PlayStation 2

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2

Mas quem acompanha a série e aqueles que curtem mais enredo do que ação vão ter um prato cheio com Soul Reaver 2. Mas quem não domina o inglês fluentemente (o diálogo do jogo usa termos bem complicado que só o nosso testador fluente conseguiu entender) ou procura apenas mais um jogo de ação vai acabar muito frustrado.

Basically, Soul Reaver 2 is a game larger than the sum of its parts, with all aspects melding together to create an incredibly appealing and original work. Almost everything in the game has been improved on from the first game, which is not an easy task. With a great battle system, amazing visuals, and a compelling story, Soul Reaver 2 is a definite must have for any PS2 library. This is one epic journey, peopled with characters not likely to be forgotten any time soon, and very likely to be revisited again and again.

As I've said earlier, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 isn't the best-looking PlayStation 2 title. Hell, it's not even the best of show in gameplay. But, the game does have a whole bunch of bonus materials, and even an original storyline that continues the popular PlayStation title Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, with a more improved gameplay system that's altered a little, and works even better than the first's. Those who endure in satisfaction with battles and blood, but can't stand puzzle solving that will happen often at times within the game...Soul Reaver 2 is most likely not for you. If you were a huge fan of the first title, though, or are just interested in becoming a part of the Soul Reaver series, then the direction definitely lies within this well put together game of many good but not all great qualities. Buy the sequel today if the soul lust is what you crave.

Eidos and Crystal Dynamics have brought to us a most wondrous tale to devour. Soul Reaver 2 is the result of a painstaking devotion to creating a complex and intriguing world that consumes the gamer as it's hero Raziel devours souls. It is will, without a doubt, entertain fans of Nosgoth and dark fantasy, and leave those of a literary inclination with an impression they shall not soon forget.

Daß die Grafik sehenswert ist, muß fast nicht mehr weiter erwähnt werden... ebenso läst die Spielbarkeit keine Wünsche offen. Herausragend ist aber auch die Story, welche sehr packend, sehr lebendig und mit viel Spieltiefe dargestellt wird. Fazit: Ein klarer Kauftitel... nicht nur für Untote!

Der Reaver ist zurück, doch diesmal ist sein Durst nach Seelen unstillbar. Wenn du nicht acht gibst, so wird der Soul Reaver, das Seelen verschlingende Schwert, sich auch an deiner Seele laben. Tauch ein in die Vergangenheit und Zukunft von Nosgoth, bekämpfe das Böse, beschütze das Gute und lerne, daß nichts so ist wie es zu sein vorgibt. Begib dich auf Reisen durch die Zeit auf der Suche nach deiner wahren Bestimmung. Wirst du dich von den Fäden, die das Schicksal um dich gesponnen hat befreien, oder dich nur noch weiter verstricken?

Soul Reaver 2, as the saying goes, burns bright, but not as long as you'd like.

The story is really what Soul Reaver 2 is all about, and is the thing that really got me hooked. I was pretty confused for the first couple of hours, but once the plot starts to unravel, I couldn’t put the controller down. Sure, some of the puzzle logic is insane, and the time travel story gets a little convoluted, but overall Soul Reaver fans will get everything they could ask for from this sequel.

Im Gegensatz zum Vorgänger präsentiert sich Soul Reaver 2 deutlich actionreicher. Das bewährte Gameplay wurde dabei allerdings ebenso beibehalten wie die düstere Atmosphäre und der Wechsel zwischen Spektral- und materieller Ebene. Die neuen Elementar-Fähigkeiten des Soul Reavers verleihen dem Spielablauf neue Akzente und sorgen teils auch für anspruchsvollere Rätselkost, auf taktische Boss-Kämpfe hat man dieses Mal allerdings verzichtet. Audiovisuell ist Raziels 128-Bit-Debüt aber auf alle Fälle bestens gelungen und dank erneutem Einsatz der Streaming-Technologie sind Ladepausen Schnee von gestern.

Since this project has been in development for so long, its age shows in the combat and sparsely decorated environments. The texturing is decent, as are the effects, but it still feels like a high-resolution PlayStation game. I slammed the first game for its unsatisfactory finale, but I walked away from the sequel completely satisfied.

Soul Reaver 2 är ett spel med höga filmiska kvaliteter, och om man kan överse med mindre spelbarhetsmissar för att få uppleva en spännande berättelse är det här ett självklart val.

But…how often can you see a certain set of scenery, no matter how slightly changed by time, before you start getting bored? Different and more difficult creatures may present more of a challenge but in the end you are looking at the same old swamp, etc. You may have to explore a different location, solving a puzzle that allows you to reach other areas…but you emerge and travel through the same old scenes. There seems to be little progression other than going back and forth. The story progresses beautifully, which was why I kept playing, and kept me interested…not knowing if it was Kain or Morbius that I should impale on my Soul Reaver and see my chinless blue grin as they lie dying in order that I can suck their soul …(sorry I got carried away). All in all I found this game very playable and enjoyable.

Raziel continues to offer us a solid gaming experience, even if it's not truly inspired. What keeps me coming back is the story. Like a soap opera, if you know all the characters and have made your way through all the games, you'll find yourself addicted. You just have to know what happens next, even though the plot gets sillier the longer they extend it out. And also like a soap, it's a little hard to start right in the middle and know what's going on. The Legacy of Kain series is one of those rare games where it's actually worth paying attention to the story. Too bad you have to go back to the PS1 to get caught up.

Soul Reaver 2 takes as many steps back as it does forward, and ends up teetering precariously over the brink of being a disappointment. Perhaps next time we meet our vampire anti-hero, he'll be ready to fully assume his grand role in destiny's dark design for now, however, the Wheel of Raziel?s Fate rests sadly out of alignment.

Sometimes great games have bad stories, and sometimes great stories accompany bad games. However, I have never seen this distinction become more acute than with Soul Reaver 2 for PlayStation 2, Crystal Dynamics long awaited sequel (actually third in the Legacy Of Kain series) to their 1999 vampire epic.