vampire Raziel. In the game’s opening scene, Raziel is betrayed and executed by his master, the vampire emperor Kain. Enduring untold suffering and disfigurement, Raziel rises eons later as the iconic and vengeful blue wraith we all know and love.

In 1999, games were built differently. Deep narratives were uncommon and fully voiced cut-scenes were rare. Soul Reaver had both and quickly became a classic.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Soul Reaver, Aspyr is proud to announce Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

Remaster pillars defined

As with our work on Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, the key to a great Remaster is to bring a classic game to modern hardware with enough visual and quality-of-life improvements to feel natural, while carefully preserving the integrity of the original. We want new fans to join the Soul Reaver faithful in reliving Raziel’s adventures.

Engineering goal: Performance with pixel-perfect preservation

Thankfully Crystal Dynamics was able to provide us with the source code, so we started with the original engine and a complete set of assets. This foundation ensured we could deliver the exact same combat, puzzles, and boss fights, with the same balance and feel, as the original. 

With its environmental storytelling and the innovative mechanics that allowed players to shift between the material and spectral realms, Soul Reaver pushed the limits of computer memory in the ‘90s. The way we’ve engineered the title will preserve that legacy for players returning to Nosgoth or visiting for the first time.

But we didn’t want to stop at the original toggle between realms. We also integrated a toggle between classic and modern game art, on the fly, without ever having a hit to performance.

Gameplay Goal: Surprise and delight lifelong hardcore fans

The Soul Reaver game narratives are powerful and beautifully complex. Starring Michael